Caption: Cooks serving lunch at St Bakhita Primary School. (Photo: UNICEF South Sudan).

The German government said it has provided an additional contribution of more than 21 million US dollars to UNICEF and WFP for a Joint Resilience Project in South Sudan.

In a press statement emailed to Eye Radio newsroom, the German government said the contribution was channeled through the German KfW Development Bank.

It said the funding will enable the extension and expansion of services to improve and build community resilience in targeted urban and peri-urban areas of the country.

The Joint Resilience Project, initially launched in December 2019 is designed to enhance community resilience to shocks and stressors in South Sudan by increasing access and use of a broad range of services.

Implemented in Juba, Torit, Yambio and Aweil, the project’s activities include the rehabilitation of schools, installation of water and sanitation facilities, provision of daily school meals, immunizations, and training for teachers, as well as health and nutrition workers.

“We are immensely thankful to the German Government for this continued support,” said UNICEF Representative, Hamida Lasseko.

“With these funds, UNICEF can further its efforts in providing vital services to children and families in South Sudan, ensuring they have the services and community resources and structures to cope with and adapt to various challenges.”

The project has already supported over 51,000 school children for their education through scholastic materials, teacher training and school meals, according to the UN children agency.

Almost 405,000 children and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers benefited from a project to treat and prevent malnutrition, and nearly 48,000 farmers were supported with resilience-building activities, the agency said.

Christian Sedat, the Ambassador of Germany in South Sudan, said Germany is proud to fund this project, which helps to improve the livelihoods of more than half a million South Sudanese people.

Meanwhile WFP’s Country Director in South Sudan, Mary-Ellen McGroarty, said the programme is extremely important as it builds long term resilience and food security in the country.

“From malnourished children and students at schools through to working adults, the programme ensures no one is left behind,” Ms. McGroarty said.