The Kingdom of the Netherlands is contributing a total to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for resiliency programming under the overall framework of the Partnership for Recovery and Resilience (PfRR). The fundnig covers three separate projects implemented by FAO.

Under the multi-donor Emergency Livelihoods and Resilience Programme (ELRP), the Netherlands is contributing USD 4.5 million for 2020. The funding will assist 9 000 households across South Suda to reduce food insecurity through improved agricultural inputs, better agricultural  skills and agribusiness skills development. The Dutch contribution will in particular be used for financing seed fairs.

Under a unique new project, the Fisher Community Resilience Enhancement Project, the Netherlands is giving USD 5 million which will target 8 000 beneficiaries. Using micro-loan schemes, the project will combine relief efforts with resilience to allow fisher communities to access tools and materials which can help improve their fishing practices. The project activities will take place primarily in Bor. 

The FNS Repro programme is both a learning exercise and programming on the ground. The programme, which is being centrally funded by The Hague, has reserved funds for three countries, namely Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan. In South Sudan, the Netherlands is providing USD 9 million for the project, which is aimed at further developing the South Sudanese seed sector.

Floods exacerbate food insecurity.

According to the most recent Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) update released in September 2019, 54 percent of the population in South Sudan is severely food insecure. 

Recent floods, which have affected large swaths of the country, are compounding the problem. A FAO Flood Impact Assessment published in November 2019 found that 72 611 metric tonnes of cereal production has been lost, and up to 3 million heads of livestock have been affected by the floods.

Despite the challenges, South Sudan has enormous agricultural potential, where almost 95 percent of the land is arable and 72 percent of the population (labour force) is below the age of 30 years.

FAO thanks the Kingdom of the Netherlands for its continued solidarity with the people of South Sudan, providing this new resilience-focused funding.