The framework of on-going EU support to agricultural sector development and the enhancement of food and nutrition security in South Sudan

The framework of on-going EU support to agricultural sector development and the enhancement of food and nutrition security in the country has three principal components (actions):

• The Food Security Thematic Programme (FSTP);
• The South Sudan Rural Development Programme (SORUDEV);
• The Zonal Effort for Agricultural Transformation – Bahr-el-Ghazal Agricultural Development (ZEAT-BEAD).

FSTP (annual funding cycle) is concerned with the timely and sustainable reduction of food insecurity among groups of people in circumstances of transition and fragility who are vulnerable to internal or external factors. FSTP makes provisions for linking the recovery and rehabilitation of beneficiaries to the development of their livelihoods. There four priority on-going FSTP projects in the GBEG region being conducted by the following non-Governmental organisations:

1)    People in Need (PIN) – Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State;

2)    Concern Worldwide (CWW) – Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State;

3)    World Vision Germany (World Vision) – Warrap State; and

4)    Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Germany (VSF-G) – Warrap State.

The EU Delegation (EUD) has allocated EUR 10 million under the 2015 FSTP Call for Proposals (CfP) that will focus on the Greater Upper Nile states affected by the current ongoing conflict in the country.  From this stem four new projects:

5)    Cordaid – Upper Nile State;

6)    IRC – Unity State;                                                                                                               

7)    OXFAM – Jonglei State;

8)    ZOA – Jonglei State.

SORUDEV (which started in May 2014) is concerned with increasing the production and income of smallholder farmers in South Sudan through the strengthening of extension services, increased access to markets and improved links between value chain actors. The programme is orientated around community-driven development and mechanisms for the full cost-recovery of farm inputs such as through Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs). It is implemented by four NGOs as follows:

1)    Concern Worldwide (CWW) – Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State;

2)    Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) – Warrap State;

3)    Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) – Lakes State; and

4)    The Hope Agency for Rural Development (HARD) – Western Bahr-el-Ghazal State.

ZEAT-BEAD (which started in January 2015) is concerned with sustainably increasing the food security and well-being of the population of the Republic of South Sudan through the development and enhancement of capacities to deliver agricultural inputs, supplies and services throughout the GBG region.

ZEAT-BEAD is implemented by one Government Cooperation Agency, three United Nations (UN) Specialised Agencies:

1)    German International Cooperation (GIZ) – GBG region;

2)    The UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) – GBG region;

3)    The UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) – GBG region; and

4)    The UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) – GBG region.

In addition 4 NGOs will be selected in the course of the programme to facilitate access to financial services in order to strengthen value chains and enhance local value addition in the Greater Bahr-el-Ghazal area. The EU places significant importance on both coherence and collaboration among implementing partners (IPs) and their coordination.

To ease the burden of farmers and improve market interaction, several rural road rehabilitation and construction interventions are also funded by the EU. Under the ZEAT-BEAD programme UNOPS is working on the development of priority roads in the four States, which builds on an activity being conducted by the World Food Programme (WFP) under the SORUDEV programme for the improvement of roads linking Warrap and Western Bahr-el-Ghazal. GIZ is active under ZEAT-BEAD in the development of selected infrastructure, such as slaughterhouses/stores and livestock auction markets.