President Salva Kiir officiated the signing ceremony of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023–2025 between the government and United Nations Development agencies in South Sudan on Wednesday in Juba November 16, 2022 - CREDIT: Office of the President

President Salva Kiir has endorsed the UN Sustainable Development Framework signed between the government and the UN system in South Sudan.

The three-year Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2023–2025) was signed yesterday in Juba.

The instrument comprehensively details the United Nations Country Team’s collective efforts to contribute to national development priorities in South Sudan for the period 2023-2025.

The framework was developed through consultation with stakeholders including the government, the private sector, civil society, academia, research institutions, women, and youth, among others.

It aims at transitioning the country from receiving humanitarian assistance to sustainable development.

The initiative requires the government to embark on implementing the framework cooperation agreement that is expected to benefit people currently facing humanitarian crisis among others.

Speaking during the signing ceremony of the framework, President Kiir reaffirmed government’s commitment to work with development partners, particularly UN agencies, to achieve sustainable peace and prosperity.

“We have truly accepted to work with you [UN] and cooperating is the only thing to succeed all of us. I wish you a safe journey back to your destination.” said President Kiir.

Both the government and the United Nations endorsed the cooperation framework as the basis for partnership and collaboration over the next three years.

The document allows UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes (AFPs) operating in South Sudan, to reaffirm their commitment to work together to consolidate peace, stabilize and sustain the economy, secure social development, and build the resilience of the South Sudanese population.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, Sarah Beysolow Nyanti, reiterated the commitment of the UN system, to support peace, provision of humanitarian aid and development dimensions.

She says the framework will sustain and strengthen the partnership with the government and people of South Sudan to accelerate progress towards the country’s Vision 2040 as well as the UN 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.