Activity Description: The food processing project includes helping community-based women's development associations provide technical assistance to female members including extending credit and marketing support to help in the launch of small businesses selling processed foods.

Five such associations formed with Practical Action Sudan's (formerly ITDG) support now have a combined membership of over 5,000 women. About 9,000 women from Kassala and Gedarif have undertaken training in food processing through the project as of 2002.

During 2001/ 2002, 15 food processing training courses took place. Topics included fruit and vegetable dehydration and making jams and dairy products. Of the 510 women participants, 100 went into business by themselves to produce and sell processed foods locally.