In Makal boma, Malakal County, 43-year-old farmer Adwok Jud starts his day at first light. Before the sun rises high over the Nile, he is already in his field, checking for weeds, tilling the soil with his hoe, and watering neat rows of onions, tomatoes, kudra, and sweet potatoes. By mid-morning, he returns home to his family, while a guard watches over the farm at night to protect the crops from theft and damage.For Adwok, farming is more than a livelihood – it is a pathway back to stability.Before the 2013 crisis in South Sudan, Adwok was a successful trader in Malakal city. He owned three boats, kept cattle, and sold timber. When violence erupted, he fled north to Sudan, losing the business he had built over many years.Upon returning to South Sudan, he reopened a small shop and, with training support from humanitarian partners, began farming. However, last year, devastating floods submerged his fields, destroying his harvest. He was forced to borrow money and sell his assets to survive.“I lost almost everything again,” he recalls.Through the Building Resilient Livelihoods to Climate Change (BRLC) project, funded by the Government of the Kingdom of Norway, FAO is supporting 1 000 vulnerable households in Malakal to produce cereals, legumes, and vegetables.The project helps communities use flood and runoff waters as a climate adaptation strategy, enabling year-round food production for both household consumption and local markets. Farmer groups are supported to grow vegetables through irrigation, while production is linked to fresh food voucher assistance for households affected by malnutrition.With training delivered by FAO and its implementing partner Golden Village, Adwok learned good agricultural practices, including row planting, timely planting, proper irrigation in the mornings and evenings, and crop rotation. For example, he now grows tomatoes followed by onions on the same plot to maintain soil health.“These practices have changed everything,” he says.This season, Adwok’s onions and tomatoes are thriving. He expects to harvest around 13 sacks of onions, each weighing roughly 120 kg.He estimates that his net income from the harvest will exceed SSP 7 million (USD 1 532) – an 80 percent increase compared to last year.With the improved income, Adwok expects to be able to feed his family more adequately, buying sorghum, meat, eggs, milk and sugar. He also hopes to pay school fees and purchase clothes for his children. Married with 16 children – six sons and ten daughters – this added stability could make a profound difference.“I am very happy,” he says with a smile. “Now I can take care of my family.”A former trader at heart, Adwok hopes that within three to five years, he will be able to rebuild his pre-crisis business. Farming, he says, is now the foundation that will allow him to save and invest again.He remains deeply grateful for the support received.“I will not forget FAO’s support,” he says. “I will always remember how great it was.”For farmers like Adwoc, restoring the ability to produce food and earn an income is not only about recovery – it is about rebuilding dignity, stability and hope for the future. Through initiatives such as the BRLC project, communities in Malakal are gradually turning vulnerability into opportunity, strengthening their resilience to climate shocks while creating new pathways for food security and livelihoods. At the same time, the work of Adwoc and other farmers is helping to ensure a steady and affordable supply of fresh foods for families across Malakal.

JONGLEI STATE, South Sudan – “I left at night, crawling to avoid the crossfire,” said Rachiel, a mother of seven from Baidit, in South Sudan’s Jonglei State. “It took me two days to reach safety – I arrived with nothing but my life.”After fleeing an upsurge in violence that has broken out in recent months, Rachiel, 55, and her family are staying with relatives in Pagook.Since the start of the year, some 370,000 people in South Sudan have been forced to leave their homes, more than 280,000 in Jonglei alone. Most fled with only the clothes they were wearing and have no food, shelter or healthcare access; over the past week, at least 16 health facilities have been looted, destroyed or forced to close, making it even harder to reach critical support.Grace, a 45-year-old mother of five, described the terror as chaos erupted around her home.“We escaped with nothing,” she told UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, which is the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency. “Without this centre, many families would have nowhere else to turn” – Nyalueth  Both women were waiting to be seen at the Pagook healthcare centre in Baidit, where UNFPA is working with partners to provide essential sexual and reproductive health services and life-saving medical supplies.UNFPA estimates there are over 440,000 pregnant women in South Sudan, who for the most part cannot reach any antenatal or child birth assistance. This puts them and their newborns at greater risk of death, disease and complications, especially as living conditions deteriorate.Outside the clinic, the queue kept growing. “Without this center, many families would have nowhere else to turn,” said Nyalueth, 30, a mother of six also waiting to see a health worker.Health services brought to the brink As the crisis continues to spiral, some 26,000 people have also arrived in Mingkaman, in the neighboring Lakes State, in search of refuge. “I don’t have soap, milk for my baby, a mosquito net or sleeping mat,” said a 30-year-old new mother who had fled from Twic East County in Jonglei State. “My child is not feeling well, but I don’t know where the health facility is.” Three quarters of the population of South Sudan already live below the poverty line, and two thirds are in need of humanitarian assistance. In addition to severe hunger and the cholera outbreaks, severe floods frequently cut off entire communities, meaning pregnant women must wade through waterlogged terrain to reach care. Now in the latest fighting, ambulances and medical equipment have been seized and humanitarians prevented from reaching people in need, while ongoing arrivals of refugees and returnees from neighboring Sudan are further stressing a struggling healthcare network.  “We have supplies to last maybe not even two months” – Health worker, Mingkaman“Currently we are seeing about 80 to 90 pregnant women per day at the antenatal clinic, with up to eight deliveries per day,” said one health worker in Mingkaman. “This was not the case before the crisis in Jonglei – the increase has created a heavy workload on the few staff and strained our limited resources. We have supplies to last maybe not even two months.” Martha* fled with her five children to Mingkaman and is currently camping on the premises of a primary school. “We escaped the terrible gunshots, but we are left with nothing in our hands. There is no food, no shelter, no hygiene – I am worried for my daughters’ well-being,” she told UNFPA. “We are staying under trees. Children are starving and sick with coughs and fever.”UNFPA responding despite severe constraints UNFPA is assisting with airlifting medical supplies to Akobo, Bor, Pibor and Mingkaman, and all its supported health facilities in these areas are operational. Despite the danger and challenges, three mobile health teams are managing to reach remote communities with vital maternal and reproductive services, and seven women and girls’ safe spaces offer survivors of violence a place to heal.  “Services don’t stop for conflict” – JohnThere are mounting reports of gender-based violence against displaced women and girls, as they are cut off from support networks and protection mechanisms are crumbling. UNFPA is coordinating with partners to ensure response and protection across northern Jonglei, sending skilled health workers and providing post-rape treatment kits and other essential supplies. “Services don’t stop for conflict,” said John, 45, a gender-based violence response officer at the clinic in Pagook. “We have not stopped working – even during the current conflict, we carry on.” South Sudan is one of the world’s most underfunded humanitarian crises, with an immediate and long-lasting impact on the individual realities of the country’s women and girls. As health centres and safe spaces close down, there are fewer options for safe deliveries and to ensure survivors’ safety – and dwindling chances for girls to stay to decide their own futures.UNFPA’s response to the crisis has been possible thanks to support from the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund, the European Union's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), the Republic of Korea's International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund led by OCHA. *Name changed for privacy and protection

 UNESCO and partners in South Sudan are enhancing access to information for communities across the country. With support from the Government of Japan, five community and local radio stations are being renovated and rebuilt.In South Sudan, radio remains one of the most important and reliable ways people access information. Across towns and counties, it carries news, public announcements, local conversations, and music in many of the country’s languages. Travelling across the country can be difficult and internet access remains limited, but radio airwaves continue to connect communities in ways few other communications platforms can.This year’s World Radio Day comes at a significant moment. South Sudan continues to navigate the effects of conflict, economic crises, climate shocks, and displacement, even as efforts toward peace and sustainable development move forward.In a country still grappling with conflict, radio plays an important role in promoting peace and encouraging dialogue within and between communities. With national elections scheduled for December 2026, access to accurate and trusted information is increasingly important, enabling citizens to engage meaningfully in a key democratic process.Community radio is coming to Terekeka CountyIn Central Equatoria, work has begun in Terekeka County to establish the area’s first community radio station. UNESCO recently handed over the designated site where a currently unused building will be transformed into Terekeka Community Radio in the coming months.Community representatives attended the site handover to contractors in January 2026, including members of the Commissioner’s office, radio board members, station volunteers, elders, youth leaders, and women leaders.Terekeka County is home to diverse communities, many of them pastoralist, with cattle camps spread across the area. For its residents, a community radio station will help connect communities that are often separated by distance and limited transport. It will also create a space for discussions about farming, livelihoods, education, and other local concerns to take place within the county itself.Even before construction began, preparations were underway. UNESCO supported the establishment of a governance board and listener club and trained young volunteers who will help manage and operate the station. Volunteers noted the training strengthened their technical skills and confidence, and they expressed hope that once the station is operational, it will improve access to information and contribute to greater stability in the area.“We have been waiting for this moment for a long time, and now we are ready to put our skills into practice to serve our community better,” said Mr. Jelle Makasi.Restoring state broadcasting in MalakalFurther north in Upper Nile State, UNESCO and partners are rebuilding a local radio station from the ground up.Media infrastructure in Malakal was severely damaged during the 2013 conflict, including the buildings of the South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation’s radio and television services. More than a decade later, communities continue to face challenges linked to limited infrastructure, displacement, and periodic insecurity.Rebuilding SSBC’s radio station marks an important step in restoring public service broadcasting in the state.Breaking ground on the site recently, Deputy Minister of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services David Yauyau emphasized the role of the station in supporting communities:“Malakal has shown incredible resilience. Today, we are signaling to the people of Upper Nile that they are at the heart of our digital and telecommunications agenda. This radio station will serve as a mirror, reflecting local culture, languages, and stories. It will act as a bridge, connecting development directly to farmers, youth, and elders. It will also serve as a shield, protecting citizens from misinformation and hate speech.”UNESCO Representative to South Sudan, Yayoi Segi-Vltchek, reaffirmed UNESCO’s commitment to enhancing access to information and strengthening media development across the country:“In South Sudan, access to reliable and timely information is not a luxury, it is essential – and radio plays a vital role in society. It informs, connects, and creates space for women, young people, and marginalized communities to be heard. It also supports dialogue and helps communities navigate periods of change with greater confidence.” Expanding access across the countryRadio renovations are also progressing in other parts of South Sudan. In Western Bahr El Ghazal State, work has started at SSBC’s radio station in Wau. In Yambio, upgrades are underway to strengthen local broadcasting facilities. At the University of Juba, two studios are being renovated to support the university’s official radio station and provide media and journalism students with a practical space to build their skills.As South Sudan prepares for the 2026 elections, radio will continue to play a central role in informing citizens, supporting dialogue, and strengthening access to reliable information across the country.

UNITED NATIONS, Madagascar, Mozambique, and South Sudan – As climate change deepens existing gender inequalities, the ClimateEmpower programme is taking on the issue of climate vulnerability in Madagascar, Mozambique, and South Sudan. ClimateEmpower is spearheaded by UNFPA – the United Nations Population Fund, which is the sexual and reproductive health agency of the UN – and Zonta International, an international non-governmental organization. UNFPA and Zonta International have been in a global partnership since 2008, supporting programs on ending obstetric fistula, accelerating action to end child marriage, and preventing gender-based violence. Recognizing that the scale and complexity of the climate crisis cannot be addressed by governments alone, the ClimateEmpower program is designed to address these challenges by engaging communities, businesses, innovators, and local enterprises to strengthen climate resilience and advance gender equality. Below are five entrenched social challenges triggered by climate change, which the initiative is confronting head-on:1. Climate-induced displacement and stress are fueling a rise in gender-based violence.Social norms that accept or justify violence in marital or dating relationships remain deeply embedded across the three ClimateEmpower countries. In Madagascar, over 40 per cent of women report experiencing intimate partner violence, with about 41 per cent of women and 28 per cent of men believing wife-beating is justified. In South Sudan, intimate partner violence is normalized due to conflict, bride price practices and patriarchal control.These attitudes are magnified under climate stress. In South Sudan, extreme weather events such as floods and droughts have disrupted livelihoods and forced displacement, intensifying intimate partner violence and sexual exploitation. A 50 per cent increase in gender-based violence incidents was noted in climate crisis-affected areas. For example, Lual, a gender-based violence prevention officer with International Medical Corps, tells UNFPA that “delay in fetching water, due to droughts exacerbated by climate change, leads to an increase in domestic violence, as women and girls are exposed to beatings by their husbands”. In Mozambique, post-cyclone displacement has similarly increased exposure to violence, especially for women in informal settlements. By integrating gender-based violence prevention into climate action, ClimateEmpower is turning community dialogues into tools for both gender justice and resilience-building.2. Extreme weather and economic instability are driving an increase in child marriage as a survival tactic.The belief that a girl must obey her parents when it comes to marriage is particularly strong in rural and crisis-affected regions. In Mozambique, child marriage is normalized in many provinces — 56 per cent in Nampula and 61 per cent in Cabo Delgado — exacerbated by the ongoing conflict and recurrent climate-induced emergencies. In South Sudan, due to the risks associated with conflict and rampant poverty, parents opt to marry off their girls early to receive a higher bride price and to avoid adolescent pregnancies. Droughts and floods also worsen household economic stress, further incentivizing early marriage. A youth specialist in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, explained that young women in refugee camps face pressure when they are not married by a certain age: “When she requests support from parents, she receives an answer like, ‘You are an adult. It's your time to feed us. We cannot continue to offer you soap and clothes. Please wake up!’”ClimateEmpower addresses this through youth-focused Climate Innovation HackLabs, particularly targeting girls and young women entrepreneurs and innovators, to grow and scale innovation ideas into commercially viable actions or solutions to address these vulnerabilities in their communities. For instance, it is supporting the Mozambican women-led enterprise BAAIKE, which repurposes fishing nets and plastic waste into bicycles, thereby offering women and girls in remote areas a sustainable and safe means to access essential services, including healthcare and school.3. Drought and water scarcity are making safe menstrual hygiene management nearly impossible for millions.In several project regions, people who menstruate face isolation or unsafe hygiene practices due to taboos that view menstruation as impure. These norms not only harm girls’ self-esteem and undermine access to education, they also impede access to water, sanitation, and health services – which are increasingly strained by climate change.In Madagascar, where 95 per cent of women in vulnerable areas must travel over 30 minutes to fetch water, climate-induced drought makes menstrual hygiene management an even more serious concern. ClimateEmpower is working through women-led and youth-led solutions and education to address these intersecting vulnerabilities.4. Food insecurity and crisis-driven poverty are leading to higher rates of adolescent pregnancy.The notion that womanhood begins with motherhood pressures girls into early pregnancies and unions. In all three ClimateEmpower countries, adolescent fertility rates are high: In Mozambique, 36 per cent of girls become pregnant between the ages of 15 and 19. In South Sudan, this number is 30 per cent. The median age of sexual debut is 14 years, which increases the chances of adolescent pregnancies and death or disability from obstetric fistula or sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. These pressures intensify in times of crisis. In Madagascar’s Grand Sud, for example, food insecurity is pushing adolescents into negative coping strategies, such as transactional sex, which can lead to early childbearing.ClimateEmpower promotes alternative role models by establishing and supporting peer-led online and offline spaces for experience sharing, support seeking, and empowerment. The initiative also supports community advocacy and campaigns, encouraging girls to continue with education even if they have become pregnant or had a child.5. Climate disasters are destroying health infrastructure and cutting off life-saving sexual and reproductive health services.A pervasive belief across the region is that sexual and reproductive health services are only appropriate for married women. This restricts unmarried women and adolescents from accessing contraception and maternal healthcare, fueling cycles of unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions.Mozambique’s maternal mortality rate remains high (233 deaths per 100,000 live births), and climate disruptions, such as cyclones and prolonged droughts, have made maternal health services even less accessible. In South Sudan, maternal mortality remains one of the highest in the world (1223 per 100,000 live births), and climate-induced disasters make access to health services even scarcer.ClimateEmpower is using community education and youth empowerment program to destigmatize sexual and reproductive health and make it inclusive, even for adolescents and unmarried women. These lessons are not just for women and girls. Involving men and local leaders is helping to dismantle presumptions and stigmas at all levels. The program shows that, even as the climate crisis takes a devastating global toll, the response does not have to be limited to environmental action alone. We can use the climate response as an opportunity to dismantle harmful norms that have held women and girls back for generations. Doing so is its own form of climate justice: Empowering women and ending gender-based violence will lead to better and bolder community resilience – and this will pave the way for more inclusive climate action.