South Sudan secures $50m in funding to boost climate resilience

JUBA – South Sudan on Wednesday announced it had secured $50 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and an additional $2.8 million in co-financing from the government of Japan to enhance climate resilience in the country.

The funds, which will be channeled through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), will support communities in Northern Bahr el-Ghazal and Warrap states.

The five-year project is expected to start next year and will focus on strengthening early warning systems, upgrading crucial infrastructure, and promoting sustainable livelihoods, including through solar irrigation and agroforestry.

Mabior Garang Mabior, Minister of Environment and Forestry, told a press conference in Juba on Wednesday that the initiative would help families adapt and rebuild with greater resilience.

“The government of South Sudan, through the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, as the national designated authority to the Green Climate Fund, is proud to announce the approval of a new climate adaptation investment worth 50 million dollars from the Green Climate Fund, complemented by 2.8 million U.S. dollars co-financing from the government of Japan,” Mabior said.

Mabior stated the project is designed to enhance climate resilience in flood-prone areas across Northern Bahr el-Ghazal and Warrap states.

“It will be jointly implemented by the World Food Programme, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the government of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, with implementation expected to commence in early 2026,” said Mabior.

He explained that this marks the first single-country project for South Sudan approved by the Green Climate Fund.

“It focuses on strengthening climate resilience through integrated interventions in water management, agricultural, sustainable livelihoods, and climate information and disaster risk management,” Mabior said.

“In terms of services, the project also places special emphasis on displaced and host communities, ensuring inclusive adaptation solutions that leave no one behind. This initiative represents a crucial investment aimed at assisting South Sudan in addressing the challenges posed by climate shocks.”

Mabior further noted that through this initiative, South Sudan will improve community resilience to flooding by promoting climate-smart infrastructure, sustainable water and land management, and diversified livelihoods.

He added that the project aligns with South Sudan’s nationally determined contributions and national adaptation plan, reaffirming the country’s commitment to a sustainable, climate-resilient future.

Adham Effendi, the Deputy Country Director of WFP South Sudan, stated that the project signifies the success of the country’s leadership in attracting global climate investments to regions impacted by climate change and variability.

“I am deeply grateful to join this important occasion to celebrate the approval of the first single-country Green Climate Fund project, enhancing climate resilience in flood-prone areas in north-western South Sudan.”

He stated that the fund will be utilized to boost the country’s capacity for improving community resilience.

“As we move to the inception and implementation stages, we will continue with the same spirit, strengthening country capacity needs to go beyond knowledge and skill development and involve equipping institutions, community structures, service providers, and people, and ensuring opportunities to put the knowledge gained into practice.”

Effendi also noted that the project demonstrates the WFP’s commitment to transitioning from humanitarian assistance to building resilience to address the underlying factors contributing to food insecurity when appropriate.

Meanwhile, Mesfin Degefu Gubay, UNHCR South Sudan Deputy Representative, detailed that the project will also include the provision of environmental monitoring equipment to national institutions.

“The installation of early warning systems operated by trained people, construction of 500 semi-permanent climate resilience shelters using local materials, rehabilitation of flood-damaged water points, and installation of new resilience sanitation systems,” he said.

“The solar power plant, refrigeration, and other climate-smart agricultural technologies. Introduction of flood-tolerant crops, elevated poultry coops, and permaculture gardens. The planning of 100,000 fruit and medicinal trees to improve nutrition, income, and land use.”

Floods displaced more than 380,000 people in South Sudan in 2024, affecting over 1.4 million people nationwide.