The Government of the Republic of South Sudan has secured a $215 million funding from the World Bank to Address water-related climate impacts and challenges.

The project under phase I of the Regional Climate Resilient Program (RCRP) focuses on improving the management of water-related climate impacts in Eastern and Southern Africa.

In South Sudan, project activities aim to prepare the ground for investments in long-term flood and drought protection measures as well as prioritize interventions through strengthening climate-resilient water resource management planning, early warning systems, enhanced monitoring and forecasting capabilities, and flood risk mapping.

Launched in Juba today, the project also includes the construction and rehabilitation of flood protection infrastructure and supports livelihood activities in flood-prone areas.

Vice President Dr. James Wani Igga officiated the event that drew together senior government officials including the Minister for Water Resources and Irrigation and development partners and key sector stakeholders.

According to Firas Raad, World Bank Country Manager for South Sudan, “the objectives of Regional Climate Resilient Program are well-aligned with the World Bank’s updated Fragile, Conflict, and Violence strategy which focuses, among other things, on preventing violent conflict and helping countries transition out of fragility.

Vice President Dr. Igga says he is optimistic that the project will contribute to the development of water sector policies and institutional frameworks in South Sudan.

“Despite the water sector’s current challenges including a scarcity of human and financial resources, overlapping institutional responsibilities, and fragile management systems,

“I am optimistic about the kind of positive impact this project will have on our water sector and our ability to navigate future climate shocks,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Honorable Pal Mai Deng says the five-year project will enhance the capacity of the ministry to develop flood forecasting and early warning systems to provide accurate and timely information to our population.

The RCRP is a five-year Government-led project that will be implemented by the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation (MWRI) under the fiduciary supervision of the World Bank.

Deng said the country is limited by the lack of strategic flood hydrology models and it has been lacking systematic data management tools to store and process the data.

For his part, Soma Gosh Moulik, World Bank Practice Manager for Water Global Practice in Africa urges the Government of South Sudan to prioritize scaling up universal access to drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), both in rural and urban areas.

“Only 50% percent of the population of South Sudan have access to basic drinking water sources and just 10% of households in South Sudan have access to improved sanitation, while 75% practice open defecation,” he said.

The project consists of seven components including climate and disaster risk management; climate financing; enhancing institutional capacity for long-term climate risk management; closing the climate resilient infrastructure gap, and sustainable asset management;

Others to empowering communities to manage climate risk, and mainstreaming climate resilience in social protection programs and the contingent emergency response component.