Keywords: Conflict zone research, fragile states, computer-assisted personal interviews (CAPI), interviewing challenges, fieldwork coordination

ORB International regularly conducts computer-assisted personal interview (CAPI) studies in fragile, conflict, and post-conflict states across Africa, including Libya, Somalia, and Sudan. The civil war in Sudan, which began in April 2023, has presented unprecedented challenges for interviewers working in a rapidly changing and often insecure environment. This presentation highlights key strategies developed to address these challenges, offering lessons for conducting research in conflict zones globally. The unique conditions in Sudan necessitated adaptive approaches to recruitment, training, and fieldwork coordination. Specific strategies were employed to navigate interethnic tensions, ensure team connectivity during network blackouts, and secure access to hard-to-reach or skeptical populations through trusted local networks. Ongoing tracking of conflict dynamics further enabled adjustments to sampling while maintaining the safety of field teams. These practical adaptations illustrate how research organizations can balance methodological rigor with flexibility in challenging environments. They highlight the importance of innovative logistical planning, tailored interviewer training, and dynamic quality control measures. While drawn from Sudan’s context, these insights offer a framework for researchers facing similar challenges in other fragile and conflict-affected settings.