The Government of South Sudan, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Bank have stepped up efforts to help smallholder farmers in South Sudan build climate resilience in the face of recurring floods and other extreme weather-related hazards.

A $30 million contribution from the World Bank – a grant through its International Development Association – aims to support good agricultural practices, agroforestry and natural resource management skills of farmers, fisherfolks and livestock herders.

It will help to adapt climate-smart technologies to enhance agricultural production, including rainfed rice cultivation in flood-affected areas; reduce deforestation through the introduction of fuel-efficient ovens; support the livestock sector and animal health through surveillance, reporting and diagnostics; provide post-harvest support for fish processing and handling; and provide disaster risk management equipment for early warning.

The three-year project aims to benefit more than 140 000 households including over 98 000 households affected by floods in host communities, 40 000 returnees and 5 000 refugees.

It will be implemented by FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in a hybrid implementation arrangement that gradually builds national capacity for project management. The project will also provide seeds, pesticides, fertilizers and other agricultural inputs and tools required to reduce the adverse effects of climate variability and allow for sufficient crops to be harvested.

South Sudan is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries. The country has suffered from climate change shocks with excessive flooding for four consecutive years that destroyed livelihoods and increased food insecurity. The next flooding is predicted to peak in September 2024 and could impact between 600 000 and 3.3 million people.

"This contribution is crucial to boost smallholder farmers' resilience to increasing climate shocks and to minimize damage to their crops, livestock and source of livelihoods. We need to act before extreme events happen, rather than responding to disasters after they occur. Agriculture is particularly vulnerable to these climate shocks, and where 90 percent of the population are relying on farming, herding and fishing for their livelihoods, investing in safeguarding crops, livestock and inputs is of utmost importance," said FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol.

In South Sudan, more than 7 million people are estimated to experience high levels of acute food insecurity from April to July 2024 (IPC Phase 3 and above), with 79 000 likely to face Catastrophe levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 5). In light of the already dire food security situation in the country, the effects of excessive flooding combined with influx of returnees and refugees fleeing the war in Sudan, will put people at greater risk of famine and destitution.

FAO's response in South Sudan

FAO has developed a Country Programming Framework (CPF) for 2023-2025, which identifies key FAO South Sudan priority areas, including enhancing evidence-based policy, strategic and institutional frameworks for agriculture, fisheries, forestry, food and nutrition security, institutional support, and strengthening capacities of farmer organizations.

In South Sudan, FAO is providing livestock vaccination and treatment, solar irrigation pumps and post-harvest equipment, trainings of farmers, agricultural support and fisheries assistance to restore people's food security, nutrition and resilience.

The cash-voucher based programme is another essential intervention that continues to significantly empower vulnerable communities, through seed distribution and distribution of small ruminants to help farmers restock, while allowing communities to embark on specific work to improve agricultural production and receive cash as compensation. This approach not only aids in immediate agricultural recovery but also promotes long-term community resilience and economic stability.

In 2023, around 590 000 households or 3.5 million individuals were reached through FAO programmes with inputs and trainings.

In 2024, about 75 000 households or about 450 000 individuals have so far benefitted from FAO programmes mainly during the dry season response of 2024. The main season of 2024 has just kicked off and interventions are ongoing with more households expected to benefit from inputs and trainings across the Development, Emergency and Resilience programmes.