Supporting returnee and host communities to rebuild livelihoods, generate income, and peacefully improve and manage natural resources for short-term relief and long-term food security (Triple Nexus) in South Sudan


This project will support returnees and the host communities to rebuild their livelihoods, generate income, and peacefully improve and manage natural resources for short-term relief and long-term food security. This will be achieved through increased food production, sustainable management and governance of natural resources, initiating alternative income opportunities, non-violent conflict resolution and GBV prevention. This intervention aligns with the humanitarian, peace and development nexus and will contribute to durable solutions. 

Paese/Regione Tema Periodo Budget
Sudan del Sud
Agricoltura e sicurezza alimentare
Canbiamento climatico ed ambiente
Gender
Servizi agricoli & mercato
Riduzione dei rischi di catastrofi
Violenza sessuale e di genere
01.07.2023 - 30.09.2025
CHF  1’500’000
Contesto South Sudan continues to face persistent high levels of social, political and economic instability due to violent conflict at the macro- and micro-levels of society, as well as unpredictable extreme weather caused by climate change resulting from overuse and misuse of natural resources, leading to droughts and flooding, which in turn contribute to severe food insecurity across the country. In 2023, as per the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), 9.4 million (76%) of South Sudan's population are in need of humanitarian assistance, an increase of approx. 500’000 people compared to 2022. The current humanitarian needs are further compounded by the Sudan crisis where over 200’000 people have arrived to South Sudan. The greater Equatoria area, the focus area of this project, experiences similar contextual challenges like the rest of the Country. Both Central Equatoria (CE) and Eastern Equatoria (EE) states are experiencing high levels of food insecurity with populations in some locations categorized in IPC3 and above. With 115,864 returnees to EES and 245,695 returnees to CES since the R-ARCSS in 2018 until December 2022, both states have the highest numbers of returnees in South Sudan. Both states suffer from violent conflict and insecurity due to inter- and intra-communal fighting, conflicts over natural resources, revenge killings and frequent cattle raiding and roadside attacks, with significant impact on GBV cases which remain historically very high. 
Obiettivi The overall objective of the project is to improve the livelihoods and resilience of returnees and host communities in selected counties in Eastern and Central Equatoria State through increased food security as a result of improved agricultural production and more sustainable management and governance of natural resources, through alternative income opportunities, and non-violent conflict resolution and GBV prevention. 
Gruppi target
  • Women and girls?
  • Youth
  • Farmers groups 
  • Village saving and lending association groups
  • Local authorities at the County level
  • Extension workers of the local government 
Effetti a medio termine
  1. Humanitarian: Through improved agricultural and Natural Resources management (NRM) practices, communities (with focus on returnees and host communities) are able to meet their immediate needs, increase food production and sustain long term food security.
  2. Development: With the support of loans and Village Savings and Lending Association VSLAs, communities adopt sustainable and profitable income- generating activities.
  3. Peace: Local authorities, leaders and communities strengthen Gender Base Violence GBV and conflict prevention measures and apply non-violent conflict resolution practices in regard to NRM. 
Risultati

Risultati principali attesi:  

Humanitarian:

  • 1,100 farming Households (HHs) (60% female) benefit from increased food security and resilience through trainings in agroecology, improved food production and storage and pest management and ecological Natural Resources Management (NRM) and governance practices.
  • Immediate lifesaving needs of crisis-affected vulnerable 1,100 HHs (60% female) are met by the use of crisis modifier resources through in-kind or multipurpose unconditional cash transfers.

Development:

  • 480 (60% female) farmers, youth and women are trained and supported to strengthen and create micro-businesses and 16 functional Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) targeting 360 (60% female) persons to overcome financial barriers are formed.

GBV and Peaceful conflict resolution:

  • 1,950 (60% female) community members, local leaders and authorities are sensitized and trained in GBV prevention, community cohesion, peaceful conflict resolution and existing structures are supported.


Risultati fasi precedenti:  

This will be the first phase of the nexus project supported by Switzerland under H-cash. Caritas Switzerland has been implementing projects in South Sudan for over 40 years, and in the target region for over 10 years, scaling up towards resilience (and development). The project financed by Swiss South Cooperation that ended in May 2023 supported:

  • 2,500 farmers & 5,000 schoolchildren to improve their farming techniques, including post-harvest management, creation of vegetable gardens for households & schools and 6,000 households have improved access to water for consumption & production.
  • 2,500 farmers & 150 vulnerable households developed alternative sources of income, linked to a better value chain and integrated farming capacity. A similar project funded by Swiss South Cooperation & implemented by FAO shows: Targeted communities were able to adjust and adapt to good farming practices, shared knowledge and skills and improved production and started to engage in farming for income. 


Direzione/Ufficio responsabile DSC
Partner del progetto Partner contrattuale
Organizzazione svizzera senza scopo di lucro
  • Caritas Svizzera
  • Local implementing partners: Organic Farming Advisory Organization (OFAO), Caritas Torit, Catholic Diocese of Torit, Justice and Peace Commission Torit, Catholic Diocese of Torit (JPC-CDoT), Caritas Yei & Justice and Peace Commission, Catholic Diocese of Yei


Altri partner
Cash/Voucher Technical Working Group TWG, NGO partners, FAO and WFP 
Coordinamento con altri progetti e attori United Nations Country Framework (UNCF), Food Security and Livelihoods Cluster (FSLC), Partnership for Resilience, Peace and Recovery (PfPRR), South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (SSRRC), Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management (MHADM), Ministry of Environment (MoE) and UNOCHA, South Sudan Council of Churches (SSCC) and protection/GBV sub-cluster, and other SDC partners, including CARE and WPDI. 
Budget Fase in corso Budget Svizzera CHF    1’500’000 Budget svizzero attualmente già speso CHF    950’000 Progetto totale dalla prima fase Budget Svizzera CHF   0 Budget inclusi partner del progetto CHF   1’500’000
Fasi del progetto Fase 1 01.07.2023 - 30.09.2025   (Fase in corso)