Activity Description: Practical Action Sudan (formerly ITDG) brings together blacksmiths, metal, and aluminum casters in a craft association. This facilitates the provision of business development services, links to local banks for gaining access to credit, and technical training to enable the blacksmiths to improve the quality and diversity of their manufactured products and increase their market share. The program also offers technical training to help casters improve the quality and range of their products and develop their tools and equipment to increase productivity.

45 blacksmiths, 42 metal workers, 15 aluminium casters and six metal casters were being trained in new skills during 2001-2002. Practical Action Sudan has also trained blacksmiths in western Sudan.