Full Description
Project Title: Manawashi Handicraft Product Development: Preserving Heritage, Empowering Artisans, Creating Sustainable Livelihoods
Organization: Dara Development Organization (DRA)
Project Overview:
Across the villages and towns of Sudan, skilled hands work tirelessly—weaving, carving, stitching, and shaping. For generations, Sudanese artisans have preserved the soul of their communities through traditional handicrafts: intricate baskets, hand-carved wooden tools, vibrant textiles, leatherwork, pottery, and palm frond weaving passed down through families . These crafts are more than objects; they are living heritage, stories woven into every thread and etched into every grain, carrying the identity and history of Sudan's diverse cultures .
But today, this heritage is at risk. Years of conflict, economic collapse, and displacement have scattered communities and severed the chains of craft knowledge passed from elder to youth. Artisans who once sustained their families through their skills now struggle to find materials, markets, or a place to work with dignity . The contribution of small crafts to national income currently does not exceed 3%—a small percentage due to the lack of economic policies supporting this vital sector .
Dara Development Organization (DRA) is launching the Manawashi Handicraft Product Development project—a dedicated initiative to preserve endangered crafts, empower marginalized artisans, and create sustainable economic opportunities for Sudan's most vulnerable populations. "Manawashi," meaning "shared" or "together" in Sudanese Arabic, reflects our vision of artisans, communities, and supporters working together to build a future where heritage and livelihoods thrive side by side.
The Context: Sudan's Handicraft Heritage at a Crossroads
Sudan possesses an extraordinarily rich and diverse tradition of handicrafts. From the pottery and basketry of Sinkat Locality in Red Sea State to the palm frond weaving of Meroe in the north, from leatherwork in Darfur to textiles across the central regions, these crafts represent both cultural heritage and sustainable livelihood opportunities for vulnerable communities .
Recent initiatives demonstrate the potential of this sector:
A project in Sinkat Locality, supported by the Mellon Foundation in partnership with the Beja Cultural Studies Center and the National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums, is safeguarding traditional pottery and basketry crafts through documentation, training, and community awareness . The project aligns with UNESCO conventions on intangible cultural heritage and cultural diversity, emphasizing community engagement, capacity building, and the economic and cultural significance of traditional craftsmanship .
Sudanese artisans are now part of MADE51, a global brand created by UNHCR that connects refugee artisans with international markets. Through MADE51, Sudanese refugees craft home décor and accessories that reach consumers worldwide, enabling them to contribute to host country economies and strengthen ties with local society .
The "Made in Sudan" initiative, supported by the European Union's "Everything But Arms" program, aims to produce and market 1,000 Sudanese products to the world, with producers committing to high-quality production using local raw materials . Designers and craftsmen undergo extensive training to produce commodities at international standards, bringing back crafts like pottery and porcelain and presenting them to the world with a "Sudanese taste and design" .
The Ghaith Resilience Fund, part of the WE-RISE! programme funded by the European Union and implemented by AICS and UN Women, specifically prioritizes handmade crafts and small producers in its funding categories for Gedaref, Kassala, and Red Sea State .
The Challenge:
Despite these promising initiatives, Sudan's artisans face multiple interconnected barriers:
Displacement and community fragmentation disrupting the intergenerational transmission of craft skills
Lack of safe, equipped workspaces for production
Limited access to quality materials at affordable prices
Minimal product development support to adapt traditional designs for contemporary markets
Weak market linkages preventing artisans from reaching buyers beyond their immediate communities
Limited business and financial literacy among artisans
Lack of intellectual property awareness leaving artisans vulnerable to exploitation
Marginalization of women artisans who face additional barriers to economic participation
These barriers trap skilled artisans—particularly women, internally displaced persons, persons with disabilities, and youth—in poverty despite their valuable expertise.
Dara Development Organization's Response:
DRA is establishing the Manawashi Handicraft Product Development Center—a comprehensive hub for craft preservation, skill development, enterprise creation, and market access. The center will serve as a sanctuary for endangered crafts, a workshop for skill development, a classroom for business training, and a gateway to markets beyond Sudan's borders.
Project Components:
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Production Workspace | Safe, equipped facilities for pottery, weaving, basketry, leatherwork, wood carving, and other crafts. Artisans gain access to tools, equipment, and a dignified working environment. |
| Vocational Training and Skills Transfer | Master-apprentice programs ensuring craft traditions continue. Elder master craftspeople train younger generations, preserving techniques that might otherwise disappear forever. |
| Product Development and Design Support | Working with designers to refine traditional products for contemporary markets while maintaining cultural integrity. Artisans learn to adapt designs, improve quality, and meet international standards . |
| Business and Financial Literacy Training | Education in pricing, costing, marketing, financial management, and business planning. Artisans learn to run their craft activities as sustainable enterprises, not just hobbies. |
| Intellectual Property Awareness | Training on intellectual property rights, helping artisans protect their designs and benefit fully from their creativity . |
| Market Linkages and Access | Connections to local, national, and international markets, including export opportunities through initiatives like MADE51 and "Made in Sudan". Development of online platforms and participation in trade fairs. |
| Women's Economic Empowerment | Targeted support for women artisans, including flexible schedules, childcare considerations, and women-only training sessions addressing specific barriers women face in the craft sector . |
| Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities | Adapted workspaces and training for artisans with disabilities, building on models like SAA'ID at the Mycetoma Research Centre, which provides vocational training for amputees and disabled persons to learn income-generating skills and become productive, self-reliant, and confident . |
| Documentation and Inventory | Systematic documentation of traditional crafts, techniques, and tools to preserve knowledge for future generations, following models like the Sinkat pottery and basketry documentation project . |
| Advocacy and Policy Engagement | Working with government institutions to develop policies that support the craft sector, increase its contribution to national income, and open international markets for Sudanese handicrafts . |
Target Beneficiaries:
Women artisans in restrictive communities where women face barriers to economic participation and outdoor activities . Programs like UN Women's entrepreneurship support in Kassala State have demonstrated that when women receive training on management, leadership, and practical skills, they gain the tools and confidence to create sustainable livelihoods .
Internally displaced persons (IDPs) with craft skills seeking to rebuild livelihoods
Youth at risk of unemployment who can learn valuable skills and create sustainable incomes
Elderly master craftspeople preserving traditional knowledge that must be passed to new generations
Persons with disabilities seeking dignified, self-reliant work, following the SAA'ID model of enabling disabled persons to learn and develop income-generating skills, perform and upgrade their talents, and be prepared to lead a new life of being productive, self-reliant and confident
Refugee artisans who can connect to global markets through initiatives like MADE51
Communities in DRA's geographic focus areas, building on existing relationships and partnerships
Geographic Focus:
Initial project implementation will prioritize:
States where DRA has established presence and partnerships
Communities with rich handicraft traditions at risk of disappearing
Areas with concentrations of displaced populations and vulnerable artisans
Potential expansion to Sinkat Locality (Red Sea State), Kassala, Gedaref, and other craft-rich regions, building on successful models like the Sinkat pottery and basketry project and the Ghaith Resilience Fund's target states
Expected Outcomes:
Preservation of endangered Sudanese craft traditions through documentation and skills transfer
Sustainable income generation for 200+ artisans annually
Intergenerational skill transfer from master craftspeople to youth
Creation of market-ready handicraft products with cultural integrity and international quality standards
Increased business knowledge and financial literacy among participating artisans
Enhanced protection of intellectual property for traditional designs
Strengthened community resilience through cultural and economic empowerment
Increased contribution of crafts to household incomes and local economies
Improved dignity, confidence, and social standing for women artisans and persons with disabilities
Sustainability:
The Manawashi Handicraft Product Development Center is designed for long-term sustainability through:
Revenue sharing from product sales reinvested in center operations
Fee-for-service training programs for organizations and individuals
Membership models for ongoing artisan support
Partnerships with local and international markets, including export channels
Integration with existing community networks and government institutions
Ongoing documentation and knowledge management ensuring continuity
Advocacy for supportive government policies that recognize crafts' economic potential
Partnerships and Collaboration:
DRA will seek partnerships with:
Government institutions including the National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums (NCAM)
Academic institutions like the Beja Cultural Studies Center, Centre for Darfur Heritage at Nyala University, and Kassala University
International organizations including UNHCR (MADE51), UN Women, and AICS
Funding partners such as the European Union, Mellon Foundation, and others supporting cultural preservation and livelihood development
Local community-based organizations and women's groups
The Vision:
As Muhaira al-Tayib, a Sudanese handicraft designer, explains: "The project aims to introduce the world to Sudanese handicrafts and traditional products and marketing them under the trademark, 'Made in Sudan,' where producers abide by high-quality production using local raw materials of high quality" .
The Director of the Department of Models at the Sudanese Ministry of Finance, Wael Fahmi Badwi, affirms that "small traditional crafts produce job opportunities for families and societies and combat poverty. They play an important role in increasing national income" .
A study on palm frond weaving in Meroe recommends "uniting the efforts of all the institutions in the field of traditional crafts under a single institution that may develop aims, set the right policies, and implement programmes that would use traditional crafts in sustainable development, thereby ensuring their preservation and transfer to future generations" .
The Manawashi Handicraft Product Development Center is DRA's contribution to this vision. It is a place where heritage is not just preserved but lived, where artisans are not just supported but empowered, and where Sudan's rich cultural traditions become engines of economic opportunity for generations to come.
Your Contribution:
$50 - Training materials and supplies for one artisan
$100 - Business skills training for one artisan
$250 - Complete tool kit for one artisan (loom, pottery wheel, carving tools, etc.)
$500 - Support one master artisan to train 10 apprentices
$1,000 - Product development support for 5 artisans (design, prototyping, quality improvement)
$2,500 - Market access package including photography, online listing, and trade fair participation
$5,000 - Establish a dedicated production workspace for 10 artisans
$10,000 - Comprehensive community craft center serving 50+ artisans annually
Join Dara Development Organization in weaving a stronger, more hopeful Sudan—one thread, one artisan, one masterpiece at a time.