SUDAN – The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in collaboration with the government of Sudan, have launched the South Sudan Livelihoods Resilience Project (SSLRP), aimed to empower rural people to boost productivity, food security and nutrition, and resilience.

The new US$19.9 million project will bring the much-needed help to 38,800 rural households facing the impacts of poverty, food insecurity and climate change in South Sudan.

At a time when the COVID-19 crisis and climate change could further push the 85 per cent of South Sudanese who live in rural areas into deeper poverty, SSLRP will target the most vulnerable, food insecure and small-scale producers, engaged in fishing, cropping and livestock production.

The project will operate in three states and five counties – Eastern Equatoria (Magwi and Torit), Central Equatoria (Kajo Keji and Terekeka) and Jonglei (Bor) and will therefore contribute towards livelihoods recovery and rebuild farming systems.

It is also in alignment with the ambitious agenda of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity.

“SSLRP represents IFAD’s formal re-engagement in South Sudan, and seeks to empower rural communities to conceptualize and manage rural enterprises in agriculture production and post-harvest management, whilst devoting significant resources to address climate vulnerability, social inclusion and the empowerment of women and young people.”

Bernadette Mukonyora – IFAD Country Director for South Sudan

To build and strengthen the capacity of the beneficiaries and the government during the implementation phases, SSLRP will partner with the African Development Bank (AfDB), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Bank.

To finance the initiative, IFAD is providing a US$1.9 million loan, US$7.9 million grant and US$4.0 million IFAD climate finance.

In addition, the Government of South Sudan is providing US$1.6 million, with a further US$5.6 million from the African Development Bank as parallel co-financing and US$0.8 million from the beneficiaries themselves.

The Government of the Netherlands will provide US$8.0 million grant as additional co-financing for SSLRP to support rural feeder roads for agriculture production and access to markets.

“SSLRP represents IFAD’s formal re-engagement in South Sudan, and seeks to empower rural communities to conceptualize and manage rural enterprises in agriculture production and post-harvest management, whilst devoting significant resources to address climate vulnerability, social inclusion and the empowerment of women and young people,” said Bernadette Mukonyora, IFAD Country Director for South Sudan.

In SSLRP, 70 per cent of beneficiaries will be youth and 60 per cent will be women, including returnees, women-headed households and persons with disabilities, who will receive particular attention to facilitate their integration into agricultural production and rural economy activities.

The project will address their need for access to drought tolerant and early maturing seeds, drought tolerant agroforestry fodder species, water conservation and management, afforestation, mangroves rehabilitation and conservation, solar and other renewable energy sources.

It will also rehabilitate and construct water infrastructure, rural roads to give access to markets, and processing and storage facilities.

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