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Juba – Al-Wadi Newspaper
On Wednesday, it was announced that the Community-Based Rural Development Project will be expanded to include Juba County in Central Equatoria State, South Sudan, with joint support from the governments of Germany and the Netherlands, along with the European Union. The move aims to strengthen sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural value chains.
This expansion is part of a joint financing mechanism under the “Team Europe” initiative. The total value of the project stands at €48 million (approximately $52 million), targeting support for 27,500 households across eight counties in Western Bahr el Ghazal and the three Equatoria states.
The project is a component of a broader program titled “Green and Resilient Rural Economy,” funded by the European Union and implemented in synergy with the GRACE project across Central Equatoria, Western Equatoria, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, and Lakes states. It is managed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the International Trade Centre (ITC).
The initiative focuses on boosting agricultural productivity, improving access to markets and essential services, and empowering women and youth. It also promotes the sustainable management of natural resources as a foundation for a resilient rural economy.
The launch event in Juba was officiated by Lily Kapoqui, Minister of Agriculture, Environment, and Forestry for Central Equatoria State, who emphasized the project’s significance in improving food and nutrition security for smallholder farming families.
The event also served as a platform to expand the steering committee for the EU’s “Green and Resilient Economy” initiative in Central Equatoria to include both community-based rural development projects.
Vittoria Longato, Head of Food Security and Rural Development at the EU Delegation, highlighted that the initiative was developed in collaboration with Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, who were key co-funders of the project’s first phase.
The project is being implemented on the ground by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) in partnership with the Dutch development organization and other local partners.
Germany continues to support long-term development efforts in South Sudan in areas such as local governance, rural development, sustainable agri-food systems, water and sanitation, peacebuilding, reconciliation, gender equality, and the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence.
The European Union, a political and economic partnership of 27 countries, works globally to promote sustainable development for societies, the environment, and economies.
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