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With research staff from more than 60 countries, and offices across the globe, IFPRI provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.

researcher spotlight

Elodie Becquey

Elodie Becquey is a Senior Research Fellow in the Nutrition, Diets, and Health Unit, based in IFPRI’s West and Central Africa office in Senegal. She has over 15 years of research experience in diet, nutrition, and food security in Africa, including countries such as Burkina Faso, Chad, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, and Tanzania.

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Development Strategies and Governance

Hala Abushama

Research Analyst

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Hala Abushama is a Research Analyst with the Development Strategies and Governance Unit, and is based at IFPRI-Cairo.

Development Strategies and Governance

Publications

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Report

Essential commodities prices, availability, and market actors’ perceptions: October 2025

2025Rakhy, Tariq; Abushama, Hala; Mohamed, Shima; Nigus, Halefom Yigzaw; Siddig, Khalid
Details

Essential commodities prices, availability, and market actors’ perceptions: October 2025

Sudan’s markets in October 2025 showed relative stability with several commodities experiencing improved availability and quality. Wheat and wheat flour prices declined, while sorghum, millet, vegetables, lentils, meat, oilseeds, and sugar showed mixed but generally stable trends. Fuel prices fell early in the month before stabilizing, and fertilizer prices remained steady with better availability. Regional disparities persisted, with Darfur, Kordofan, and parts of Blue Nile continuing to record the highest prices for many goods due to conflict, transport disruptions, and liquidity constraints. Supply chain problems increased compared with September, driven by security concerns, high transport costs, exchange rate pressures, and limited cash access. Most merchants reported no major challenges related to storage, power, or hiring workers, although market safety concerns rose slightly, especially in North Darfur. Tax compliance increased at the federal level but remained highest at state and locality levels. Despite ongoing challenges, merchants continued to show resilience: over half plan to maintain current trade levels, nearly one-third expect to expand, and only small shares intend to reduce trade, change commodities, or relocate, although uncertainty increased modestly.

Year published

2025

Authors

Rakhy, Tariq; Abushama, Hala; Mohamed, Shima; Nigus, Halefom Yigzaw; Siddig, Khalid

Citation

Rakhy, Tariq; Abushama, Hala; Mohamed, Shima; Nigus, Halefom Yigzaw; and Siddig, Khalid. 2025. Essential commodities prices, availability, and market actors’ perceptions: October 2025. Sudan Market Prices and Availability Report 9. Khartoum, Sudan: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178285

Country/Region

Sudan

Keywords

Africa; Northern Africa; Commodities; Prices; Markets; Shock; Exchange Rate

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Record type

Report

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Working Paper

Can digital cash transfers serve those in active conflict? Evidence from a randomized intervention in Sudan

2025Abay, Kibrom A.; Abdelfattah, Lina Alaaeldin; Abushama, Hala; Kirui, Oliver K.; Nigus, Halefom Yigzaw; Siddig, Khalid
Details

Can digital cash transfers serve those in active conflict? Evidence from a randomized intervention in Sudan

This paper evaluates the impact of digital transfers on the well-being of households grappling with active conflict in Sudan. Considering the case of Sudan, where active conflict and funding gaps continue to hamper the delivery of humanitarian services, we aim to address the following questions: (i) Can digital cash transfers improve food and nutrition security outcomes of beneficiaries in conflict-affected settings?; (ii) Can digital transfers to an other-wise inaccessible population improve subjective well-being, mental health, and stress in the face of recurrent conflicts?; and (iii) Who benefits more from digital transfers, and do the impacts of digital transfers vary depending on the size of transfers or socioeconomic characteristics of households? To address these questions, we design a randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving digital transfers of different sizes to randomly selected urban households in Sudan. Digital transfers reached nearly all targeted beneficiaries, with about a quarter of households receiving them through their friends and relatives and hence incurring some transaction fees. Overall, digital transfers mitigated deterioration in food insecurity (by 7-8 percentage points) and improved subjective well-being and mental health. Interestingly, we find that the digital transfers are more beneficial (impactful) for those grappling with active conflict. Digital transfers also appear to be less effective for poorer households and households of a larger size. These findings highlight the potential of digital transfers to support those grappling with armed conflict.

Year published

2025

Authors

Abay, Kibrom A.; Abdelfattah, Lina Alaaeldin; Abushama, Hala; Kirui, Oliver K.; Nigus, Halefom Yigzaw; Siddig, Khalid

Citation

Abay, Kibrom A.; Abdelfattah, Lina; Abushama, Hala; Kirui, Oliver K.; Nigus, Halefom Yigzaw; and Siddig, Khalid. 2025. Can digital cash transfers serve those in active conflict? Evidence from a randomized intervention in Sudan. IFPRI Discussion Paper 2374. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/177655

Country/Region

Sudan

Keywords

Conflicts; Social Protection; Cash Transfers; Mobile Phones; Electronic Commerce

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Source

Source record

Record type

Working Paper

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Report

Essential commodities prices, availability, and market actors’ perceptions: September 2025

2025Siddig, Khalid; Rakhy, Tarig; Abushama, Hala; Mohamed, Shima; Nigus, Halefom Yigzaw
Details

Essential commodities prices, availability, and market actors’ perceptions: September 2025

In September 2025, Sudan’s markets showed relative stability despite conflict, inflation, and weather related disruptions. Cereal and vegetable prices remained broadly stable, while meat, oilseeds, and fuel saw moderate fluctuations. Availability of most essential goods improved slightly, though Darfur states continued to record the highest prices. The parallel exchange rate rose to about 3,100 SDG/USD, widening the gap with the official rate. Traders cited transport costs, heavy rains, and checkpoint fees as key drivers of higher prices, though logistical challenges eased from August. Liquidity and infrastructure conditions improved: 71 percent of merchants reported no cash short ages and 93 percent faced no storage or power issues. However, security risks persisted in Darfur and Kordofan, affecting trade safety. Profit margins remained mostly stable, while tax compliance declined, especially at the federal level. Despite ongoing challenges, merchants remain resilient—two-thirds plan to maintain current trade levels, and nearly one-fifth aim to expand, reflecting cautious optimism amid uncertainty.

Year published

2025

Authors

Siddig, Khalid; Rakhy, Tarig; Abushama, Hala; Mohamed, Shima; Nigus, Halefom Yigzaw

Citation

Siddig, Khalid; Rakhy, Tarig; Abushama, Hala; Mohamed, Shima; and Nigus, Halefom Yigzaw. 2025. Essential commodities prices, availability, and market actors’ perceptions: October 2025. Sudan Market Prices and Availability Report 8. Khartoum, Sudan: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/177138

Country/Region

Sudan

Keywords

Africa; Northern Africa; Commodities; Prices; Markets; Shock; Exchange Rate

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Source

Source record

Record type

Report

Events

Informing Crisis Response in Sudan
IFPRI Policy Seminar

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October 22, 2025, 3:00 – 4:30 pm

Informing Crisis Response in Sudan

The recent resurgence of armed conflicts in Africa is increasing the need and urgency for investments in shock-responsive humanitarian and social assistance programs. Armed conflicts both increase the need for aid and greatly complicate delivery of humanitarian services to vulnerable populations. In addition, humanitarian organizations are facing an increasing funding gap because of dwindling donor […]

Two Years of Crisis: Impact and Pathways to Recovery and Resilience
Series/Special Event

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April 14 to 15, 2025

Two Years of Crisis: Impact and Pathways to Recovery and Resilience

The Sudan conflict, now entering its third year, continues to devastate the country’s socioeconomic fabric. As of January 2025, more than 8.8 million people were internally displaced, and over 3.3 million had sought refuge in neighboring countries. Conservative reports estimate over 32,000 fatalities occurred between the start of the war on April 15, 2023, and […]

Navigating Sudan’s Conflict: Research Insights and Policy Implications
Series/Special Event

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March 5, 2024, 12:00 – 9:00 pm

Navigating Sudan’s Conflict: Research Insights and Policy Implications

Hybrid Event: March 5, 2024 at 8:00am-6:00pm EAT / 12:00am – 10:00am EST. IFPRI and UNDP have partnered for this event on wide-ranging and in-depth analysis to better understand the socioeconomic impact of the war in Sudan, and to inform policy and programmatic recommendations.

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