DiSTO Sudan
Country context
- Sudan has a population of 51.7 million people (ITU, 2025).
- In 2023, the most recent conflict began, which has led to many displaced persons, casualties and injuries (Gibreel et al, 2026).
- With the outbreak of war in Sudan in 2023, the internet has become vital for enabling people to achieve everyday activities, such as students studying online (Gibreel and Abdallah 2025, Gibreel et al 2026).
Projects in Sudan
DiSTO Sudan comprises of two projects:
- Digital resilience in Kuwait, Qatar and Sudan (2026 - present)
- Socio-Digital inequalities in education & AI literacy projects (2026 - present)
Digital Resilience in Kuwait, Sudan and Qatar
Through crises, the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can offer a way for people to continue living. The study will show how the digitisation of services can translate into adaptive outcomes.
By employing a multistage research design, the project will apply the Digital Resilience in Crisis Indicator (DRCI) (Helsper et al, 2021) to the three country contexts.
Access the full Digital Resilience project page for more information.
Socio-Digital inequalities in education & AI literacy
The most recent conflict, beginning in 2023, has severely impacted education. E-learning and the internet now play a crucial role in reconnecting universities with their students, but internet access and digital inclusion remain barriers to students’ ability to access educational content and continue their studies.
This project will help policymakers and NGOs inside and outside Sudan understand three interconnected issues: crisis and conflict, structural inequalities, and digital inclusion. The goal is to develop context-based, localized solutions that support resilience and development.
Resources
Gibreel, O. and Abdalla, A. (2025): Bridging the Digital Divide: Sustainable E-learning During Pandemics and Civil Unrest. World Journal of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, Vol. 20, Nos 1/2, pp.59-78
Gibreel, O., Saeed, A. A., Kheir, E., Almekkawi, S. M., Mükke, L., Gadkarim, M. H., Mahdi, M., Elkarib, O., Fahal, A H. & Ali, Q. M. (2026). Electronic learning during the 2023 Sudan war: a cross-sectional study of the socio-economic, behavioural and technological dimensions of student engagement. Open Learning: The Journal of Open, Distance and e-Learning, 1–16.