Stories
August 7, 2026 • 2 min read
Faiza Ibrahim Abkar is head of household in Tori Village in Kassab Camp, Sudan, and among those who received GOAL's Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance generously funded by ECHO. With the support, she partnered with her brother to open a small shop selling biscuits and sweets. What began as a modest investment gradually developed into a reliable source of income for the family.
Years of conflict and displacement have left many families in Sudan struggling to afford even the most basic necessities. Through GOAL’s Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) programme, 2,590 vulnerable households received flexible cash support. Of these, 1,790 households received three rounds of 360,000 SDG (approx. € 600) per round, while 800 households received a one-off payment of 520,000 SDG (approx. € 867). This support let families meet their own priorities, whether purchasing food, covering household expenses, or investing in income-generating opportunities.
Meeting Immediate Needs
Faiza Ibrahim Abkar is among the households who received the cash assistance. Faiza lives in Tori Village in Kassab Camp, where she is responsible for supporting 11 members of her family. Before receiving assistance through GOAL’s MPCA programme, providing enough food and other essential items for her household was a struggle.
Rising prices, displacement, and limited livelihood opportunities forced the family to borrow money, reduce the number of meals they ate, and sell personal belongings to meet their most urgent needs.
Through the programme, Faiza received three rounds of cash assistance, with 360,000 SDG (approx. €600) provided in each round, amounting to a total of 1,080,000 SDG (approx. €1,800). This flexible support allowed her to make decisions based on her family’s most pressing priorities.
After receiving the first round of assistance, Faiza focused on meeting her family’s immediate needs. She purchased food and clothing for her children, helping the household recover from months of uncertainty and ensuring that they had the essential items they needed.
Investing in a Small Business
Once her family’s immediate needs had been addressed, Faiza began thinking about how she could create a more sustainable source of income.
Using the second and third rounds of cash assistance, she partnered with her brother to open a small shop selling biscuits and sweets. What began as a modest investment gradually developed into a reliable source of income for the family.
Today, the business generates approximately 200,000 SDG (approx. € 333) per month, helping Faiza cover food, household expenses, and other essential needs while reducing the family’s reliance on borrowing money.
Looking Ahead with Confidence
The additional income has brought greater stability to Faiza and her family. They can now meet their basic needs more consistently and no longer have to rely as heavily on debt or reduce the number of meals they eat.
Reflecting on the support, Faiza said: “The cash assistance changed our lives. I was able to buy food and clothes for my children. The business that I started using the assistance is now helping us to earn an income and support our family. We no longer have to skip meals or depend on borrowing money. Today, we have hope for a better future.”
The flexible cash assistance helped Faiza’s family meet their immediate needs while also enabling them to invest in a livelihood opportunity of their choice. For her family, this meant not only putting food on the table but also establishing a sustainable source of income that is helping them move forward with greater stability, dignity, and independence.
