The International Rescue Committee (ICR) and the Government of South Sudan on Monday launched a new project called Enhancing Community Resilience and Local Government Project Phase II in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State.
The project, which targets Aweil East and Aweil South, will cost USD 7 Million and will be funded by the World Bank Group, and IRC will be the implementing agency.
The project was launched in the presence of the state’s acting governor, state ministers, directors general, and the two county commissioners of Aweil East and Aweil South counties in Aweil town.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Acting Governor, Dr. Tong Lual Aya,t thanked the World Bank Group and International Rescue Committee for bringing the significant project to the people of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, saying it will improve the livelihoods of the communities.
Dr. Lual assured the IRC that the state government and local authorities will work to ensure the project is implemented smoothly.
“We are delighted and thankful to the Government of South Sudan and World Bank and also the implementing agency [IRS] and the team that comes from Juba, we appreciate them. This project will help our community, particularly the local communities, and it will help youth and women,” he stated. “As the government, we will cooperate with all thedepartmentst, and the project will be implemented.”
For his part, the representative of the World Bank Group, Guyson Adikobaa, said they funded this project titled “Enhancing Community Resilience and Local Government Project” in Aweil for flood emergency response to benefit the two counties of Aweil East and Aweil South.
“The government has allocated 7 million for emergency flood response for Aweil to benefit the counties of Aweil East and Aweil South. This funding is coming from the World Bank, and we are very grateful for the successful launch,” he said.
Meanwhile, IRC Acting County Director Cosmas Ayella said they should ensure that the project will be implemented smoothly.
“The responsibility that we are taking as IRC to implement the emergency response under the IRC phase 2 project is a great milestone that shows that NGOs and the government can work together to ensure that livelihoods of people are safe,” he stated. “The devastating floods in South Sudan, especially in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, have been going on for a long time, ng and we thank the World Bank for the support they have given, we thank them.”
According to Ayella, the project aims to improve access to services, strengthen flood resilience, enhance institutional capacity for local service delivery, and integrated disaster risk management.
“The people in Aweil East and Aweil South and the entire Northern Bahr el Ghazal will restore their livelihoods,” he said. “Their farmlands have been washed by floods; their homes have been destroyed. It is our responsibility to restore their livelihoods.”
According to the World Bank Country representative, the project targets 950,000 beneficiaries who need development assistance. He added that IRC will work closely with relevant state ministries and county officials to implement the project.