Context
South Sudan is one of the world’s poorest countries in terms of per capita income and also according to the Human Development Index (HDI). Even before the internal armed conflicts broke out in South Sudan in December 2013, the World Food Programme (WFP) estimated that one million people were extremely vulnerable to food insecurity and a further 3.7 million were moderately vulnerable.
The state of Western Equatoria, situated in the green belt in the south of the country, has great agricultural potential, which is not being fully utilised owing to the prevailing conditions. Nonetheless, 90 per cent of the 700,000 inhabitants rely on subsistence farming. Some are classified as vulnerable to food insecurity. This group mainly comprises the estimated 29,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the counties of Ibba, Nzara and Yambio.
Objective
The livelihoods of IDPs and the local population in selected communities in Western Equatoria are secure.
Approach
The project is part of the special initiative for refugees and builds on a previous transitional development assistance project. It proceeds from the achievements thus far with a view to reaching a higher number of people in need, including additional IDPs.
With support from the 15 agricultural extension workers trained by the predecessor project, the project is enabling a further 60 groups of farmers to increase their production through the Farmer Field School approach. To ensure access to agricultural work for women, in particular, 210 people are also being trained in the techniques of vegetable growing in greenhouses. This enables them to grow vegetables all year round, irrespective of season. The project also provides seeds and agricultural tools.
Additional training on seed multiplication and food storage helps to improve food supply, thus tying in with the Food Security and Development of Agricultural Markets project. This project supports efforts to sustainably improve access to and availability of food for households in rural areas and near towns.
The project adopts a participatory approach to planning and implementing the measures designed to secure livelihoods in order to strengthen the self-help capacities of the target groups. It ensures that girls and women have equal, safe and easy access to production resources.
Through its do-no-harm approach, the project contributes to improving capacities for non-violent conflict resolution.