FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Published purpose

This project aims to enhance the resilience of communities to respond to worsening climate conditions that disrupt agricultural production and food systems in South Sudan. It seeks to work with women and men smallholder farmers to diversify their agricultural sources of income through climate-resilient techniques and assets. The project also aims to empower women to manage community-based tree nurseries and seed banks and access new opportunities in fishing, fruit farming, beekeeping and small livestock. Project activities include: (1) building the capacity of women and men smallholder farmers and fisherfolks on new, climate-resilient skills. This covers agricultural techniques, harvesting and storing, animal husbandry, agroforestry, fish processing and handling, and maintaining crop biomass for livestock consumption; (2) providing inputs, such as drought resistant crop variants, fishing equipment and gear, and small livestock; (3) establishing disaster-risk management committees to develop flood and drought response plans; and (4) improving early extreme weather warning systems, including establishing 3 automated weather stations across the targeted areas. This project is expected to directly reach 8,000 households (60% women), and 50,000 people indirectly. It focuses on communities in 3 of the country’s 10 states, namely Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei, and Unity, which are the most vulnerable to climate change and affected by local conflict.