Southern Sudan
Southern Sudan has a vast natural resource base and huge agricultural potential, with more than 90% of the land being suitable for farming.
However, the 20-year civil war has had a devastating effect. Much of the south of the country has been left in ruins, with little discernible infrastructure and a lack of social services like education and healthcare. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that up to eight million people were displaced from their homes, and they are gradually returning with few possessions and prospects. Aerial raids and ground attacks meant that those who stayed were unable to work in the fields and reluctant to invest in their farms.
FARM-Africa is providing people returning to the area with the support and investment they need to effectively farm the land.
Our project
FARM-Africa is working in the remote rural counties of Gogrial West in the state of Warrab and in Aweil South, Northern Bahr el Ghazal. We are helping the communities there to develop sustainable means to earn a living based on livestock and agriculture. FARM-Africa is one of the only international development organisations in Southern Sudan working on the rehabilitation of agricultural livelihoods.
At the request of the Southern Sudan Government, FARM-Africa began working in the area after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005. FARM-Africa staff are based in mobile outreach camps, which helps them to work at the heart of the communities where they are well placed to respond to the challenges they face. These mobile outreach camps are located in Alek, Warrab and Aweil South, Northern Bahr el Ghazal.
FARM-Africa is working on the rehabilitation of agricultural livelihoods in the Warrap & Northern Bahr el Ghazal regions. |
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Southern Sudan Livelihood Recovery and Development ProjectPeople are now returning to Southern Sudan following years of civil war. FARM-Africa is providing the tools, training and access to water that communities need to farm the fertile land around them. |
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Now that Southern Sudan is a more peaceful area, FARM-Africa wants to continue to help families returning to the area to build and develop rural livelihoods such as rearing livestock and small-scale farming. In the long term we aim to reduce the area's reliance on food aid.
- We will further develop our model of post-conflict livelihoods support and widen our work to cover new areas. This model we are developing will also form a basis for livelihood development in other remote areas characterised by severe underdevelopment.
- We will continue to develop working partnerships with government staff and research institutions in Southern Sudan. This way we can impact policy development and the long-term quality of life for returnees.
- In 2011 a referendum to determine the political future of Southern Sudan will be held. This will influence the development of the next phase of our work. If the funding and political situation allows, we plan to develop a new project closer to Juba, the capital, in 2011.
