South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Jenifer James
The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has signed a significant agreement worth $3.05 million with OTIUM Consulting, marking a major milestone in South Sudan’s efforts to enhance climate resilience and sustainable development.
Funded under the World Bank-supported Regional Climate Resilience Project (RCRP), the contract will facilitate the implementation of long-term climate adaptation strategies in five of the country’s most climate-vulnerable regions.
The signing ceremony took place in Juba and was presided over by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hon. Achier Manyuat John. The agreement, officially valued at USD 3,047,360, underscores the government’s commitment to addressing the increasing threats posed by climate change, including recurrent flooding, prolonged droughts, and unpredictable weather patterns.
Speaking during the event, Undersecretary Achier Manyuat John emphasised the strategic importance of the partnership.
“This contract reflects South Sudan’s and the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation’s firm commitment to transparency, accountability, and effective, visionary leadership in delivering critical services to both local and urban populations,” he stated.
Achier highlighted the necessity of ensuring that the solutions developed are community-centred and locally driven.
“We look forward to working closely and collaboratively with OTIUM to ensure that climate solutions are locally led, owned, and sustained,” he added.
The RCRP initiative focuses on building technical capacity, upgrading water management systems, and integrating climate risk assessments into national planning. Over the course of 144 weeks, the project will target the Jonglei, Upper Nile, Unity, Lakes, and Eastern Equatoria regions, which are particularly susceptible to climate-related disasters.
By partnering with OTIUM, a firm renowned for its expertise in climate resilience and infrastructure planning, the Ministry aims to foster meaningful local engagement, create job opportunities, and build institutional knowledge that will endure beyond the project’s duration.
