IJGA · Vol 1, Nos 1/2 · 2025

Harnessing Gum Arabic to Strengthen Sudan’s Trade Bargaining Power, Livelihoods, Peacebuilding, and Green Finance, Dr Idris Adam, Dr Hiba Abdulrahman, Dr Hatim Elkhidir

Forestry Research Scientist, Director of Regional Tree Seed Centre - ElObeid
Agricultural Research Corporation, ElObeid Research Station, ElObeid
Sudan
Forestry Research Scientist
Elobeid Agricultural Research Station, Agricultural Research Corporation
Sudan
Forestry Research Scientist
ElObeid Agricultural Research Station, Agricultural Research Corporation
Sudan
Article Type: Research
Received: 2 June 2025Revised: 17 July 2025Accepted: 26 August 2025Published: 30 August 2025
Purpose

This paper explores how Sudan’s absolute advantage in gum arabic can enhance trade bargaining power, improve rural livelihoods, build peace, and promote green finance. It highlights its economic, environmental, and sociocultural significance.

Design/Methodology/Approach

A multidisciplinary approach combines a literature review, policy analysis, and stakeholder insights to examine trade patterns, production capacities, institutional challenges, and financing opportunities.

Findings

Despite supplying over 70% of global gum arabic for decades, Sudan under-utilises its potential due to policy gaps and unsustainable practices. An integrated strategy involving policy reform, capacity building, sustainable management, and innovative finance could maximise its benefits.

Original/Value of the Paper

This paper frames gum arabic as both an economic commodity and a tool for peacebuilding, resilience, and green transition, offering a novel interdisciplinary perspective.

Research Limitations/Implications

Based mainly on secondary data, the paper addresses the gap by creating global research on the species.

Practical Implications

Guides policy-makers, investors, and producers.

Keywords
Gum ArabicSenegalia SenegalRural LivelihoodsPeacebuildingGreen FinanceSustainable Development
Citation

Adam, I., Abdulrahman, H. and Elkhidir, H. (2025): Harnessing Gum Arabic to Strengthening Sudan’s Trade Bargaining Power, Livelihoods, Peacebuilding, and Green Finance, International Journal of Gum Arabic (IJGA), Vol. 1, No. 1/2, pp. 43-56.