Empowering Higher Education to Address Female Genital Mutilation in Sudan

ongoing

Sudan faces significant challenges in addressing Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), a deeply rooted practice with severe health, psychological, and social consequences. Despite legal frameworks and advocacy efforts, the integration of gender-sensitive education on FGM and its consequences within Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) remains limited. The HEAL-FGM project seeks to bridge this gap by systematically enhancing the capacity of Sudanese HEIs to educate students, professionals, policymakers, and communities on FGM prevention, gender equality, and human rights. Through a structured capacity-building approach, HEAL-FGM will modernize curricula, develop interdisciplinary educational programs, and establish HEAL Action Hubs as centers for research, advocacy, and innovation. The project will also engage key stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, policymakers, and community leaders, to foster a sustainable, multi-sectoral response against FGM. The project consortium, comprising Sudanese HEIs, European academic partners, and civil society organizations, will implement workshops, training programs, and digital learning resources to support long-term institutional change and policy impact. HEAL-FGM will deliver four enhanced university courses, open educational resources (OERs), and a Policy Influence Toolkit, ensuring that the fight against FGM is embedded in education and professional practice beyond the project’s duration.