Information systems boosting food security in South Sudan
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The armed conflict that began in December 2013 in South Sudan has resulted in a weakening of government institutions, a breakdown in the provision of basic services, an economic crisis and severe disruption to livelihoods for a majority of the population. The cumulative effect of this has been severe and rising food insecurity across the country. The resultant post-conflict weakening of technical and institutional capacity has significantly eroded the Government’s ability to formulate and implement its national food security strategy. Consequently, food security interventions are now informed by Rapid Food Security Assessments and the more robust Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), both of which almost always result in short-term or emergency humanitarian responses. Addressing chronic food insecurity in South Sudan requires a robust food security information system and analysis framework.
What did the project do
In response to the challenges raised by the conflict, the project promptly adapted from its initial objective of general capacity-building with the Government to broader partnership development with other United Nations agencies and NGOs involved with food security and livelihoods. With government institutions increasingly unable to collect and analyse information, the project needed to ensure that relevant, timely and accurate food security information and analysis was made available to inform the decisions of stakeholders. The relevant state and government institutions and partners were supported to begin using standardized methodologies to manage food security information systems. Thematic information systems, such as markets, crop and agrometeorologymonitoring and early warning systems, were strengthened for data collection, analysis and dissemination. A livestock migration, production, marketing and disease monitoring information system was also established. Finally, in order to enhance informed decision-making, a “validation mechanism” of food security information was established, allowing the relevant actors to jointly collect data, analyse it, review it and reach consensus on key information products, e.g. food security reports, through the IPC and crop production reports through the Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission (CFSAM).Impact
Stakeholders have benefited from the information products that have been disseminated to their respective institutions to help them improve their understanding of the food security situation and inform their decision-making. Given the deterioration of the overall food security and livelihood situation as a result of increased conflict in the country, the developed information systems have proved to be resilient and are expected to continue strengthening food security analysis in the long term.Activities
- Letters of Agreement signed with national and state-level government institutions throughout the project.
- Integrated food security and nutrition capacity building carried out, including trainings, field data collection across the country and analysis workshops.
- Functionality of the Crop and Livestock Market Information System (CLiMIS) enhanced, including training of 180 enumerators.
- Rainfall monitoring network developed and planting and task force assigned to assess agro-ecological zones and diversified cropping patterns.
- 82 government and NGO staff trained on the installation, repair and use of rain gauges in 2014 and 2015.
- 73 focal persons and 35 animal health workers trained on livestock disease reporting.
- Pilot livestock monitoring system developed, based on the 2016 report on the impact of conflict on the livestock sector in the country.
- Network for monitoring crop production rolled out in 38 out of 78 counties.