South Sudan, World Bank launch $120 million project to build capacity of local community

JUBA – The World Bank and the government of South Sudan have launched a $120 million project to build the capacity of local communities in South Sudan.

The five year project, which will be implemented by ministry of finance, will enhance community resilience and local government project phase.

The project will also benefit 920,000 people in 12 of the country’s 79 counties.

Agak Achuil Lual, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, said the funds would also be used to strengthen community institutions and enhance food resilience in the East African country.

“The budget is to the tune of 110 million or more, the project development objectives of the ECRP is to improve access to service, resilience and enhance institutional capacity and local government and integrated disaster risk management at national and sub-national level,” Achuil said during the launch of project in Juba on Wednesday.

Firas Raad, World Bank Manager said the fund will help improve access to basic infrastructure, strengthen community institutions, and also enhance food resilience.

“The important and urgency of addressing the sustainable development challenges confronting south Sudan particularly against the backdrop of growing climate risks,” Raad said.

“I agree with my colleague about important of moving rapidly to confront this challenge working collaborative with local communities and ensuring the effectiveness of implementation modalities.”

Raad said the conflict has forced displacement of millions of South Sudanese hence affecting their social fabrics, weakening both formal and informal institutions in the country.

“In order to help the government of South Sudan tackle this challenges and to escape the fragility during the critical phase of the transitional period the world is exerting effort in the following thematic areas,” he said.

“Supporting the government n to lay the groundwork for institutions building, continue support for basic services delivery, promoting resilience and livelihood opportunities especially at the community level and improving social inclusion for gender and youth in particular.”