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Press Release
08 March 2023
Statement on the International Women’s Day on 8 March 2023
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Story
20 February 2023
Passionate Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialist at the frontline of removing anti-tank mines in Bunj, South Sudan.
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Story
15 February 2023
South Sudan Hosts First-Ever International Conference on Women Transformational Leadership
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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
24 February 2023
UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION FRAMEWORK (UNSDCF)
The UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023-2025 is the embodiment of this commitment. Created in collaboration with representatives of the Government, civil society (including NGOs, CSOs, academia and media), the private sector as well as development partners, it is designed to address the national priorities of today as well as prepare for and advance on the bright future planned for tomorrow. It therefore contains support for implementation of the Revitalized-Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and the Revised National Development Strategy (R-NDS) 2021-2024, with strengthened linkages to our humanitarian work under the Humanitarian Response Plan corresponding to the period of the Cooperation Framework.
The UNSDCF 2023-2025 defines the collective vision and response of the UN Country Team in South Sudan to the country’s national priorities as well as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As Resident Coordinator of the UN in South Sudan,
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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
20 February 2023
Passionate Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialist at the frontline of removing anti-tank mines in Bunj, South Sudan.
From cooking & cleaning to removing explosives: Beatrice Gale ensures her community is safe by clearing landmines.
The discovery of Anti-Tank mines in the middle of Bunj town, South Sudan, left a shivering feeling down the spines of the community members, who are now aware of the damage one AT mine can cause.
Fortunately, South Sudan has passionate Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialists that are dedicating their time to remove hazards within their communities.
Beatrice, a deminer that joined the #G4S team in 2013 as a cleaner, which later progressed to a cook and now a deminer on her first deployment, understands the challenges posed by explosive ordnance, which was her motivation to become a deminer.
“I chose to work as a deminer to keep my community safe, feed and educate my children, and support my extended family,” said Beatrice Gale John, Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialist.
Bunj being a busy town poses great challenges to the team conducting clearance, with the homes, markets and schools quite close to the hazards, which slows down the estimated time required to ensure the town is free from explosives. However, Beatrice and the rest of the team are optimistic that the town will be cleared before the heavy rains begin.
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Story
23 February 2023
South Sudan Hosts First-Ever International Conference on Women Transformational Leadership
Over 430 women representing all the states of South Sudan and African women leaders from more than 15 countries, including Ghana, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Liberia, Zambia, Mauritius, Central African Republic, Egypt, and the United States of America, gathered in Juba, South Sudan for a three-day inaugural International Women Conference on Transformational Leadership. The conference took place on 13-15 February.
The conference was hosted by H.E Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior, Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan responsible for the Gender and Youth Cluster, Ministry of Gender, Child and Social welfare, the National Transformational Leadership Institute (NTLI), and the United Nations.
Dubbed “GuwaTamara”, and translated as the strength of a woman, the conference presented a unique opportunity for women to share experiences, learn, deepen, and expand regional and international networks to catalyze learning in support of South Sudanese women in advancing women peace and security, and gender equality.
In his opening remarks, President Salva Kiir Mayardit acknowledged the importance of providing women with a conducive environment to meaningfully participate in the political arena and other aspects of life. This conference not only recognizes the role and potential of women in our country but also gives them support to create an enabling environment for equal participation in all aspects of our society, President Kiir said. He noted that the Government of South Sudan allocated a 35% quota for women inclusion and participation in all aspects of society. I am aware that there is still a lot of outstanding work on women empowerment, he said, recalling the 35% quota endorsed by the Revitalized Peace Agreement of 2018.
The UN Resident Coordinator, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, co-convenor of the conference, called on all stakeholders to put all efforts together to ensure the implementation of all recommendations, urging them to work together to support South Sudanese women walk on a path to development and peace.
“This is about action, taking the strength of women and putting it into action. We shouldn’t stop here,” Ms. Sara emphasized.
The Resident Coordinator said UN entities in South Sudan are committed and will continue to support the government and the women of South Sudan to ensure the achievement of gender parity at all levels.
On her part, Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, the Assistant Administrator and UNDP Regional Director for Africa, highlighted the words of Pope Francis during his visit to South Sudan in early February.
“Women, mothers who know how life is generated and safeguarded needed to be increasingly involved in political life and decision-making processes. Women must be respected, for anyone who commits an act of violence towards women commits it towards God”.
Vice President H.E Rebecca Nyadeng De Mabior noted that the experiences shared by women leaders are very inspiring. She encouraged women to persist while “looking at the big picture.”
While closing the conference, First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar advised women to utilize the relative peace in the country to make gains toward addressing issues affecting women. He also encouraged South Sudanese women to support girl child education, noting that illiteracy is one significant structural causes of inequalities.
The conference provided space for women leaders to reflect on their personal leadership journeys, share perspectives, and recommend forward-thinking strategies on women leadership and decision-making across peace, security, governance, climate change, and intergenerational pathways to leadership.
Participants deliberated on actions and strategies to strengthen women’s participation in decision-making. They further expanded networks for shared learning nationally, regionally, and internationally to build strong women’s movements for transformative change and advance gender equality in a digital age.
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Story
06 March 2023
FAO brings agriculture to the airwaves with Ziraa Tanna program
“Hello, and welcome to Ziraa Tanna,” has become a familiar greeting heard on radio airwaves across South Sudan every Friday evening.
Ziraa Tanna means Our Farm in Juba Arabic, and the radio program bearing that name has been broadcast on Eye Radio, Radio Miraya and several regional radio stations since 2020.
The radio show is produced by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
Every episode of Ziraa Tanna starts with a weather report, followed by expert advice for agricultural producers according to the weather, climate or seasonal conditions. Before the end of each broadcast, listeners also hear from other farmers, livestock keepers and fisher folk who share their experience and best practices.
Weather information allows communities to enhance their decision-making process, including regarding the prepositioning, type and timing of inputs. For example, advice given on Ziraa Tanna can help farmers know when the best time is to plant their crops, and which crops are best suited to current conditions.
“Access to information about weather events and climate information is crucial in addressing the vulnerability of farming communities and in enhancing the capacity of communities to manage weather and climate-related events and hazards in South Sudan,” says Meshack Malo, FAO Representative in South Sudan.
Particularly in the face of climate-change related weather conditions, Ziraa Tanna also gives tips on the actions farmers and cattle keepers should undertake to reduce risks to their livelihoods and maximize their production.
For example, when vast swaths of South Sudan were affected by flooding, Ziraa Tanna gave information on crops which are well-suited for wet conditions and provided advice on how to take advantage of the extra moisture to plant in areas where the flooding had recently receded. When flooding is a predictable risk, Ziraa Tanna gives advice on how to build dykes and when to move livestock to higher ground.
Eye Radio Program Manager, Koang Pal Chang, says the show has been well received by the listeners.
“The Ziraa Tanna programme is both educative and informative to farmers in the country,” he notes.
“It gives timely updates of the weather forecast for the week in addition to vital information on farming in general such as crop handling, harvesting and storage, irrigation and soil fertility, and fishponds among others."
Mike Okello is a listener of the programe. He says he listened to Ziraa Tanna on Radio Miraya and learned about urban gardening— even if someone has only a small space, they can still plant vegetable seeds.
“I have understood which types of seeds can be planted in a vertical gardening,” explains Okello.
He says Ziraa Tanna has helped farmers improve their production, adding that he was also trained last year on home gardening.
“I want to thank you for what you have spoken over Eye Radio and Radio Miraya. I was moved because the agriculture information is very vital to our community.”
Since Ziraa Tanna debuted, it has fallen under projects funded by various donors. Right now, Ziraa Tanna is produced in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security under projects receiving support from the World Bank and the African Development Bank. Tune into Ziraa Tanna on Eye Radio, Friday evenings at 17.40 hours and rebroadcasts on Radio Miraya and community radio stations across the country.
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Story
08 February 2023
International Day of Education
24 January 2023 marks the International Day of Education - a day to celebrate education and reflect on the importance of learning for development and peace. This year the day will be commemorated under the theme "Investing in People, Making Education a Priority".
In South Sudan, significant progress has been made to get children into school. Over the past decade, the number of children in school has increased by 20 percent and more girls are enrolling and staying in school. However, inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all remain elusive. More than half of the school age population - over 2.8 million children, are out of school and 53 percent of these are girls. Net enrollment is low at all levels, with only 3.3 percent at pre-primary, 37.6 percent for primary, and 5.2 percent at secondary level. Adult literacy rates remain very low, with only 34.52% reflecting an increase of 7.52 percent from 2008.
Poverty, conflict, insecurity, and natural disasters such as floods are key barriers for access to education for many children in South Sudan. In 2021 alone, 1,397 schools (18 percent of all schools) were not operational, more than half of these were because of conflict and natural disasters. More than half of the current teachers in schools are unqualified and untrained, they are poorly paid, and salaries are irregular, and attrition is high. Many of the teachers have not completed primary and secondary education school themselves and have limited proficiency in English – the current main language of instruction.
On top of this, schools lack facilities for children with disabilities and many girls' dropout due to lack of menstrual hygiene facilities in schools (63% of schools are without latrines, and 52% have limited or no access to safe drinking water). More than 50 percent of girls in South Sudan are married before the age of 18 which further hinders schooling.
2023 marks the mid-point of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. South Sudan is off track on many of the goals and is off track on all the education targets under SDG number 4. Unless action is taken and taken fast, another entire generation is at risk of not reaching their potential and this will affect communities and the entire country.
At the United Nations Transforming Education Summit (TES) in September 2022, the Government of South Sudan committed to transform education and accelerate the achievement of quality and inclusive education for all South Sudanese particularly the most marginalized. The Government committed to address systemic challenges that persistently present barriers for many children to access education.
Increasing domestic financing, reducing the number of out-of-school children, strengthening the focus on foundational literacy and numeracy, increasing the number of qualified and trained teachers (and investing in their welfare), investing in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and implementing the Higher Education Policy Framework - 2021-2030 featured highly in the national commitments presented at the TES. There was also strong commitment to find long-term solutions to address and mitigate against the adverse effects of climate change and build a more resilient education system.
UNICEF and UNESCO call upon Government of South Sudan and all partners to take necessary action to implement these commitments and prioritize education to secure the future of the young generation and realize the potential demographic advantage associated with having a young population (over 70% under the age of 30).
“We call upon the Government to continue to prioritize education and increase budgetary allocation to the sector. Increasing financing for education and strengthening accountability in the sector is fundamental in addressing the persistent challenges that keep children away from school,” said UNICEF Acting Representative, Jesper Moller.
By investing in education, South Sudan will secure not only the development of the country but contribute significantly to sustainable peace, particularly at these fragile moments when conflicts continue to escalate around the country.
“Education fosters peace. By educating children, youth and women, South Sudan will create peaceful and sustainable societies,” said UNESCO Representative, Julius Banda.
UNICEF and UNESCO are committed to continue supporting the Government of South Sudan to fast track action in education. There is now more clarity on what needs to be done based on evidence of what works and does not work in South Sudan and other similar contexts but there is need for urgency to take action to mitigate against another lost generation.
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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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Press Release
08 March 2023
Statement on the International Women’s Day on 8 March 2023
On International Women’s Day, we call for a South Sudan in which the rights of all women and girls are secure, and where women can participate safely and meaningfully in decision-making processes at all levels of society. The Women, Peace, and Security Working Group calls on the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity to ensure meaningful participation of women in the peace process which is now at a critical juncture.
The Women, Peace, and Security Agenda has seen increased attention in South Sudan of late. The International Conference on Women’s Transformational Leadership that took place from February 13 to 5, 2023, in Juba, convened and energized a diverse group of women leaders from across South Sudan, to inform and coordinate efforts towards transformational leadership. The challenge now is to bring the outcomes of the conference to the women and girls of this country.
We also note progress on the development of South Sudan’s second National Action Plan on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security, with the holding of a workshop to validate the plan from March 2 to 3, 2023. However, a plan cannot affect change in itself. To demonstrate its resolve, the Government of South Sudan is well-positioned to build on the positive momentum following the recent conference and validation workshop by funding the actions agreed in the National Action Plan. As partners, we are ready to support on next steps in relation to both the conference and National Action Plan.
Serious challenges persist in South Sudan. Women and girls bear the brunt of subnational conflicts across the country. Women are disproportionately affected by conflict-related sexual violence, gender-based violence and harmful social norms. These practices prevent women from fully benefiting from the universal rights and fundamental freedoms to which they are entitled. We welcome the government’s ratification of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol) in December last year. The next step is to ensure its full implementation. Similarly, the Revitalized Agreement for the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan contains many provisions that seek to uphold the rights of women and girls, including gender parity in public institutions. However, delays in implementation are causing South Sudan’s progress on gender equality to stall.
On this International Women’s Day, the Women, Peace, and Security Working Group in South Sudan calls for action to:
Undertake concrete political and financial commitments to support women and girls’ meaningful public participation ahead of the next elections and in the constitution-making process.
Increase public service delivery, including for services preventing and responding to conflict-related sexual violence.
End impunity for perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence.
Establish an African Union-backed hybrid court to investigate and prosecute war crimes and other human rights violations; and
Renew efforts to reduce the digital divide, which is particularly detrimental to rural women as well as females in general, and which has the potential to create opportunities in support of the people of South Sudan and shared economic prosperity.
Signatories
British Embassy to South Sudan
Embassy of Canada to South Sudan
EU Delegation to South Sudan
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany to South Sudan
Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to South Sudan
Royal Norwegian Embassy to South Sudan
Embassy of Sweden to South Sudan
Swiss Cooperation Office in Juba
United States Agency for International Aid (USAID) in South Sudan
CARE International
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in South Sudan
United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) in South Sudan
United Nations Mission (UNMISS) in South Sudan
The Women, Peace and Security Working Group in South Sudan includes the Embassies of Canada, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, the EU Delegation, USAID, the United Nations (UN Women, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF and UNMISS), AUMISS, IGAD, RJMEC and institutions established under the Revitalized Agreement for the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan, as well as CARE International and TITI Foundation.
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Press Release
08 February 2023
UN, Government of South Sudan Set Up Peacebuilding Fund Joint Steering Committee
The United Nations and the Government of South Sudan have launched a Joint Peacebuilding Steering Committee (JSC) to guide the planning and implementation of Peacebuilding Funds allocated to South Sudan.
The UN Secretary General’s Peacebuilding Fund is a multi-year standing trust fund that provides financial and technical support for post-conflict peacebuilding.
The JSC is co-chaired by the Resident Coordinator and the Minister of Peacebuilding. Other members include heads of UN agencies, national and international NGOs, interested donors and International Finance Institutions.
The launch of the Peacebuilding Steering Committee for South Sudan comes at a critical time for the country, as the government seeks to garner international support to execute its peacebuilding priorities and implement the revitalized peace agreement.
The JSC is a governance structure for PBF investments in South Sudan, guiding the effective management of PBF investments in South Sudan.
The JSC fosters effective partnerships, coordination and collaboration among national authorities, the UN, Non-Government Organizations, Civil Society Organizations engaged in peacebuilding.
“Establishment of the JSC is a significant milestone for the Peacebuilding Fund,” said Jutta Hinkkanen who inaugurated the JSC on behalf of Ms. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, the UN Secretary-General's Deputy Special Representative, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan.
“The Joint Steering Committee has a critical role to play in ensuring that the PBF realizes its full potential for making strategic contributions towards sustained peace in South Sudan.”
The Minister for Peacebuilding—Hon. Stephen Par Kuol said: “there are many local peacebuilding efforts at community level that need support, and we are going to make this steering committee functional for such efforts to be amplified and supported.”
South Sudan’s eligibility to access funding through the PBF was renewed in 2021 for a period of 5 years. Through the PBF, South Sudan will focus on strengthening national democratization, justice, and accountability processes; addressing conflict related to displacement; and strengthening local peace and conflict prevention mechanisms.
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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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Latest Resources
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