South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The European Union (EU) on Thursday launched a three- year project that will support 230,000 vulnerable people in three states of South Sudan.
The project funded to a tune of 6.3 million euro targets children, youth and women in conflict prone areas of Akobo County, Jonglei State, and Rubkona County of Unity State and Malakal County in Upper Nile State.
Lothar Jaschke, the EU Deputy Head of Delegation in South Sudan, said the project will contribute toward building resilient and peaceful communities through interventions on peace building and strengthening administration at subnational level.
“We will do our best, together with implementing partners, local communities and government agencies to deliver concrete and positive changes on the ground. We want this action to be a real game changer for the 230,000 beneficiaries of this action,” Jaschke said during the launching ceremony in Juba.
He noted that EU and its partners support the government and stakeholders in building robust local governance structures, that are responsive and accountable to the communities they serve, adding that the project is designed through an inclusive approach with active involvement of local leaders, local government officials and communities.
The project to be implemented by Save the Children will lead to better implementation of rule of law, human rights, stronger female and youth leadership, entrepreneurship, and economic development, improved agricultural productivity and more peaceful natural resource management.
It will also improve access to sustainable clean water system, and contribute to resilient and peaceful communities that are protected from violence and other harm.
Sophie Chambers, the Acting Country Director for Save the Children, said the project will address climate smart programing with focus on sustainable economies, basic services and specific peace building activities.
“This integrated project represents a pivotal step towards empowering grassroots civil society, and local authorities in South Sudan to develop and implement sustainable solutions to the multifaceted challenges they face,” Chambers said.
She noted that placing local leadership at the forefront, will not only strengthen governance and resilience at the community level, but also cultivate community-owned solutions that can endure long after external support has concluded.
“This approach has the transformative potential to mitigate conflicts, enhance local resilience to climate-related shocks, and lay the foundation for a more prosperous and self-reliant future for the people of South Sudan,” Chambers said.
