UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) RoadMap

The 2019-2021 UN Cooperation Framework (UNCF) for South Sudan has been extended by one year and will expire on 31 December 2022. The extended framework corresponds to the transitional period of the peace agreement (R-ARCSS) and is aligned to the National Development Strategy (NDS), which was launched in 2018 for the period FY 2018/2019 to FY 2020/2021.

The extension was necessitated by a) delays in undertaking the NDS review to inform national emerging priorities; b) delays in the implementation of the transitional Government arrangements; c)  missing sector reviews as the sector working groups had just been revived in 2020; d) lack of reliable and accurate evidence based data to accurately reflect development needs and priorities; and e) the extension would give the UNCT ample time to conduct extensive consultations with all stakeholders including revitalized transitional Government, civil society and other stakeholders at both the national and state level to inform preparation of the new UNSDCF.

South Sudan faces multiple challenges including a political crisis, persistent subnational violence, consecutive years of mass flooding, conflict-related displacement and COVID-19 restrictions that continue to heighten vulnerabilities. Humanitarian needs have skyrocketed, with more than 7 million people in need of food assistance and 8 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. Food security has deteriorated; there remains limited access to health, nutrition, protection and water, sanitation and hygiene.

Given the challenging context, the UNCT is proposing that new UNSDCF to run from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2025 with an option for one- year extension. The UNSDCF roadmap is based on the assumption that the emerging national priorities from the on-going NDS review will still be valid until June 2023.