South Sudan - IFAD
The Context
Following a long civil war, South Sudan gained its independence from the north and became the world’s newest nation in 2011.
South Sudan is the world’s third most fragile country, owing to political challenges, security concerns, social disparities, economic instability and environmental degradation. Three in four households are food insecure. Four in five people live in poverty, which is concentrated in rural areas.
Adding to these challenges, nearly 800,000 people have entered the country, fleeing conflict in Sudan. The war in Sudan has also disrupted trade, leading to extremely high import prices. Vulnerable households struggle to pay for basic food items, further exacerbating the food security situation.
Agriculture is the primary source of livelihood and income after the oil sector. Almost two in three working women and one in three working men are employed in agriculture. The sector has huge potential, with less than 5 per cent of arable land currently being cultivated.
Despite its potential, agriculture is characterised by low productivity. The average farm is less than 2 acres and lacks machinery. There is little access to markets, technology or business skills development. Poor post-harvest management, as well as poor soil, water, pest and disease management exacerbate the issue. These challenges are compounded by extreme weather events, conflict and displacement.
The Strategy
Agriculture is a crucial area for development, given its potential as an alternative to oil, for job creation, and its proven capacity to reduce poverty and increase food security. Maximizing this potential requires improving small-scale farmers’ productivity, access to markets and distribution systems.
By reviving South Sudan’s agricultural sector, IFAD aims to improve rural people's livelihoods, food security and resilience. We work towards this by:
- settling communities that have been displaced due to conflicts and natural hazards;
- developing climate-resilient and sustainable production systems;
- improving the nutritional content of crops;
- developing value chains;
- strengthening institutional capacity;
- improving crop production, livestock management and water use; and
- increasing access to financial services, technologies, infrastructure and markets.
Achieving these objectives is challenging due to the fragile context. That’s why IFAD uses a fragility programming approach to design and implement its operations in South Sudan.
Country Facts
- About 80% of South Sudanese live in rural areas.
- Young people make up 70% of the population.
Experts
Country Programme Coordinator, East and Southern Africa Division
[email protected]