The pursuit of gender equality is an international imperative, and understanding the complexities of inequalities, such as the gender wage gap, proves critical to fostering economic empowerment. In Sudan, gender discrimination in pay significantly reverses overall development and poverty reduction. Although continued war undoubtedly widens such inequalities, comprehending the causes behind the gender wage gap is vital for implementing effective solutions. 

The Depth of Economic Disparity

Sudan faces one of the largest gender pay gaps on the continent. Recent reports indicate that, on average, Sudanese women earn an astonishing 82% less than men for performing the same work. The gender wage gap in Sudan significantly surpasses the global average and underscores the need for immediate, specific interventions.

Directly contributing to this gap, the female labor force participation rate in Sudan stood at a low 14.5% in 2022, down from earlier figures and significantly below the global average. This low participation actively inhibits women’s economic independence and their right to earn a fair wage. Furthermore, occupational segregation frequently confines women to specific areas, such as agriculture or unstructured trade, which typically offer lesser wages and limited opportunities for advancement. Such labor segregation directly limits their earning potential and maintains the wage disparity. A lack of transparency in compensation schemes and discriminatory recruitment practices also increase the wage gap. Without clear guidelines and supervision, inequalities easily perpetuate unimpeded.

Societal and Structural Barriers

Institutionalized cultural practices and traditional gender roles largely explain the gender wage gap in Sudan. In most instances, these roles push women to the outskirts of the formal economy, concentrating them in lower-paying jobs or the informal sector where their work often faces devaluation. Educational disparities also account for a significant share of the gender gap in pay. Though some improvements exist, fewer than half of girls finish primary school, and many do not complete their education. Less literacy among women, particularly those from poorer backgrounds, limits their access to better-paying, more skilled jobs. While entrepreneurial activities among many Sudanese women are rampant, often necessitated by circumstances, they face serious constraints. These include restricted access to finance, a lack of knowledge and skills in business and socio-cultural values that restrain their mobility and prospects.

The intersection of gender and poverty is particularly stark in Sudan. While the overall national poverty rate stood at 46.5% in 2009 for North Sudan, recent data from 2021 indicates that 52.3% of the population is considered multidimensionally poor, with an additional 17.7% vulnerable to multidimensional poverty. Women, especially those without assets, private businesses, or education, are disproportionately affected, with studies showing that 90% of women with high economic dependency live below the poverty line. This direct correlation between the gender wage gap and women’s poverty rates highlights how limited economic opportunities and lower earnings trap women in a cycle of destitution, further exacerbated by their vulnerable employment status. For instance, in 2022, 55.5% of women in Sudan were in vulnerable employment, compared to 36.1% of men, meaning they are less likely to have formal work arrangements, social protection or safety nets.

Conflict’s Devastating Impact

Ongoing socio-political instability and conflict severely impede women’s access to employment and education, thus worsening the gender wage gap in Sudan. Displacement, destruction of infrastructure and breakdown of services disproportionately fall on women and girls, leaving them in increasingly marginalized economic positions. The conflict has also generated an enormous increase in demand for gender-based violence services, placing women and girls at higher risks of sexual exploitation and violence. This violence not only leads to physical and psychological trauma but also undermines their ability to integrate into the economy and gain livelihood, as safety concerns and trauma disrupt their economic engagement.

Paving the Path Forward: Empowering Women for Change

Despite daunting difficulties, several organizations and local women-owned businesses actively contribute to combat gender inequality and empower women economically in Sudan. One such organization is the Gender Centre for Research and Training (GCRT), a Sudanese civil society organization established in Khartoum in 1997. GCRT actively raises awareness on gender concepts to ensure gender mainstreaming in development and government policies. The GCRT focuses on research, training, alliance building, networking, advocacy and creating solidarity as means to achieve its objectives. It promotes women’s equality and their right to be active participants in social, cultural, economic and political life in Sudan, particularly during this transitional period toward democracy and peace.

Since 2011, UN Women has also instituted programs which have helped more than 60 women-owned organizations in Sudan. These programs provide vital skills training, humanitarian relief, and support women’s participation in peacebuilding. This assistance directly empowers women to become game-changers in their communities, demonstrating resilience and possibilities of a more equitable future in Sudan.

Towards a More Equitable Future

The long-lasting gender wage gap in Sudan is a complex issue of entrenched economic disparities, gendered social norms and the devastating impacts of war. The resolution of this issue requires an integrated approach of addressing low women’s labor market participation, occupational segregation, education inequalities and the heightened vulnerabilities of poor and war-affected women. By educating women, empowering them economically, and giving them freedom from violence, agencies like GCRT and UN Women are paving new ways for an improved and equitable Sudan, demonstrating that through concerted efforts, even the biggest roadblocks to gender equality can be overcome.

– Anoushka Rai

Anoushka is based in Frisco, TX, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

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