The Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) on Wednesday launched a new multi-partner programme aimed at transforming South Sudan’s agricultural sector and improving food security and rural livelihoods amid one of the country’s worst food crises.
The project will run until November 2026 and has a budget of 28,267,000 Norwegian kroner (approximately $2.9 million US).
Speaking at the launch, Cathrin Seland, the incoming NCA Country Director, said the Agri hub programme builds on the organization’s more than five decades of work in South Sudan, dating back to 1972.
“It is an honour to speak on behalf of NCA, an organisation with a long and deeply rooted history in South Sudan,” she said.
Seland added that NCA has supported peacebuilding, resilient livelihoods, water and sanitation, gender equality, and economic development across the country.
The programme is funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy and implemented through a consortium led by NCA, alongside CRS, CARE, Johanniter, and IWIN, organisations that Seland said bring strong technical expertise and long-standing engagement with farming communities.
According to Seland, the initiative aims to transform South Sudan’s agricultural sector into a resilient, inclusive, and market-driven system that strengthens food security and economic opportunities for rural communities.
South Sudan continues to face severe food insecurity, with more than 7 million people currently food insecure, while cereal production remains far below national needs.
Seland noted that less than 10 percent of rural households have access to credit, and nearly half of communities live more than five kilometres from a functioning market.
“These challenges are intensified by flooding, drought, high transport costs, and weak supply chains,” she said, adding that experience has shown communities perform better when production, markets, and finance are addressed together.
Under the Agri hub initiative, NCA and partners will support 125 producer groups and five cooperatives in Lakes, Jonglei, and Western Bahr el Ghazal states, reaching 6,150 women, men, and youth.
The programme will focus on increasing production of sorghum, groundnuts, and fish through climate-adapted farming practices, improved inputs, storage, and farmer training.
It also aims to strengthen market access through aggregation centres and quality standards, enabling a shift from subsistence to commercial farming.
Access to finance is another key pillar, with partnerships planned with financial service providers to improve savings, financial literacy, and farmers’ ability to invest in their enterprises.
Seland said women and youth will receive targeted training, leadership opportunities, and financial inclusion support to enhance economic resilience. She added that the programme will be implemented with strong conflict‑sensitivity measures to reduce tensions and promote social cohesion.
“Food insecurity in South Sudan is not only a production challenge, but it is a systems challenge,” Seland said.
She appreciated the government, the Royal Norwegian Embassy, and partner organisations, as well as farming communities, noting the programme aims to leave behind sustainable, community-owned hubs that will continue supporting production, trade, and economic growth beyond the project’s lifespan.
For his part, Dr. Tapfuma Murove, Country Director for Catholic Relief Services (CRS), said the organisation is honoured to join the consortium in launching the project.
He highlighted the goals, stating that it “aims to enhance food production, improve access to markets, credit and finance, and foster the economic resilience of women and youth.”
Acknowledging challenges, he noted CRS is “deeply aware of the agriculture and food security challenges facing farmers and communities in South Sudan,” which are “exacerbated by unpredictable weather, climate shocks and the urgent need to shift from food aid to sustainable long-term solutions.”
Dr. Murove also praised the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, saying, “We thank the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for entrusting our consortium to facilitate this transition toward improved food security and resilience through market-based approaches.”
“Through our livelihoods, markets, agriculture and climate strategy, we are dedicated to building resilient food systems grounded in regenerative agriculture, market engagement, inclusive finance, transformative collective action and dignified participation of all stakeholders,” he said.
Meanwhile, Peter Anyieth Mayen, Director for Cooperatives at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, said the ministry is committed to transforming agriculture through cooperative farming.
“We are going to support you as the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security… This document will guide you and will help you convey the message of poverty reduction in the country,” he stated. “A lot of smallholder farmers… are still lacking capacity building. The way they record their finances, their activities… is still very weak. I request our development partners to go and help these people.”
He also praised international support, particularly from Norway, saying South Sudanese were being misled by food aid some years back, and that citizens want to transform and stand on their own. With the support of NCA.
“We have registered 5,128 cooperatives and 58,200 members,” Mayen said. “These people need support, and their support is what you have now going forward today.”
He closed by expressing gratitude to the government and partners, saying, “Let me thank our government for good cooperation with development partners… And also the partners that are part of this consortium.”