JUBA — The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in South Sudan, in partnership with the government, on Thursday held a one-day validation workshop on plans to rehabilitate the airstrips in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area and Jonglei State.
The workshop brought together technical, regulatory, and operational experts to review and validate the proposed maintenance designs for the airstrips in Padiet, Poktap, Panyagor, and Pibor.
The initiative is expected to improve air connectivity in Jonglei State and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area while facilitating the movement of humanitarian personnel, essential supplies, and local communities.
Speaking during the validation workshop in Juba on Thursday, Kenyi Gordon Aganson, ECRP II Project Management Unit (PMU) Engineer, said rehabilitating the airstrip would help address transportation challenges.
“We really hope that the session today will support the review and the validation of the proposed designs, ensuring that they reflect the applicable technical and safety standards, the operational requirements, and the environmental considerations and conditions reflective of the realities on the ground,” Gorodon said.
He encouraged all participants to engage in open and substantive technical discussions on the design requirements, accessibility, and operational considerations.
“We genuinely really hope that this workshop will contribute to reducing the isolation of those communities and improving access to essential services in Jonglei and GPAA,” he said.
John Garang Awan, Director General for Sectoral Planning at the Ministry of Finance and Planning, stressed the need to translate the strategic plans into physical and life-changing realities.
“So as we map out the macro-level infrastructure and oversee the institutional framework, our ultimate goal for today is to translate the strategic plans into physical, life-changing realities,” Garang said.
“These four proposed airstrips are part of that bigger plan. They are going to translate the plan into policy. Airstrips serve as a critical piece of multispectral connectivity.”
Droma Bang Dominic, Urban Specialist at the World Bank South Sudan, said the bank is supporting the government in delivering essential services through the construction and improvement of infrastructure in education, healthcare, water supply, and roads.
“We came in here because it is the people who have told us our major problem here is connectivity. Our major problem here is accessing relief aid,” Bang said.
Meen Chol Majur, Aviation Security and Facilitation Manager at the Civil Aviation Authority, stressed the need to fence the airstrips with metallic perimeter fencing to enhance security and ensure effective access control.
“I see all of you have it. So one of the things that I want to put across is the issue of perimeter fences. When you construct airspace or an airport, it should have a fence, a metallic fence, or a perimeter fence,” Chol said.
Implemented under the Enhancing Community Resilience and Local Governance Project Phase II (ECRP-II), the initiative aims to strengthen air connectivity and improve access to communities in Jonglei and Pibor.
ECRP-II is a five-year flagship Government of South Sudan project running from 2022 to 2027, with support from the World Bank and implementation in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The project operates across 17 counties in six states, focusing on expanding access to basic services, strengthening flood resilience, and building institutional capacity for sustainable local service delivery.
It places particular emphasis on flood-affected communities and areas hosting returnees, where improved infrastructure and access to essential services remain critical.
