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15 November 2022
Government of South Sudan and the United Nations in South Sudan will sign the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2025 tomorrow, 16th November 2022
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11 November 2022
The UN Peacebuilding Commission’s (PBC) ambassadorial-level meeting on South Sudan calls for collaborative approaches towards attainment of sustainable peace through full implementation of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement.
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Press Release
26 September 2022
United Nations Peacebuilding Commission Press Statement on South Sudan
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Latest
The Sustainable Development Goals in South Sudan
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are also the goals the UN is working for in South Sudan:
Publication
27 June 2022
South Sudan UN Common Country Analysis (CCA)
South Sudan faces serious challenges in all areas of sustainable development. In the political sphere, significant progress has been achieved since 2018 when the R-ARCSS was signed. However, there are very important tasks such as the graduation of unified forces that remain to be completed. The population remains highly exposed to repeated and deliberate attacks on civilians and their property, as well as other violations of international, humanitarian and human rights including sexual exploitation and abuse or more broadly conflict-related gender-based violence, among others.
These happen with widespread impunity because institutions and the rule of law is extremely weak, which can easily create a vicious cycle leading to more violence. Linked to this, after many years of conflict and violence there is widespread trauma in a high share of the population, especially those most vulnerable. The precarious security situation creates incentives that preclude consumption (e.g. those who can afford often prefer to neighboring countries) and investment (e.g. in the agricultural sector: if someone’s land can be grabbed any time, s/he will hardly invest in it).
Food insecurity is very high despite the country’s generally fertile soil, and over 8 million people (most of the country’s population) are estimated in need of some sort of humanitarian assistance. Humanitarian needs are often linked to population movements, including new and secondary displacements derived from sub-national conflict, and floods that have increasingly affected South Sudan for several years in a row, e.g. in 2021 the worst flooding in decades has affected some 700,000 people, with the gravest impact on the most vulnerable populations.
There are about 1.7 million internally displaced people (IDP) and 1.7 million IDP returnees, as well as over 2.3 million refugees and asylum seekers in neighboring countries. More than 387,000 refugees have spontaneously returned since the signing of the R-ARCSS in 2018. South Sudan also hosts some 329,000 refugees, the vast majority of whom are from Sudan.
Social indicators, especially those on access to the most basic services such as healthcare, education, water and sanitation and social protection are amongst the worst in the world (even more so for vulnerable groups such as women and especially girls, the elderly, persons with disabilities, etc.). About three quarters of the population are estimated to live in extreme poverty.
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Publication
04 July 2022
2021 UN Country Annual Results Report South Sudan
Throughout the year, the UNCT has enjoyed high-level dialogue with the government on a number of key humanitarian, peace and sustainable development concerns. For example, the National Food Systems Dialogues were used to inform global discussions at the UN’s General Assembly and the UNCT provided financial and technical support for the development of a National Youth Strategy currently at the legislature. The Strategy will support the protection and promotion of the human rights of every young person, empowering each to build their resilience, achieve their potential and make positive contributions as agents of change in South Sudan.
Other key achievements worthy of mention include the mobilization of USD 11.7 million from the UN’s Peacebuilding Support Office for three key initiatives related to provisions under the Revised-Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS): the drafting of the permanent constitution, community action for peaceful resolution; and transitional Justice. A Peacebuilding Fund Secretariat has been established in the RCO to provide coordination and oversight of the projects.
Further, the UNCT facilitated the set-up of the Truth, Healing and Reconciliation Forum, the establishment of governance administration across the 10 States and 3 administrative areas and organization of the fifth Governance forum. The latter identified 20 key actions including addressing floods, mitigating the effects of climate change and expediting the training, graduation and deployment of a unified force.
Regarding Gender and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) several initiatives are at advanced stage with the UN’s support, including the drafting of policy documents for a Women’s Development Fund, the Anti-GBV Bill signalling an end to impunity for SGBV perpetrators, plus the Strategic National Action Plan on Elimination of Child Marriage. The UNCT has also provided technical support to the government for the review of the National Development Strategy (R-NDS), conduct of fragility assessments and formulation of State Plans.
These will inform medium to long-term development priorities and help to reinvigorate the aid architecture in South Sudan. Assistance from the UN has also enabled the Government to make progress on Public Finance Management (PFM) reforms building trust and yielding direct benefits. The World Bank has availed a USD 34 million grant to Government to advance PFM reforms, strengthen key oversight institutions, improve budget transparency and related outcomes in the country.
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Story
22 December 2020
UN agencies’ alarm at worsening hunger in South Sudan
Three United Nations organizations are calling for immediate humanitarian access to parts of South Sudan’s Pibor County in Jonglei State, where people have run out of food and are facing catastrophic levels of hunger according to a new Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report released today.
The high levels of hunger are being driven by insecurity, the effects of COVID-19, the economic crisis, and the impact of flooding on livelihoods, the report said. Humanitarian assistance is needed to save lives and avert a total collapse of livelihoods in hard-to-reach areas.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP) are scaling up their response, along with other humanitarian aid organizations.
“We call on all parties to stop the violence and to ensure safe humanitarian access in order to prevent an already dire situation from turning into a full-blown catastrophe,” FAO Representative in South Sudan Meshack Malo said.
“We are extremely concerned about the increased numbers of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition. These children need urgent treatment to prevent them from dying. The data leave us with no doubt about the sense of urgency for all of us - Government, donor community and humanitarian actors - to join hands and ensure all these children get the treatment they need. At the same time, we need to invest more in actions to prevent children from becoming malnourished in the first place,” UNICEF Representative in South Sudan Mohamed Ayoya said.
“WFP is extremely worried about the rising numbers of people suffering because of the lack of sufficient food and nutrition, intensified conflict, unprecedented flooding and high food prices. The coming year will be extremely tough, but we are determined to do all we can to reach more people for longer periods of time," said Makena Walker, Deputy Country Director of the World Food Programme in South Sudan.
Extreme hunger in parts of Pibor county
Figures in today’s report estimate that between October and November, 6.5 million people in South Sudan faced severe acute food insecurity and are in need of urgent assistance. This number is projected to grow to 7.24 million between April and July 2021.
Today’s report comes after two independent reports published by the IPC Global Support Unit last week which indicated that tens of thousands of people are likely to face famine conditions in Pibor county. In this situation, many families are experiencing high levels of acute malnutrition and even mortality. In another five counties (Akobo, Aweil South, Tonj East, Tonj North and Tonj South), some communities are facing catastrophic conditions, the independent analysis found.
Around 1.4 million children aged between 6 months and 5 years are expected to be acutely malnourished in 2021 and will need life-saving treatment, according to today’s report. This includes 313 000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition and more than a million children suffering from moderate acute malnutrition. At the same time, 483 000 pregnant or breastfeeding women are acutely malnourished and in need of treatment.
Emergency response
WFP has already begun scaling up its lifesaving food and nutritional assistance to critically food insecure areas in Pibor County as well as other areas of concern, extending its humanitarian response beyond the usual lean season and increasing the number of vulnerable people who need support. In the past two months, WFP has extended its food assistance to nearly 80,000 people in Pibor County. Meanwhile, in Akobo East more than 40,000 people are currently receiving food assistance. WFP will continue to scale up its emergency food response working with partners to build community resilience and development. In total, WFP has provided food assistance to five million people in need in South Sudan in 2020.
UNICEF will further scale up its interventions supporting therapeutic treatment and stabilization centres in the most affected counties to protect and save children’s lives. This year, UNICEF has already treated 170,000 children affected by severe acute malnutrition, with a 94 per cent recovery rate. Further expansion of services is now urgently needed - including to insecure areas - for the treatment of severe acute malnutrition. UNICEF will continue to address the underlying causes of malnutrition such as malaria and diarrheal diseases caused by a lack of clean water, sanitation and hygiene, and investing in prevention of malnutrition through promotion of breastfeeding and good feeding practices for the young child.
FAO’s priority is to assist farming and agro-pastoral communities to increase their production and preserve their livelihoods. So far in 2020, over 100 000 farming families have received support to grow their own food from seeds, and more than 5 million animals have been vaccinated and treated to assist 164 000 households. FAO has also distributed 800 tonnes of emergency animal feed for critical animal stocks, especially in flood-affected locations.
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Publication
04 July 2022
South Sudan Business Operations Strategy 2019-2021 Report
The BOS focuses on common services that are implemented jointly or delivered by one UN entity on behalf of one or more other UN entities. Common services for future collaboration were identified in the areas of Common Human Resources services, Common Finance services, Common Procurement services, Common Administration services and including common Facilities/Premises, Common ICT services, Common Logistics services. The following UN Agencies are participating in the South Sudan BOS: ILO, IFAD, UNS- DSS, UNS - UNMISS, UNS - UNODC, UN, UNDP, UNESCO, UNS - OHCHR, IOM, UNS - OCHA, UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNS - UN Habitat, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNIDO, UNOPS, UNS - UNEP, UN WOMEN, WHO, WFP, FAO, UNS- RCOs.
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Publication
04 July 2022
2021 UN Country Annual Results Report South Sudan
Throughout the year, the UNCT has enjoyed high-level dialogue with the government on a number of key humanitarian, peace and sustainable development concerns. For example, the National Food Systems Dialogues were used to inform global discussions at the UN’s General Assembly and the UNCT provided financial and technical support for the development of a National Youth Strategy currently at the legislature. The Strategy will support the protection and promotion of the human rights of every young person, empowering each to build their resilience, achieve their potential and make positive contributions as agents of change in South Sudan.
Other key achievements worthy of mention include the mobilization of USD 11.7 million from the UN’s Peacebuilding Support Office for three key initiatives related to provisions under the Revised-Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS): the drafting of the permanent constitution, community action for peaceful resolution; and transitional Justice. A Peacebuilding Fund Secretariat has been established in the RCO to provide coordination and oversight of the projects.
Further, the UNCT facilitated the set-up of the Truth, Healing and Reconciliation Forum, the establishment of governance administration across the 10 States and 3 administrative areas and organization of the fifth Governance forum. The latter identified 20 key actions including addressing floods, mitigating the effects of climate change and expediting the training, graduation and deployment of a unified force.
Regarding Gender and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) several initiatives are at advanced stage with the UN’s support, including the drafting of policy documents for a Women’s Development Fund, the Anti-GBV Bill signalling an end to impunity for SGBV perpetrators, plus the Strategic National Action Plan on Elimination of Child Marriage. The UNCT has also provided technical support to the government for the review of the National Development Strategy (R-NDS), conduct of fragility assessments and formulation of State Plans.
These will inform medium to long-term development priorities and help to reinvigorate the aid architecture in South Sudan. Assistance from the UN has also enabled the Government to make progress on Public Finance Management (PFM) reforms building trust and yielding direct benefits. The World Bank has availed a USD 34 million grant to Government to advance PFM reforms, strengthen key oversight institutions, improve budget transparency and related outcomes in the country.
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Story
15 November 2022
Government of South Sudan and the United Nations in South Sudan will sign the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2025 tomorrow, 16th November 2022
The UNSDCF comprehensively outlines the UN Development System’s collective action to support the Government of South Sudan’s national development priorities for the period 2023-2025.
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Story
11 November 2022
The UN Peacebuilding Commission’s (PBC) ambassadorial-level meeting on South Sudan calls for collaborative approaches towards attainment of sustainable peace through full implementation of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement.
Sustained engagement from the international community, including the United Nations system and regional and sub-regional organizations remains a critical tool in supporting South Sudan’s ongoing national peacebuilding priorities. These were the calls that were made during the UN Peacebuilding Commission’s (PBC) first ever ambassadorial-level meeting on South Sudan on 26 October 2022 that emphasized more sustainable and collaborative approaches towards the full implementation of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement.
In a first of its kind in South Sudan the PBC meeting, whose theme was “Building Peace through Institutions and Governance”, sought to formulate ways through which the UN could further support South Sudan in strengthening its national and local institutions to address the root causes of conflict and develop capacities to deliver services responsive to the needs of the population. The meeting also offered an opportune platform for the government to update the PBC on its peacebuilding efforts, with a specified focus on accountable governance, public finance management and the delivery of public services at the local level.
Over the past four years, South Sudan has achieved significant milestones in its peace process, despite the slow implementation of the revitalized peace agreement, which was extended for two additional years in 2022.The signing of the in September 2018 and the subsequent formation of a unity government in February 2021 marked the end of the pre-transitional period. In 2020, South Sudan undertook accelerated efforts for the implementation of economic reforms in cooperation with the UN system. The two-year Joint Programme was put in place to strengthen public financial management and increase budget allocation to social services in line with the South Sudanese National Development Strategy (NDS).[1] With the NDS up and running 15% of south Sudan’s National Budget should be allocated to social services. With the recent revision of the NDS by the Government of South Sudan the Ministry of Peacebuilding was established – a further refined step towards a sustainable peacebuilding architecture. The Ministry of Peacebuilding leads on polices and provides platforms that support South Sudan’s peace process and strengthen social cohesion. The participation of the Minister for Peacebuilding in the Peacebuilding Commission’s meeting underscores the successful cooperation between South Sudan’s peacebuilding architecture and the UN system.
However, despite this remarkable progress, the country continues to face multiple, and often correlating, socio-economic and political challenges to peacebuilding, including persistent subnational violence, lack of basic public services, mass flooding, conflict-related displacement, and the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. These challenges, in addition to delays in the slow and delayed implementation of the Peace Agreement, have heightened vulnerabilities and increased the humanitarian needs of the country, particularly those of women, youth and IDPs. Humanitarian needs have skyrocketed in South Sudan with almost half of the population facing a crisis in food security. In addition to the restrictions that the COVID-19 pandemic poses for economic development the impact of climate change leaves nearly 1.7 million people displaced and more than 2.3. million took refuge in neighboring countries due to a second consecutive year of flooding and failing harvest.[2]
To address some of these challenges, the Commission formulated ways to collaborate with the Government of South Sudan based on the 2022 thematic review on “Supporting financial independence and institutional strengthening of local peacebuilding partners for the sustainability of project results”.
During the PBC meeting on South Sudan, the Vice-Chair of the UN Peacebuilding Commission, H.E. Mr. Jose A. Blanco, and Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic to the United Nations highlighted the critical areas in South Sudan that need support, further reaffirming the UN’s and PBC’s continued partnership.
“The meeting sought to create greater awareness among the international community and Member States of certain concrete and urgent peacebuilding challenges South Sudan is facing in its transition process such as public finance management, service delivery and inclusive governance, peacebuilding architecture, and encourage additional bilateral and multilateral support in the areas discussed in the meeting,” he said.
Since 2018, the UN system, including the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has contributed towards the implementation of South Sudan’s national development priorities and the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development through the United Nations Cooperation Framework (UNCF).
The Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), a key partner of the PBC, has invested a total of $53.1 million in support of the implementation of the R-ARCSS, focusing on a nexus-based approach that prioritizes peacebuilding and governance, food security, social services, gender-based violence, and empowering women and youth. In addition to the PBF, the UN SDG Fund further supports South Sudan in its economic reforms to address public financial management, improve transparency and enhance the mobilization of non-oil revenue sectors.
“South Sudan continues to remain a core focus for the PBC particularly in offering support for the implementation of the benchmarks enshrined in the Revitalized Peace Agreement. This meeting is just one of many that the PBC hopes to engage with South Sudan while also ensuring our activities align to its national priorities,” H.E. Mr. Jose A. Blanco noted.
[1] The Joint Programme 2020-2022 and is supported financially by the Joint UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Fund, UNDP, and UNICEF. It aims to ensure by 2022 a 2% increase in budget allocation to national priorities and social services which work toward the achievement of the SDGs.
[2] United Nations. (December 2021). South Sudan UN Common Country Analysis (CCA). Juba, South Sudan: United Nations.
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02 September 2022
DSRSG/RC/HC Convenes a meeting to galvanize partnership for collective action to address sexual exploitation and abuse in South Sudan
On 30th August 2022, over a hundred people, representing various international and national non-government organizations, donors, UN agencies, funds, and programs, UNMISS and the community gathered at pyramid hotel in Juba to discuss and explore ways of working together to ensure that sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) is completely wiped out in South Sudan.
The full day meeting was hosted by the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator Sara Beysolow Nyanti.
In her opening remarks, she advised all stakeholders to work together and rally all efforts to address sexual exploitation and abuse. Adding that when international actors commit actions that are contrary to their commitment, they betray the communities they are supposed to serve, especially the innocent boys, girls and women, and the donors who entrust them with resources.
She committed to bring all actors together and strengthen capacity of local NGOs to prevent and address sexual exploitation and abuse and promote accountability to affected population.
“Most victims of sexual exploitation and abuse, blame themselves, do not speak up and feel too ashamed to seek for assistance, they decide to isolate and hide. Its unsafe and inhumane, all stakeholders need to work together to prevent SEA” emphasized the DSRSG/RC/HC.
South Sudan is one of the top four countries considered as a hot spot for Sexual Exploitation and Abuse globally. People’s extreme poverty, economic hardship, conflict and violence, food insecurity, limited access to basic social services, presence of a substantial number of peacekeepers and humanitarian actors, poor living conditions and the profound power differential between the United Nations personnel, humanitarian workers, and the local population in South Sudan drive these heightened incidents of SEA.
Representing the donor community at the meeting, the Humanitarian and Development Director for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in South Sudan, Mr. Andre Koelln advised that collective action from all stake holders is required to address sexual exploitation and abuse. He committed to ensuring that all partners who receive funding from FCDO will be given the resources they require to effectively prevent, report allegations of, and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse in their programming. Adding that all partners will also be held accountable for protection from sexual exploitation and abuse.
This meeting also saw the launch of the Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Task force Co-chairs forum. The forum is comprised of PSEA taskforce leaders from the states and Juba. This team will lead system-wide mechanisms for protection from sexual exploitation and abuse both in the state and in Juba. They will coordinate with other community-based complaint mechanisms to support communities, detect, report, prevent and support victims to get assistance.
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26 August 2022
The Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (DSRSG/RC/HC) Sara Beysolow Nyanti held a meeting with South Sudan's President H.E Salva Kiir Mayardit
President Salva Kiir Mayardit met with the United Nations the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General/Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator (DSRSG/RC/HC), Mrs. Sara Beysolow Nyanti. The meeting was also attended by the Executive Director in the Office of the President, Hon. James Deng Wal.
They discussed the signing of the sustainable development cooperation framework of 2023-2025 between the Government of South Sudan and the United Nations and agreed to strengthen relations by increasing dialogue related to the upcoming framework.
During the discussion, His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Mrs. Sara Beysolow spoke about the attacks against humanitarian aid workers. Collectively, they brainstormed on ways to create a safe and accessible environment to deliver humanitarian services to vulnerable people in rural areas.
The President assured member that he will address the issue of attacks on humanitarian aid workers. Together they discussed plans for multiple international women and youth conferences. As an engagement strategy to move forward the women and youth empowerment projects in the pipeline.
In her final remarks to the media after the meeting, Mrs. Sara Beysolow Nyanti said she looks forward to continuing engagements with the leadership, working together to build strong development partnerships with the government of South Sudan.
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02 September 2022
South Sudan celebrates International Youth Day
Glamor and delight characterized the international youth day celebrations in Juba, South Sudan. Thousands of young people, some dressed in traditional attires, school uniforms and international youth day branded T-shirts flocked Nyakuron Cultural Center to celebrate the International Youth Day.
The day is officially marked on the 12th of August globally but this year, South Sudan decided to push the formal celebration event to 24th August to allow ample time for the youth to organize and host a memorable event.
Speaking at the event, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Ms. Sara Beysolow Nyanti applauded the youth and encouraged them to work hard, seek and take advantage of the available opportunities to contribute to sustainable development and nation building.
She called upon the government and all stakeholders to empower youth and give them a chance to find their future.
“International Youth Day is about what the youth want, what they think, what they feel and what they dream about. It is important to build inclusivity around youth and their vision for the nation that they will be responsible to sustain tomorrow” stressed the DSRSG/RC/HC in her remarks to commemorate the international day of the youth 2022.
Commenting on the theme “Intergenerational Solidarity: Building A South Sudan for All ages”, the DSRSG noted that efforts need to be geared towards exploring ways of preserving culture and embrace the future urging that it is not adequate to talk about the challenges that the youth face without empowering them to find solutions and innovations to transform the challenges into solutions and opportunities for a sustained future.
The Minister of youth and Sports Dr. Albino Bol Dhieu advised the youth to work together with the elderly to enable continuity and exchange of innovative ideas. “no one should be left behind, youth and the elderly should work together and support each other, that’s what intergenerational solidarity is all about” Stated the minister. Adding that when the young and old work together, the intergeneration gap will be bridged, and continuity and sustainability will be achieved.
The celebration event held at Nyakuron cultural center in Juba, also saw young men and women exhibit work from creative innovations including youth led performances and presentations on the current state of youth in South Sudan. The event was attended by youth from different walks of life, representatives of UN agencies, funds and programs, government representatives and representatives of the International Community in South Sudan.
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Press Release
10 November 2022
United Nations Peacebuilding Commission Press Statement on South Sudan
The Vice-Chair of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), H.E. Mr. Jose A. Blanco Conde [Dominican Republic], held a meeting on “Building Peace through Institutions and Governance in South Sudan” with the participation of the Government of South Sudan and senior officials from Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the World Bank and United Nations.
The meeting welcomed the engagement of the Government of South Sudan to brief, for the first time, the Commission on its peacebuilding challenges and the efforts to establish a peacebuilding architecture in South Sudan despite significant security, political, humanitarian and development challenges. In this regard, the Commission encouraged the Government to continue efforts towards implementing the R-ARCSS in the timely manner, in line with its recently adopted Roadmap, and ensuring the delivery of basic services to the people of South Sudan.
The Peacebuilding Commission recommends that UNMISS and other United Nations relevant entities enhance integrated support to South Sudan’s peacebuilding and development priorities, in line with the African Union Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The Commission expressed its commitment, within its mandate, to accompanying South Sudan in its nationally-led peacebuilding efforts at all levels including the upcoming visit of the Chair of the Commission to South Sudan.
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Press Release
04 July 2022
Urgent funding needed as multiple interconnected shocks plight the people of South Sudan
(Juba, 4 July 2022) Life-saving humanitarian operations have been either suspended, reduced, or will be terminated if the funding situation remains as it is. Current estimates indicate that US$400 million dollars are urgently required to provide minimum humanitarian services to alleviate people’s immediate needs. If not addressed, these funding gaps will leave millions of the most vulnerable people at risk of losing access to vital humanitarian assistance and protection.
“The humanitarian context in South Sudan is daunting and is the worst that it has ever been. Everything including protection of women and girls, food, nutrition, and shelter, is needed. There are over two million people displaced in South Sudan, and absence of funding means that those in camps risk to be left in critical need of water, sanitation and hygiene, and health services. The lack of safety and security will further deepen these risks. The resources have dwindled, but lives should not”, said Ms. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan.
For over a decade, the people of South Sudan faced multiple crises. People’s lives have been shattered by years of conflict, social and political instability, unprecedented climate shocks, ongoing violence, frequent displacements, the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, food insecurity and multiple disease outbreaks. In South Sudan, some 8.9 million people, more than two-thirds of the population, are estimated to need significant humanitarian assistance and protection in 2022.
The Humanitarian Response Plan requests US$1.7 billion to target 6.8 million people with life-saving assistance and protection services. Currently, the humanitarian response plan is funded only at 27 per cent, almost 14 per cent of which was funded by the OCHA-managed Pooled Funds Central Emergency Response Fund and South Sudan Humanitarian Fund.
“With such funding gaps, vulnerable suffer more and humanitarian partners are forced to prioritize, making heart-wrenching choices between severe needs. We cannot give up because the cost of inaction is too high, and people in need cannot afford to pay this price. We need urgent funds, and are appealing to the world to remember the most vulnerable in South Sudan”, stated Ms. Nyanti.
The funding gaps are across all humanitarian interventions in the country and severe consequences are likely if urgent financing is not secured. The lack of funding for nutrition support will immediately leave 127,000 children, and 115,000 pregnant or lactating women without vital treatment services.
An estimated 1.9 million people will not have access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene services without more funds. As a consequence, illness is likely to rise placing an increased burden on health facilities and drive rising trends of malnutrition. Women and girls risk gender-based violence when attempting to seek water and access to sanitation outside their homes. Food security and livelihoods interruptions will affect almost two million people. Without urgent funding, 1.3 million protection services for an estimated 900,000 people will not be provided. In education, the lack of funding will result in 700,000 vulnerable boys and girls with no access to safe learning spaces and will increase school dropouts, risking 3.5 million children being out of school.
Without further funding, eight camps for internally displaced people be left unmanaged. The recent reduction in funding for health interventions directly impacted 220 primary health care units and nine state hospitals, and they risk being forced to discontinue services from August. 2.5 million people who are already in vulnerable health conditions will not have access to health services.
Notes to editors
Humanitarian impact of the break of funding pipeline per clusters
Nutrition programmes need US$39 million to support immediate vulnerable needs of 127,000 children (6-59 months) and 115,000 pregnant or lactating women. Some US$117 million by the end of July will prevent 285,163 children and 270,219 pregnant or lactating women’s access to vital treatment services. This puts thousands of children and women at higher risk of death and will jeopardize all gains made to safeguard children and women’s lives. The deterioration of nutrition conditions will further increase the burden and cost to reach the most vulnerable, as children who are severely wasted are 11.6 times more likely to die than children with a normal weight and height.
The immediate, urgent ask to support the water, sanitation and hygiene interventions is US$19.6 million. Without this funding, an estimated 1.9 million people will not have access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene services. Of these are 300,000 people in internal displacement camps. Prepositioning of core relief items for some 700,000 projected flood affected people will not be possible, 300,000 people will risk cholera in some areas, 582,000 children under five will be exposed to increased diarrheal disease and will be at risk of dying from severe malnutrition. The lack of funding will have crosscutting consequences such as increased burden on health facilities, increased gender-based violence, affecting women and girls, high likelihood of rising trends of malnutrition.
Due to funding shortages, the World Food Programme (WFP) has suspended food assistance to 1.7 million people in June. WFP had planned to support 6.2 million people in 2022 with food assistance. For the next 6 months, WFP requires US$426 million to be able to feed 6 million people. Similarly, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) faces a gap of over 70% to reach the targeted 6 million people with a total funding appeal of US$65 million, of which only US$17.5 million has been committed. The situation is especially urgent as the main planting season ends on 15 July. FAO requires US$47.5 million to support emergency food production and livelihoods such as hand tools, vegetables seeds, fishing kits and livestock inputs. The gap for the remaining partners delivering support for food security and livelihoods is estimated at US$65 million.
South Sudan remains one of the worst protection crises in the world. Without urgent funding of US$30 million, 1.3 million protection services for estimated 900,000 people will not be provided. This will affect psychosocial support to more than 50,000 people, cash-based protection interventions to more than 150,000 people, protection monitoring for identification of most vulnerable, including female headed households, persons with disabilities, awareness raising to 630,000 peoples, peacebuilding activities to more than 600,000 people. The impact will put 508,620 children and adolescents, including those with disabilities, at risk of life-threatening violence, exploitation, recruitment, abuse, and neglect, as they will not receive adequate and timely child protection services. Thirty-four per cent from the overall target, or 30,676 vulnerable women and girls, will not have access to dignity kits that contain sanitary pad and protective equipment. Sixteen women and girl friendly spaces will not be established in priority counties affected by crisis which will deny 78,392 vulnerable women and girls from accessing a critical safe space. In addition, they will lose a venue for livelihood activities, sexual and reproductive health information, and access to justice services. 68,168 (34% of the overall target) women, girls and GBV survivors will not have access to psychosocial support to build individual and community resilience and support positive coping mechanisms. As a result, they will suffer from psychological trauma, internalized shame, lack of power, depression, isolation, and possibly suicide. If funding is not granted, some 2,000 cases (extremely vulnerable and female headed households are prioritized) would not be processed with legal assistance, and some 10,000 persons would not get counselling on litigation/tenure support, or access to procedures, which may become serious potential threat for conflicts and tensions
Partners who provide camp management and humanitarian service monitoring in eight major camps for internally displaced people in Jonglei, central Equatoria, Western Bhar Al Ghazal, Upper Nile and Unity states, face immediate funding gaps of US$9 million. This funding would sustain operations in the camps until the end of the year and provide services to the estimated two million internally displaced people spread across the country in smaller displacement sites. Without further funding, eight camps across the country will be left unmanaged. Without an additional minimum of US$10 million, half of the targeted people will not have shelter. The distribution of shelter and non-food items for people to help them cope with the rainy season will be impacted.
The recent reduction in funding for health interventions has discontinued supporting 220 primary health care units from April. Support for nine state hospitals will discontinue from August. 901,412 consultations, antenatal services to 24,670 pregnant women, 2,114 safe deliveries (childbirth) and 59,221 children’s vaccination will be affected by discontinuation of support. Medical staff, essential medical supplies, and community health activities will not be available to provide regular health services to 2.5 million population. The reduction in the number of functional health facilities will impact health services for malaria prevention and treatment, routine immunization services screening for TB and malnutrition, mental health and psychosocial services, basic management of SGBV cases, treatment of respiratory infection and diarrhea, maternal and child health services. This will likely lead to increased morbidity and mortality. 2.5 million people are in dire need of health services in addition to 2.5 million population affected by reduced support to regular health services. Humanitarian partners providing health services require a minimum US$46 million targeting vulnerable population of 2.5 million for the next six months in 40 counties in dire need of humanitarian health services.
Without an urgent US$20 million funding for education activities by end of July, estimated 700,000 vulnerable boys and girls in highest priority locations will have no access to safe learning spaces. This will result in increased school dropouts, putting a total out of school children at 3.5 million. A further estimated 350,000 girls out of school will be exposed to child protection issues and will be at higher risk of GBV and early child marriage/pregnancy affecting their mental health and well-being. 172 schools in internal displacement sites, supporting 94,657 learners (boys and girls) will close. If not provided with WASH/hygiene facilities in schools, children will be at a higher risk of communicable diseases. More children will be exposed to protection risks and engaged in child labour and child exploitation, older children joining the armed group. South Sudan is one of the most dangerous places for aid workers, with 319 violent incidents reported in 2021 targeting humanitarian personnel and assets, including 5 aid workers killed. Since the beginning of 2022, four humanitarian workers were killed in the line of duty.
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Press Release
21 March 2022
Communiqué issued jointly by H.E. Josephine Lagu, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security of the Republic of South Sudan, and by Ms. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan following the conclusion
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) is a rigorous multi-partner process for food security and nutrition analysis and is a key element in decision-making for Government and other stakeholders. The IPC results are used by Government, United Nations Agencies, Non-Governmental Organisations, civil society and other relevant actors, as the best representation of the severity and magnitude of acute and chronic food insecurity, and acute malnutrition situations in the country.
South Sudan has a long history with the IPC process, beginning during the preparations for Independence. Since 2007, South Sudan has been one of the early adopters, first as part of Sudan, then as an independent country, and has contributed significantly to the evolution of the IPC since its inception. The government of the Republic of South Sudan has long recognised the value the IPC can bring, utilising the insights, analyses and outputs to develop and coordinate evidence-based interventions to address hunger and malnutrition in the country.
The 2022 IPC builds on the successes of previous years, drawing on expertise from the full range of actors engaged in food security in South Sudan. At the core of the IPC analysis is the two-week workshop, in which the Technical Working Group convened analysts from relevant agencies and sectors to examine the convergence of evidence following the IPC protocols and agree on classification and estimations of the population for the different categories.
We note with satisfaction the success of this process in generating a shared understanding of the situation in South Sudan, based on open, transparent, inclusive and scientifically rigorous discussion between the technical experts. We are confident that this process will facilitate fruitful collaboration in pursuit of our common goal of protecting and improving lives and livelihoods of the population of South Sudan.
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Press Release
30 November 2021
The UN Country Management Team in South Sudan presents draft findings from UN Common Country Analysis and Independent Evaluation from 2019-2022 United Nations Cooperation Framework
The UNCT held a multi-stakeholder workshop on 25 November to present the findings from CCA and the independent evaluation of the 2019-2022 United Nations Cooperation Framework (UNCF). The workshop was attended by 130 key stakeholders including the Government, Development Partners, Civil Society, NGOs, Private Sector, Media, and UN Agencies, and UNMISS.
The conclusions from the workshop will inform the formulation of the next UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for the period 2023 - 2025, which will replace the current UNCF due to end in December 2022. The new UNSDCF will be anchored to the South Sudan Revised National Development Strategy (R-NDS), and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The CCA provides a snapshot of the country’s context and dynamics of development in the country to inform the programmatic. The CCA identifies current development issues and challenges and their underlying causes. The workshop enabled stakeholders to validate the key challenges and issues identified in the CCA, as well as the findings and recommendations from the 22019-2022 UNCF evaluation.
In his opening remarks Mr Meshack Malo RC/HC ai remarked:
“Findings from the independent evaluation of the UNCF and CCA, along with the emerging findings of the National Development Strategy and the 2030 agenda will inform the priorities of the next UN Sustainable Cooperation Framework for the period of January 2023 to December 2025”
“Achieving sustainable development in South Sudan is not about our individual entities, but what we can do together for the people of South Sudan. The Framework will profoundly guide our working between 2023-2025” stressed Meshack.
The next step after the CCA/UNCF evaluation workshop will be the UNCT Visioning workshop on 30 November 2021. The outcome of the workshop will be the definition of the impact level change that the UN wishes to see and is able to contribute to in South Sudan by 2030. This will be followed by the Strategic Prioritization Workshop on 7-9 December 2021, where the same participants/stakeholders of the validation workshop will be invited to deliberate and agree on broad priority areas for the 2023-2025 UNSDCF.
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Press Release
01 November 2021
Additional investment in flood mitigation needed to avert climate disaster in South Sudan
(Juba, 29 October 2021) As flooding continues to impact people throughout South Sudan, the humanitarian community is working with the Government of South Sudan to support the hundreds of thousands of people affected. Close to 800,000 people have been affected to date by rising waters across the country since May, in particular in Jonglei, Unity, and Upper Nile states.
On 28 October, a high-level visit to Bor County, Jonglei State brought together a diverse group ranging from the United Nations (UN) peace, development and humanitarian pillars, Government of South Sudan represented by the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) and the Office of H.E. Vice President Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior, Embassy of Turkey as well as the University of Juba, to see firsthand the impact of the flooding.
“Through this visit, we heard the voices of the people, the government and teams responding to the flooding in Jonglei State,” Arafat Jamal, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator ad interim in South Sudan, said. “We witnessed the devastating effects of flooding but also saw hopeful efforts in terms of flood mitigation which has saved countless lives.”
Affected communities spoke of entire villages uprooted as water inundated homes and farmlands, as well as a dramatic reduction in their access to essential health services, especially for expectant mothers. Concerns regarding the disruption to education were also raised, with parents increasingly worried about the impact of displacement on their children.
“Through the distribution of food assistance, shelter items, lives have been saved – but it’s not enough. The UN humanitarian response is just 64 percent funded,” noted Jamal.
The Resident Coordinator also pledged the continued support of the humanitarian community to the people of South Sudan and called for more intensive efforts to help communities adapt to changing weather patterns which has affected food security and sparked conflict as people seek safety on higher ground. “We are looking at what we can do better, including to reorientate our assistance to development initiatives such as investment in dykes, canals, extraction pumps, and intensive dialogues with communities to ensure peaceful coexistence.”
On the ground in Jonglei, the visiting delegation met with communities who have already established a system for disaster management, and also witnessed the government taking responsibility. “At the national level, the Government has committed an unprecedented US $10million to support flood relief efforts, which will be implemented in partnership with the international community,” noted Jamal.
Climate adaptation projects also sent a positive signal, with early works on a 180km dyke, which is five meters high and 20 meters wide, now underway. The dyke will stretch from Bor to Malakal and will protect a huge swathe of territory including livestock, farmlands and all communities along the way.
Calling for the international community to build on the Government’s efforts to avert a climate catastrophe, Jamal underscored the UN’s commitment to save lives in the immediate term but also to look ahead. “Our desire to work together with the people of South Sudan and to help this country which is on the frontline of the global climate crisis. We are here to support communities as they deal with the increasingly frequent flood and drought events.”
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