The Agriculture & Food Security (A&FS) Network of SDC is proud to add the following contribution from our colleagues in the Humanitarian Aid and SHA Unit (Desk for South Sudan Sebastian Eugster) to the CFS call:
South Sudan, FAO: Urban & Peri-urban Livelihoods. Improved food security, nutritional status and incomes among vulnerable households in Juba, South Sudan (second phase)
If you have any questions regarding the project, please contact the Desk responsible, Sebastian Eugster [email protected]
Kind regards, your A&FS Team, Felix Fellmann and Sophie Hirsig
Proponent
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) – Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
Main responsible entity
Humanitarian Aid and Swiss Humanitarian Aid (SHA) – Africa Division – Greater Horn of Africa – SCPO-Juba
Date/Timeframe
Phase 1: 01 July, 2015 to 30 June, 2016
Phase 2: 01 February, 2017 to 31 December, 2018
Funding source
The Government of the Swiss Confederation through Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
Location
South Sudan
Background/Context
In South Sudan, agriculture (crops, horticulture, livestock, fish and forests) is the mainstay livelihood for over 70 percent of the population in rural and peri-urban areas. In spite of the potential for the poor urban population of Juba to grow vegetables and cereals for their own production, 51 percent of the households are food insecure – more than double the 2015 levels of food insecurity. 11 percent of children from 6 to 59 months are acutely malnourished. The prevalence of food insecurity is related to a complex web of protracted internal problems, as well as to structural shortages of the local food system.
Over 80 percent of the urban populations depend entirely on markets for their food needs. Urban poor find themselves caught up in a complex situation of worsening economic downturn that shows rapid price increases of food commodities in the market in the face of loss of value of the South Sudanese pound against the dollar. Prices of staple foods and other basic commodities have increased significantly. Despite the abundant fertile soil and water supply in and around Juba City, accessibility by urban and peri-urban residents to nutritious diet is undermined and most of the food sources are from the neighbouring countries. Since the security and economic crisis escalated, trade routes have been seriously affected, the majority of traders who are mainly from Uganda and Kenya have lost confidence in the local currently. Production around Juba has been disrupted. Together with hyperinflation, this has resulted in shortages of commodities and skyrocketing of prices on the market. The purchasing power of the urban poor has dwindled alarmingly. Urban and peri-urban agriculture in Juba has a large potential to address the food security gap and provide for the city dwellers. It has become increasingly important as a means to enhance a household’s food basket and earn extra income.
Focus/Objectives
Impact: Improved food security, nutritional status and income of vulnerable households in and around Juba, South Sudan.
Outcome: Improve livelihoods and income opportunities for enhanced resilience of vulnerable populations in and around Juba.
Outputs:
1: Production of vegetables, fruits and honey improved for 2’000 households.
2: Employment and income opportunities for 200 vulnerable women and youth created.
3: Access to fish, honey, vegetables, fruits and milk for 4’500 vulnerable households improved.
Key characteristics of the experience/process
• Successful distribution of inputs and tools to 1’000 beneficiary households at the onset of the dry season
• The two implementing partners (DMI, Caritas-Juba) conducted successful trainings to all town groups of farmers on vegetable production
• Implementing partners reported that most farmers undertook vegetable cultivation at the early part of the dry season; and were able to produce food and sell the surplus during the November–December lean season
• The procurement of seeds and other inputs (as annexed) in bulk for the entire project has helped minimize delays in project implementation • By capitalizing on the competitive bidding process of ELRP partners and taking into account the previous experience these partners have collaborating with FAO in Juba, FAO was able to minimize the need for additional training and facilitate an easy transition to urban agriculture methodologies.
The major challenge identified by poor and vulnerable households around Juba is limited income and livelihood sources. Land as a factor of production is constrained due to the rapid settlement and urbanization of Juba City. The distribution of agricultural inputs was at the main offices of the implementing partners and at the boma centres of the participating villages where the beneficiaries collected them. After distribution of the inputs, the implementing partners conducted on-site, demonstrative trainings for the selected beneficiaries. Vegetable production within the dry season was undertaken along areas with water points either in groups or individually. Beneficiaries reported that this period was characterized by high demand for fresh vegetables in both households and markets. Marketing and sale of fresh vegetables were reported to take place at the production sites (gardens) where middlemen traders and neighbours come to buy.
School environmental health and nutrition clubs were formed in four schools.
Nursery beds and vertical gardens were established, beneficiaries overall had an improved nutrition food baskets and generated income up to SSP 320 to 496 per week.
Key actors involved and their role
Contract partner: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Coordination and synergies with other projects and actors: WFP, FSL, Cluster, World Vision International, Health Link, DMI, Caritas-Juba.
Other partners: OCHA, UNMISS
Key changes observed with regards to food security and nutrition and sustainable agriculture and food systems
Key changes after the first phase were:
1: Increased vegetable and fruit production for 1’000 most vulnerable households with particular focus on female-headed households (66% of these 1’000 were women) and women groups in both urban and peri-urban locations around Juba.
2: Increased food security through vegetable and fruit tree production in five primary schools (targeting 4’000 students and their families) with a view of extending the distribution of vegetable kits to families of participating students.
Output 3: Involved communities and users are enabled to sustainably and consensually manage natural resources namely land and water sources to prevent or peacefully address conflicts related to these resource, is yet to be fully implemented.
Beneficiaries overall had an improved nutrition food baskets and generated income up to SSP 320 to 496 per week.
Challenges faced
Contextual: Conflict and insecurity will occur, causing displacement of beneficiaries into or from the intervention area.
Project level: Pests and diseases on vegetable and stray animals can inhibit production; a sudden decline in demand for the community value chain selected for the project can also be a risk. Unpredictable weather patterns associated with the poor rainfall in and around Juba has in the past led to challenges. Financial: The economic situation of South Sudan remains unstable (price hikes, inflation, etc.)
Lessons/Key messages
Urban and peri-urban agriculture in Juba has a large potential to address the food security gap and provide for the city dwellers. It has become increasingly important as a means to enhance a household’s food basket and earn extra income.
• There is high demand for education in urban agriculture techniques among beneficiaries, the wider community and local implementing partners. Many more people wanted to receive the kits than those targeted to participate in the project. Sensitization of the community on agriculture production in relation to crop and livestock farming is necessary.
• The promotion of and training on vertical farming is recommended owing to the rising cost of water as a result of inflation.
• The school children and the community members actively participated in the food security programme, inspiring people from other villages to become more involved in urban agriculture.
• School administrations and the communities actively participated in the programme. The intervention was appreciated by the communities in all the payams.
• The feasibility of forming village-level farmers’ association as required to ensure sustainability of the project should be explored.
Ms. Sophie Hirsig