South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
South Sudan on Thursday called for increased funding to tackle the pressing challenges posed by climate change.
Amb. Cecilia Adut Manyok, South Sudan’s Representative to the United Nations, made this call during the third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in Awaza, Turkmenistan.
The conference was held in Awaza, Turkmenistan, from 5 to 8 August 2025, under the theme “Driving Progress Through Partnerships.”
The conference forges partnerships to implement a renewed framework for international support to address the special needs of Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs).
The LLDC3 brings together global leaders to engage and strategise on channeling the power of the private sector to shape the sustainable development agenda and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the 606 million people of the 32 LLDCs.
Adut called on international financial institutions and multilateral development banks to scale up funding for landlocked countries to fight climate change.
“We urge our developing partners and multilateral banks to increase consensual financing and risk guarantees that support transformative infrastructure projects, resilience, and climate financing,” Adut told SSBC on Thursday.
She stressed the need for regional frameworks to prioritise Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) to unlock potential in trade and facilitate inclusive growth.
“Bridging the infrastructure gaps such as roads, rail, energy, and digital technologies is not optional,” she said.
“As a country at the frontline of the climate crisis, we call for scaled-up climate finances, adoption support, and early warning systems tailored to the LLDC context.”
She noted that Africa’s youngest nation is grappling with challenges related to post-conflict recovery, climate vulnerabilities, limited infrastructure, and connectivity.
“Yet we remain committed to leveraging regional integration and international cooperation to accelerate progress towards sustainable development.”
She remarked that as the world continues to reel from overlapping global crises such as conflict, climate change, pandemics, and economic instability, the LLDCs face a disproportionate impact due to structural constraints.
The Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) concluded with the adoption of two key documents: the Awaza Action Programme for 2024–2034 and the Awaza Political Declaration.
The Awaza Action Programme outlines priorities such as improved transit systems, economic diversification, digital transformation, climate resilience, and sustainable financing.
The Political Declaration reaffirms support for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and calls for greater international cooperation and trade integration.
