Margie Buchanan-Smith

Margie Buchanan-Smith has been involved in the humanitarian aid sector for over 20 years, both as a policy researcher and in operational program management. Her current focus is Sudan, especially Darfur, where she first worked in the late 1980s. During the current conflict in Darfur she has worked as part of the Feinstein International Center’s team, leading a study on the impact of the conflict on trade and markets in 2008. She has also advised and supported NGOs and UN agencies in Darfur in their livelihoods and environmental programming. Margie was formerly a Research Fellow and Coordinator for the Humanitarian Policy Group at the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) in London, a Research Fellow at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) at Sussex University, and worked for 3 years as head of the Emergencies Unit at ActionAid. Margie now combines humanitarian consultancy and research work with training, facilitation and coaching of aid workers.

Email: margiebsmith@aol.com

Reports

  • On the Hoof: Livestock Trade in Darfur

    This report explores what has happened to the livestock trade in the greater Darfur region during nine years of conflict, since 2003. Livestock is one of Darfur’s main economic assets and makes a major contribution to Sudan’s national livestock and … Read More →

  • Adaptation and Devastation

    Conflict and crisis in Darfur has continued unabated since 2003. Whilst there has been a growing body of knowledge about how this has impacted on livelihoods, there has been much less focus on understanding how trade and markets – the lifeblood of Darfur’s economy – have been affected.

    • Briefing Papers

  • Markets and Trade in Darfur

    The Feinstein International Center provides advisory support to the Darfur Development and Reconstruction Agency (DRA) – a national NGO in Sudan – to set up and manage a community-based market monitoring network in the Darfur Region. The goal of this market monitoring initiative is to deepen analysis and understanding of the shifting patterns of trade and markets in Darfur on an ongoing basis for key agricultural and livestock commodities; identify how livelihoods and the economy can be supported through trade; and identify peace-building opportunities through trade.