Adapting to South Sudan’s Shifting Weather

The Wardit watershed, a vast area situated between South Sudan’s Aweil East in Aweil Municipality, has long been regarded as a wasteland. It has remained largely unused for years. While many have admired its fertile landscapes, the recurring floods have consistently discouraged the communities from cultivating.

Northern Bahr el Ghazal State remains vulnerable to frequent floods, unpredictable rainfall, and rising temperatures, which cause crop loss, soil degradation, and water shortages—making most households food insecure. Seasonal floods displace thousands of people every year, while drought and soil erosion reduce agricultural output and grazing land. The state is also a significant destination for returnees from Sudan, putting additional pressure on already limited land, water, and essential services. As climate shocks intensify, cycles of displacement, livelihood destruction, and social tension are likely to worsen unless resilience and adaptation efforts are strengthened.

In 2024, change took root when 48 local farmers received training in sustainable, climate-smart farming methods through the Watershed Approaches for Climate Resilience in the Agro-pastoral Landscapes (WACRESS) Project.  UNDP and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, with funding from the Global Environment Facility through the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), aim to reach approximately 75,000 people from agricultural and pastoral communities through WACRESS and bring 15,000 hectares of land under improved practices. The project will restore ecosystems and build long-term climate resilience among agro-pastoral communities using participatory watershed-based approaches. World Vision South Sudan implements in Aweil East and Aweil Centre counties in Northern Bahr el Ghazal.

Atak Deng Diing, 38, a resident of Ariakriak Village in Mayom Wel Boma, Mangar Tong Payam, benefited from the WACRESS training in 2024. Using the skills he learned, he expanded his vegetable farm from one feddan (1.03 acres) to four feddans (4.12 acres). On his farm, he intercrops okra, Jew’s mallow, pumpkin, hibiscus, peas, and maize, earning an average monthly income of 1,000,000 SSP from selling his surplus produce. With the larger harvest, Atak is now able to meet his family’s needs, including providing nutritious food and paying school expenses for his 14 children.

“I was able to escape food insecurity through the help of the WACRESS vegetable farming initiative.” It’s no longer surprising to us that people are eating and selling vegetables during the dry season. In the past, most vegetables were only grown during the wet season. Thanks to the vegetables I sell, I can now support my family,” says Atak Deng.

Atak was one of the farmers who attended Climate-Smart Agriculture training sessions at a local demonstration site. These hands-on trainings used locally available materials and were facilitated. He leads a group of 30 farmers formed through the WACRESS project, which is supported with seeds and farming tools. `

Atak has generously shared his knowledge with others in his village, influencing around 200 people, including his mother, Abuk Garang, 54, to join him in dry-season vegetable farming. Some of the climate-smart agricultural practices he learned through the WACRESS project and passed on to others include watershed management, climate-resilient farming techniques, farm monitoring, line planting, proper crop spacing, and environmentally friendly methods for managing pests and diseases. 

These improved practices are helping farmers adapt to changing weather patterns and increase their harvests. As a result, the Wardit watershed is being restored to productive use, marking a new chapter for small-scale farmers who now see real potential to move beyond subsistence and into commercial farming. Abuk Garang, who owns a separate farm from her son, narrates how Atak dropped out of school due to the hardship of raising fees. She is now very optimistic, having grown and sold throughout the year, which has earned her extra income to support the children’s school fees.

“Though I am growing older and tired of farm work, my son Deng taught me and the community how to water our plants during the dry season. I now have extra produce to feed my children and sell. He also supports me with his farming income. Together, we will make sure his siblings finish their education so I can enjoy the benefits of modern life in the future,” Abuk Garang exclaimed.

To ensure lasting impact, the WACRESS project has established nursery sites in all 12 bomas, enabling farmers to learn improved farming techniques through hands-on demonstrations that they can apply on their own farms. Tree orchards have also been established in all 12 bomas. Farmers will plant crops between the tree rows to demonstrate agroforestry; a key part of climate-smart agriculture that helps address climate change patterns. 

The Watershed Approaches for Climate Resilience in the Agro-pastoral Landscapes (WACRESS) Project aims to mainstream climate change adaptation strategies into policy by focusing on agriculture, natural resources, forest management, and agro-industry at both the national and state levels. It will also work to increase the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices, benefiting 25,000 people (11,910 male, 13,091 female) through improved seeds, multi-cropping, crop diversification, crop-livestock systems, and agroforestry.