Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

The economy of Sudan largely depends on agriculture. Most of the population lives in rural areas and relies on rain-fed agriculture for their livelihoods, which makes them especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

Agriculture has encountered repeated crises due to climate change, compounded by extreme weather events that lead to issues such as flash floods, droughts, and unpredictable rainfall. Smallholder farmers, who are particularly reliant on rain-fed agriculture, have been significantly affected, especially by the negative consequences of recent flash floods on their farming operations.

Sudan has ratified international agreements concerning environmental governance, as a response Sudan presented the National Adaptation Plan (NAP). This thesis critically examines the existing policies aimed at enhancing the capacity of communities, particularly smallholder farmers, to adapt to the challenges posed by climate change.

The research aims to identify gaps in policies that hinder effective implementation by analyzing proposed measures to address the impact of climate change on agriculture. Policy documents are evaluated alongside interviews with stakeholders in the agricultural sector, including experts and smallholder farmers. The interviews with smallholder farmers emphasize their perceptions of climate change and the challenges they encounter in farming. Bacchi's What is the problem represented to be (WPR ) theoretical framework is used to conceptualize the problem of climate change adaptation.

The findings of this thesis indicate that agricultural policy-making is significantly influenced by political decisions, which are shaped by the country's economic conditions. Climate change adaptation is not prioritized in these policies and is still not integrated into national strategic planning. A proposed solution is to build capacity by increasing agricultural production. Additionally, the perspectives of stakeholders, including smallholder farmers and experts from the agribusiness sector and educational institutions, are often overlooked in the policy-making process. Furthermore, current policies have not adequately addressed the implications of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and its potential positive or negative impacts on climate change risks.