A year of conflict has deepened the dire humanitarian crisis in Sudan. This crisis is deeply rooted in the poor governance of Sudan characterised by concentration of power and resources amongst a network of military, private and political elites. It is a political crisis with roots in a long history of impunity and human rights violations; the deployment of militias by successive governments as a means to counter insurgency; as well as violence underpinning transitions of power.
In a recent study by the Institute of Development Studies, a team of researchers explored the conflict sensitivity of the ongoing humanitarian response to the crisis with a focus on how to enhance locally-led modalities of response. These grassroots organisations and other forms of local support represent a salient feature of social protection in Sudan. Different forms of self-organising voluntary groups are actively providing relief services to their communities, particularly in areas that are not accessible to formal aid actors.