Global Professor leads major research on women’s survival and resilience in war zones

Fundamental research on women’s resilience during the conflicts in Sudan and South Sudan, is now underway. 

Emphasising lived experiences, Professor Nafisa Bedri, a Global Professor in Gender and Reproductive Health from Ahfad University for Women in Sudan has commenced a four-year project aimed at mapping the political and economic context that influences the unique resilience strategies women use during periods of instability and violence. 

The research, ‘Gendering War in Sudan and South Sudan’, funded by the British Academy through its Global Professorships  2024 awards and marking the first time a Sudanese scholar has received the award, explores resilience during the wars in the two countries, with a focus on women’s experiences. 

Professor Bedri alongside Professor Tamsin Bradley from the University of Portsmouth’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, in England, will document, in real time, how women and girls living in Sudan and South Sudan are affected by the wars there, exploring how they are navigating the ongoing conflict. 

Alongside this, Professor Bedri - who holds over 25 years’ experience in the field of gender, reproductive health, gender-based violence, advocacy, communication and behaviour change, and policy analysis skills -, plans to develop a technical advice unit to address the specific needs of women and young people affected by the Sudan conflict.  

Professor Bedri said: “This project will deepen the partnership between the University of Portsmouth and Ahfad University for Women, focusing on rebuilding and strengthening our collaboration.  

“I am also actively working with the Sudanese community here in Portsmouth to support resilience and celebrate their cultural heritage.” 

Professor Bradley added: “It is fantastic to see this important work beginning to take shape at the University of Portsmouth, and we are thrilled to be working with Professor Bedri. Her research will document the resilience of women and the challenges they face amid the ongoing war in Sudan, making this work especially crucial given the recent crises.  

“She has also been invited to speak by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the United Nations (UN) agencies on current political and humanitarian developments in the region, including the difficulties faced by local communities and ongoing peacebuilding efforts, making Professor Bedri’s presence and research all the more important.” 

The British Academy's Global Professorships scheme aims to attract internationally recognised established scholars to work in the United Kingdom, to undertake new, coherent and cutting-edge research projects in the humanities and social sciences.  

Professor Bedri is also hosting a symposium on January 21st to unite experts and researchers for a deeper discussion of this key topic. For more information and to book a free space, visit the Gendered Conflict, Unyielding Spirit: The Cultural Power of Sudanese Women Eventbrite page.