Human Development in Sudan: Evaluating Progress and Addressing Challenges
Abstract
Research Aims: This study evaluates the human development trajectory of Sudan, focusing on the Human Development Index (HDI), Gender Development Index (GDI), and Inequality-adjusted HDI (IHDI) from 1990 to 2022. It aims to identify progress and persistent challenges in health, education, and income. Methodology: Utilizing secondary data from international reports, this research conducts a quantitative and qualitative analysis of HDI, GDI, and IHDI values, examining trends and disparities over three decades. Research Findings: The HDI of Sudan increased from 0.322 in 1990 to 0.516 in 2022, yet the country remains in the 'Low' human development category, ranked 170 out of 193 countries. The IHDI shows a 35.9% reduction due to inequalities. The GDI value of 0.868 in 2022 reveals substantial gender disparities, with female HDI lagging behind male HDI. These findings highlight the uneven distribution of development benefits and ongoing challenges in achieving equitable human development. Contribution: This study enhances the understanding of human development in Sudan by providing a comprehensive analysis of HDI, GDI, and IHDI trends. It underscores the impact of inequalities and the importance of gender equality for sustainable progress. Policy Implications: Policymakers should focus on reducing inequalities and promoting gender equality through targeted healthcare, education, and economic policies to enhance human development outcomes. Research Limitations: The study relies on secondary data, which may not reflect the most recent realities. Future research could incorporate primary data for more up-to-date insights.
Keywords: Sudan, Human Development, Gender Equality, Economic Development.
References
References
Aalen, L. (2013). Making unity unattractive: The conflicting aims of Sudan's comprehensive peace agreement. Civil Wars, 15(2), 173-191.
Ahmed, M. M. (2010). Global Financial Crisis Discussion Series Paper 19: Sudan Phase 2. Overseas Development Institute, London, UK.
Alam, M. K. (2021). A systematic qualitative case study: questions, data collection, NVivo analysis and saturation. Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management: An International Journal, 16(1), 1-31.
Awad, R. (2022). The power of non-violence: Silmiya & the Sudanese Revolution. Conflict, Security & Development, 22(1), 1-21.
Buny, A. A., & Apet, D. A. Human Resources and Economic Development: A South Sudanese Perspective. Journal for Research on Business and Social Science (ISSN (Online) 2209-7880), 5(6).
Gudo, A. J. A., Deng, J., & Qureshi, A. S. (2022). Analysis of spatiotemporal dynamics of land use/cover changes in Jubek State, South Sudan. Sustainability, 14(17), 10753.
Hutchings, P., Willcock, S., Lynch, K., Bundhoo, D., Brewer, T., Cooper, S., Keech, D., Mekala, S., Mishra, P. P., & Parker, A. (2022). Understanding rural–urban transitions in the Global South through peri-urban turbulence. Nature Sustainability, 5(11), 924-930.
Kohler, J. C., & Bowra, A. (2020). Exploring anti-corruption, transparency, and accountability in the world Health organization, the United nations development programme, the world bank group, and the global fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Globalization and health, 16, 1-10.
Kostelyanets, S. (2022). Sudan’s December revolution and the demise of the Al Bashir Regime. In New Wave of Revolutions in the MENA Region: A Comparative Perspective (pp. 33-56). Springer.
LeRoux-Rutledge, E. (2020). Re-evaluating the “traditional”: How the South Sudanese use established gender narratives to advance women’s equality and empowerment. World Development, 132, 104929.
Mahendradhata, Y., Andayani, N. L. P. E., Hasri, E. T., Arifi, M. D., Siahaan, R. G. M., Solikha, D. A., & Ali, P. B. (2021). The capacity of the Indonesian healthcare system to respond to COVID-19. Frontiers in public health, 9, 649819.
Mamokhere, J. (2022). Understanding the Complex Interplay of Governance, Systematic, and Structural Factors Affecting Service Delivery in South African Municipalities. Commonwealth Youth & Development, 20(2).
Mishra, R., Singh, R. K., & Koles, B. (2021). Consumer decision‐making in Omnichannel retailing: Literature review and future research agenda. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 45(2), 147-174.
Mohamed, S. (2020). Empirical analysis of macroeconomic instability and economic growth in Sudan. International Journal of Economic Development, 13(2), 222-261.
Musa, A. A. M., Bainus, A., & Yulianti, D. (2022). Peningkatan Hubungan Bilateral Sudan-Indonesia Melalui Diplomasi Budaya. Jurnal ICMES, 6(2), 148-165.
Musa, H. G., Fatmawati, I., Nuryakin, N., & Suyanto, M. (2024). Marketing research trends using technology acceptance model (TAM): a comprehensive review of researches (2002–2022). Cogent business & management, 11(1), 2329375.
Musa, H. G., & Musa, A. A. M. (2023). Social media as a political platform in Africa: A bibliometric analysis. Komunikator, 15(2), 129-141.
Nwali, U. (2021). Sustainable Human Security in Africa: Exploring the Effects of Diminishing Natural Resources and Low Sovereign Wealth Funds. Political Economy of Resource, Human Security and Environmental Conflicts in Africa, 39-65.
Rafiq, M., Batool, S. H., Ali, A. F., & Ullah, M. (2021). University libraries response to COVID-19 pandemic: A developing country perspective. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 47(1), 102280.
Saleh, H. G. M., Pradana, M., Rubiyanti, N., & Silvianita, A. (2022). The Effect of Service Quality and Brand Image on Lazada Repurchase Decision (A Case Study of International Students in Bandung).
Sanatani, E. (2020). The Role of Education in Creating Peace, Unity, and a National Identity in South Sudan.
Shrestha, M. (2021). Access to basic services and its linkage with ending poverty. In No Poverty (pp. 1-12). Springer.
Siddig, A. A. (2014). Biodiversity of Sudan: Between the harsh conditions, political instability and civil wars. Biodiversity Journal, 5(4), 545-555.
Copyright (c) 2024 Hassan Gebril Salih, Alnour Abobaker Mohamed Musa, Mohaned Mohamed Adam, Husny Gibreel Musa Saleh

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish in this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
JIAN is licensed under a under a Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) License