Building Futures Beyond Displacement in South Sudan

In Wau’s Khor Malang suburb, concrete houses are steadily rising, offering displaced families a sense of permanence after years of instability. The homes are part of the government-led efforts under South Sudan’s National Durable Solutions Strategy and Plan of Action (2024–2028), which shifts the response to displacement from short-term humanitarian aid toward long-term recovery, development, and peacebuilding.

Launched in October 2024, the strategy gained new momentum in January 2026, when the Government of South Sudan convened the first National Steering Committee on Durable Solutions in Juba. Co-chaired by Hon. Albino Akol Atak, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, and Anita Kiki Gbeho, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator, the meeting brought together national and state authorities, donors, UN agencies, and civil society partners.

The discussions marked an important step translating policy commitments into coordinated actions on the ground. Opening the session, Minister Atak underscored the urgency of moving beyond crisis management.

“While we are seated here, our people continue to be affected by displacement in many parts of South Sudan,” he said. “This is why the Government has committed to moving from managing displacement to resolving it.”

A shift in approach

By the end of 2025, South Sudan was hosting an estimated 2.7 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and more than 3 million returnees, driven by conflict, flooding, and spillover from the crisis in Sudan. While humanitarian assistance remains essential, participants emphasized that emergency aid alone cannot address the scale or protracted nature of displacement.

“These are not just statistics,” Minister Atak noted. “They represent families seeking land, livelihoods, social services, security, and above all, hope.”

Against this backdrop, the Steering Committee, under clear government leadership, agreed on the need to accelerate the transition toward recovery, stabilization, and development-focused efforts from 2026 onward.

Shelter and livelihoods: Restoring stability

Shelter and livelihoods were highlighted as core pillars of South Sudan's durable solutions agenda, providing displaced families with the foundation to rebuild their lives.

In Wau, more than 1,800 displaced households have benefited from Housing, Land, and Property (HLP) due diligence, including land documentation and on-site dispute resolution. Of these, over 800 households have built durable homes through community-led construction approaches and are expected to move in by early March 2026, marking a major step toward permanent settlement.

This initiative has also created livelihoods, with around 600 displaced and host community members trained and engaged through cash-for-work activities, including construction and the local production of building materials. Community members produced hundreds of thousands of compressed earth blocks as key housing components used directly in the settlement.

In Bentiu, durable solutions efforts are combining climate-adapted shelter, land access, and livelihoods to support recovery in one of South Sudan’s most flood-prone areas. Displaced families are constructing flood-resilient homes using recycled plastic bottles filled with sand and locally available materials, offering a sustainable alternative to temporary shelters while creating skills and income for community members involved in construction.

These initiatives form part of the Pakur Settlement Plan, one of the most visible durable solutions efforts in Unity State. By 2025, more than 5 square kilometers of previously flooded land had been reclaimed, allowing settlement for up to 18,000 people, with around 10,000 already settled. Livelihood recovery is underway, with approximately 1,000 people farming on reclaimed land across Bentiu, Rubkona, Mayom, and Norkur. The Ministry of Housing, Land and Public Utilities is leading land-use planning and tenure processes, while basic services including water, health facilities, and schools are being established. An additional 42 square kilometers of land is expected to be reclaimed in 2026, expanding access to land and livelihoods for thousands more.

In Malakal, durable solutions initiatives are helping displaced families rebuild their lives while creating local economic opportunities. Construction of 325 transitional shelters using locally sourced materials and a cash-for-work approach has benefited over 1,950 people, providing safe, dignified housing and livelihoods for community members. Complementing this, a brick-making machine project launched in August 2025 is supplying affordable construction materials while generating jobs for displaced people and host communities.

Education and skills development are also central to these efforts: the completion and handover of Joshua Primary School has expanded access to learning, while the rehabilitation of Malakal’s Vocational Training Center (VTC) supports training in construction, carpentry, and agriculture. Building on these efforts, the Steering Committee reaffirmed the leadership of the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development in land allocation, tenure documentation, and housing programs. UN agencies and partners committed to continued technical support and material assistance to reinforce government-led initiatives.

Education and basic services

Access to education and essential services was identified as critical to breaking cycles of dependency and supporting sustainable returns and integration. 

In Juba, over 200 refugee and returnee students from Sudan completed English-language courses in February 2025, alongside 65 teachers—mostly refugees—who graduated from University of Juba training programs, reinforcing the national education workforce.

Looking ahead, the joint statement called for the rehabilitation and construction of climate-resilient schools, health facilities, water and sanitation systems, and roads in return and relocation areas. UN agencies reaffirmed their commitment to supporting government priorities through technical assistance, material support, and community engagement.

From aid to economic opportunity

Economic empowerment is central to South Sudan’s durable solutions Agenda, enabling displaced people to rebuild their lives with dignity and stability. 

Minister Atak reiterated the importance of this shift:

“Humanitarian assistance remains vital, but it is not sufficient,” he said. “The reality demands a strategic shift, from short-term relief to long-term recovery, from dependency to self-reliance and resilience.”

Reflecting this approach, the Steering Committee called for closer alignment between durable solutions efforts and national policies on agriculture, employment, and private-sector development, to ensure economic recovery is sustainable and government-led.

Peace as a prerequisite

Participants stressed that durable solutions cannot succeed without sustained peace and security. The Steering Committee communiqué reaffirmed the Government's commitment to strengthening the rule of law through police deployment, protection mechanisms, peace desks, and reconciliation initiatives. UN agencies and partners pledged continued support for peace infrastructure, demining, social cohesion, and access to legal aid.

Addressing the meeting, Anita Kiki Gbeho emphasized the central role of peace in enabling solutions.

“All our efforts to implement the national strategy will not succeed without peace,” she stressed. “I urgently call for de-escalation of violence, renewed dialogue, and recommitment to peace.”

Coordination and accountability

To ensure effective implementation, the communiqué established a clear governance framework. The National Technical Committee on Durable Solutions will meet regularly to set priorities and targets, supported by a Secretariat/National Coordination and Operations Centre.  

The United Nations committed to supporting state-level coordination, data management, evidence generation, and joint monitoring. Together, the Government and its partners set a shared goal: to support at least 60,000 displaced people in achieving sustainable solutions by 31 December 2026.

Looking ahead

Across shelters in Wau, classrooms in Juba, agricultural cooperatives, and emerging local enterprises, South Sudan’s durable solutions agenda is gradually turning displacement into opportunity.

The January 2026 Steering Committee meeting reinforced political commitment, clarified priorities, and strengthened accountability arrangements. Together, these steps provide a clearer pathway toward recovery and resilience over the coming years. As the Government moves forward under this unified framework, the foundation for long-term recovery is being built, one home, one livelihood, and one community at a time.