United Nations Cooperation Framework (UNCF) 2019 Annual Report United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in South Sudan

This  is the first report on implementation of the three-year UN Cooperation Framework (UNCF) that provides a summary of key achievements and challenges faced by the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in 2019. The report documents UN support for recovery, resilience and development in the country which complements the significant UN support for humanitarian assistance under the Humanitarian Response Plan.

It builds on the positive experiences and lessons learned from the 2016- 2018 Interim Cooperation Framework (ICF) implementation to improve development programming with substantive results in building peace and resilience towards sustained development. In 2019, the continued improvement in delivery was possible due to cooperation with partners including strengthened UNCT dialogue with government, roll-out of nine joint flagship programmes as part of the Core Contribution, increased donor funding for development programmes and relative stability ushered in by the signing of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) in September 2018.

The report shows that the UN support for recovery and resilience was instrumental in strengthening social services delivery, improving food security and recovering local economies albeit in an environment of climate extremes and increased communal conflicts. It also shows that more effort is needed in strengthening governance, building peace at both local and national levels and empowering women and youth. With the formation of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) in early 2020, UN support for recovery and resilience will enable communities to gradually rebuild their lives and livelihoods.

This is equally important for the many internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees who are planning to return home when possible. With the outbreak of COVID-19 and its associated impacts in the first part of 2020, the UNCT will also focus on new initiatives to support the National Response to address COVID-19. A response to the broader socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 is also under development.