South Sudan launched a $50 million climate resilience project on Tuesday aimed at protecting flood-prone communities in the northwestern Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Warrap.
The initiative, led by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry in partnership with the World Food Programme and UNHCR, was unveiled at an event in the capital, Juba.
Environment Minister Mabior Garang De Mabior said the project is financed by the Green Climate Fund, with additional co-financing of $2.5 million and $2.8 million from Japan.
“This investment represents a critical step in building resilience for our people most affected by climate shocks,” Mabior said, adding that the programme would strengthen institutions and improve response capacity.
He said the initiative would prioritise improving climate forecasting and early warning systems to ensure timely information reaches at-risk communities.
“Enhancing disaster risk services will be key to reducing the impact of floods and other climate-related hazards,” he added.
Pierre Fichter, a senior development officer at UNHCR, said the launch comes as South Sudan faces rising climate-related displacement.
“This is an important moment as the country is experiencing repeated climate shocks that are driving displacement and humanitarian needs,” Fichter said.
He noted that South Sudan hosts nearly 615,000 refugees, placing additional strain on already vulnerable communities.
The project is expected to strengthen resilience among flood-affected populations while improving national systems to better anticipate and manage climate risks.
and then