African Development Bank approved a fund to tackle food security

The African Development Bank (AfDB) availed 7.12 million U.S. dollars to South Sudan to help the country improve food security.

The first phase of the grant worth 5.84 million dollars will cover food and nutrition security whilst the second grant of 1.28 million dollars will support training and provide seed financing.

This will help build the entrepreneurship capacity of refugees and host communities in the country.

African Development Bank Manager in South Sudan, Mr. Themba Bhebhe says, the projects will support the government in achieving its national development goal.

“The first grant is meant to help enhance resilience and response to climate shocks in South Sudan, as it will contribute to improving our ability to manage climate risks and disasters,” he stated.

Themba added that “The project will enhance climate services, infrastructure and also provide climate risk finance and insurance.”

Bhebhe said the investments will improve the production of climate services for agriculture, livestock, climate insurance, and early warning, and against climate shocks in South Sudan.

In his part, the South Sudan Minister of Finance and Planning, Dier Tong Ngor said, the funding is under the Africa Disaster Risk Financing Program which will support refugees and host communities in the country.

Ngor reveals that the project is going to be implemented in the northern state of Upper Nile to enable the beneficiaries to set up small businesses.

The country representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization in South Sudan Meschack Malo said this program will enable South Sudan to pilot an insurance scheme for its farmers.

South Sudan currently hosts thousands of refugees and returnees who fled conflict in neighboring Sudan in April.