This Action seeks to improve the feeder road networks and infrastructure in rural areas with agricultural potential. The logic of this is that enhanced connectivity generates multiplier effects that trigger increase in private sector presence and access to markets, thereby spurring smallholder farmers to produce. This action, firstly approved in December 2019, has been designed to complement, build synergies and to capitalise on the achievements of previous and ongoing EU funded interventions in the former States of Northern and Western Bahr El Ghazal (BEG) in South Sudan, where rural infrastructures have been developed with the EU support.

In spite of the renewed framework for peace, stability and economic growth offered by the constitution of the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity constituted in February 2020, South Sudan remains in crisis. With the progressive deterioration of the national economy and the rise in intercommunal conflicts and criminality, combined with the impact of Covid-19 on livelihoods and food supply, climatic shocks and other natural threats, more than 60 percent of the population will face severe acute food insecurity in 2021, with six counties classified as famine-likely. Against this backdrop, a top-up of €20 million was approved in July 2021 to mitigate and prevent the famine risks bringing the total to €36 million.

Most of new funding (€16 million) would increase the food security and resilience component to reinforce the activities in the original States of Bahr El Ghazal, with an increased focus on highly food insecure areas and to expand the intervention to selected locations in the Greater Upper Nile region, following a Human-Development-Peace nexus approach. The remaining €4 million will top-up to the infrastructure component implemented by UNOPS in the original States of Bahr El Ghazal for further improving connectivity, access to markets, water and basic services.

Main objectives

The overall objective of the action is to contribute to improved stabilisation and livelihood resilience of rural vulnerable communities in Greater Bahr El Ghazal and Greater Upper Nile Regions (South Sudan).

The specific objectives (expected outcomes) of this Action are :

1. To improve connectivity for the vulnerable communities in the States of Northern and Western Bahr El Ghazal; and

2. To improve food security of the target vulnerable rural populations, including highly food insecure communities in Greater Upper Nile Regions

Contracts

WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME

EUR 22 600 000

Feeder roads to strengthen the livelihoods and resilience of rural communities - to improve food security of the target vulnerable populations in Northern and Western BEG States and GUN Region

UNOPS

EUR 13 000 000

Feeder Roads construction to strengthen livelihoods & resilience of rural communities

Action Fiche