According to the last Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) almost 7 million people in South Sudan are at risk of acute malnutrition (data January - July 2019).
IPC is a multi-partner initiative to improve food security and nutrition analysis, drafted in coordination by Governments, UN Agencies, civil society and NGOs, among which AVSI for South Sudan.
AVSI is present in the states of Lakes and Eastern Equatoria where, according to the IPC report, more than 50% of the population is facing a serious food crisis. This is due to the conflict started in 2013, the inadequate agricultural production, the continuous displacement of people and adverse climatic conditions (long periods of drought alternate with floods).
In this context AVSI and FAO have launched in July 2018 the project “Strengthening the Resilience of Pastoral and Agro-Pastoral Communities in South-Sudan cross-border areas with Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda”, funded by the European Union.
The objectives of the program are: an increase in food and nutritional security with improvements in early warning systems; the strengthening of Transboundary Animal Diseases (TAD) prevention, detection and control; the diversification of agricultural production with cross-border market access enhanced; the improvement of natural resources management in cross-border regions.
The activities proposed:
- sharing of quality information to strengthen food and agriculture security policies;
- improve data collection, information management and monitoring systems;
- training of 150 Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs) in TAD prevention, detection and control measures in South Sudan border areas;
- vaccination of 200.000 animals and treatment for 42.250 of them;
- creation of early warning systems for the spread of transboundary animal diseases;
- organization of workshops on prevention and control of animal diseases to raise awareness at the state, region and community level;
- strengthening of livestock infrastructures employing local workforce (60 families);
- diversification of the agricultural production for an increased access to the market;
- training of 1.940 families on technologies and practices to support food security and income generating activities;
- increase in food production of 1000 families;
- support to local communities in the planning and management of natural resources.
AVSI has been working in South Sudan since 1992 and this project, in two years, will contribute to the strengthening of the agro-pastoral communities and the consequent reduction of forced displacement and irregular migration in cross-border areas with Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda.