of their sample were motivated to migrate to find work and escape poverty, 58 percent had no formal education, and 58 percent were previously engaged in agriculture, that is, only had agricultural skills (Daoud, Eldeen, and Bello 2017). As a consequence, 60 percent of the respondents in the study ended up working as ‘mobile sellers’ and 24 percent as ‘food vendors’, 68 percent frequently changed jobs, and 50 percent worked for more than 15 hours per day. When asked what challenges they faced trying to secure more predictable, reliable employment, 96 percent said “lack of capital” and “low access to credit” (Daoud, Eldeen, and Bello 2017).

IDPs represent another population that has migrated to Khartoum in the hopes of escaping poverty and finding work. There are estimated to be between 1.2 and 1.5 million IDPs living in and around Khartoum (Bello, Daoud, and Baig 2014, 169). Like many of the youth who migrate to Khartoum, however, it is not uncommon for the IDPs who do so to lack educations and skills and to only be able to find work in the informal sector. For example, a study of female IDPs living on the outskirts of Khartoum found that 71 percent had no formal education, 71 percent had only agricultural skills, and 26 percent could only secure work as ‘street vendors’ (Bello, Daoud, and Baig 2014, 171).

Despite the many challenges, some Sudanese are able to improve their socioeconomic circumstances through employment in Sudan’s informal sector. Among businesswomen in Khartoum State who prepared and sold food either in a market or out of their homes, 74 percent had no formal education and “90% of them lack[ed] the basic knowledge for managing a business properly” (El Zein et al. 2008, 42).<sup>25</sup> That said, most of these women’s businesses had lasted for at least five years, if not more, and most of these women’s businesses made a profit during that time. As a result, they were able to “meet expenses of children’s education, health and medical care” and “[enhance] their ability to save” (El Zein et al. 2008, 54).

The informal sector has been a mainstay of not just Sudan’s economy but also Africa’s economy for decades. As of the mid-1990s, the informal sector was estimated to be employing 60–70 percent of Africa’s workforce, accounting for over 20 percent of its GDP (Odera 2013). Based on the above-cited studies, the informal sector is a large and growing sector in Sudan, particularly among the country’s more vulnerable populations. According to the FGDs, however, there is little meaningful support for those who are employed in this sector. For example, a female youth from Khartoum who was not working said, “It would be good if there is [support].” A male youth from Khartoum who did not have a job said, “Yes, they need. They need to accompany people working this job and learn skills from them till they became able to do the job alone.” A working woman from Madani said, “There is only crafts schools. It is for young people, but old people don’t have any trainings.” A male youth from Madani who did not have a job said, “No, I think he gets the job training only by practicing the work.”

# **Digital technology also transforms interactions in the economic sphere**

Access to digital technologies and social media has transformed the way youth interact and exercise their agency in social, political, and other arenas. In late 2013, demonstrations took place in greater Khartoum

> 25 (El Zein et al. 2008, 42) Study included 50 businesswomen who prepared and sold food in one of thirteen markets cafeteria style or operating from their homes take-out style.

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