A delegation representing South Sudan travelled to Kigali, Rwanda in July to represent their countrymen and share their unique experiences in technology, entrepreneurship, skills development and public service at the inaugural #YouthConnekt Africa Summit.

Nearly two years ago, UNDP began deploying a number of highly professionalized civil service support specialists to Yambio, the capital city of the former Western Equatoria State - now renamed Gbudue State - to provide credible support to state government institutions as well as to community-based organizations.

The Board of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Regional Initiative for capacity enhancement in South Sudan lauded the positive impact of the transfer of skills and knowledge to South Sudanese civil servants during the recent Project Executive Board meeting on July 12, 2017 in Juba.

The conference was organized by UNDP and the Ministry of Environment. It serves as a vehicle for key policy formation related to the joint recovery and stabilization programme launched by UNDP, FAO, WFP, and UNICEF.

President of the Republic of South Sudan H.E. Salva Kiir presided over the graduation ceremony, which was attended by the First Vice President H.E. Taban Deng Gai, Hon. Chief Justice Chan Reec Madut, Minister of Interior Hon. Michael Chiengjiek Gai, Special Representative of the Secretary General David Shearer, United Nations Development Programme Country Director Kamil Kamaluddeen, senior members of the diplomatic community, and senior security leadership of South Sudan.

The Agreement on Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (ARCSS) mandates the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs to conduct national consultations in collaboration with other stakeholders and civil society, to inform the design of the legislation of the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing.

A five-day trade exhibition showcasing locally-made products and businesses, dubbed “Made in South Sudan”, was held June 6-10, 2017 under the theme “Together Promoting South Sudan Business and Industrial Development.”

NPSSS also inaugurated new facilities located at the Vocational Training Centre to expand instruction into four new trades: information and communication technology (ICT), food processing, bakery, and plumbing.

Chiefs of Duk Padiet, Ayod South and Ayod Central called a community peace dialogue to address ongoing conflict between Dinka Hol and Gawier Nuer in Duk Padiet, Jonglei state. More than 80 community members, including chiefs, youth and women representatives, religious leaders and traders came together to discuss freedom of movement, cattle theft and road ambushes between the communities.

A two-day orientation and advocacy workshop on the implementation of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) concluded sessions on Thursday at Juba Regency Hotel. The workshop drew participants from the civil society, women and youth groups, the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism, Strategic Defense and Security Review Committee, and the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing Technical Committee.

From 29 – 30 May 2017, UNDP Acting Country Director and Head of Programme, Mr. Jean Luc Stalon, along with FAO Head of Sub Office, Jackson Lita, WFP Head of Sub Office, Mac Yuang, and UNICEF Head of Partnerships and Resources Mobilization, Angela Griep, accompanied by a high-level delegation of development partners including the Ambassador of Japan to South Sudan, H.E. Kiya Masahiko, the Head of German Development Cooperation in South Sudan, Bernhard Worm, the Head of Sweden Office in South Sudan, Henric Rasbrant, and the Head of Sweden Cooperation in South Sudan, Ola Nilsmo, travelled to Aweil to review progress of the joint UN Recovery and Stabilization programme.

Aweil State Governor a.i., Hon.James Wieu Mayuol, along with the Japanese Ambassador to South Sudan, H.E. Kiya Masahiko, and UNDP Senior Advisor on Human Development and Inclusive Growth, Biplove Chaudhary, officially inaugurated Aweil State Revenue Authority as the first-ever state revenue authority to be founded in South Sudan.

Government officials accompanied by doctors and laboratory specialists walked through the facilities, the National TB Reference Laboratory (NTRL), PCR Laboratory, and the National Blood Transfusion Center (NBTS), where the professionals explained to them how the new equipment, installed by UNDP through Global Fund, is helping them to work more efficiently to detect diseases on a shorter frame time and make an effective diagnostic, hence, making them able to save more lives.

Police and prosecutors came together to explore their complementary roles in law enforcement response to special protection cases.

Food insecurity in South Sudan is affecting an estimated 5 million people, who urgently need livelihoods assistance. The IGAD Initiative civil service support officers deployed in Yambio and their South Sudanese counterparts (twins) have a plan to end famine in South Sudan.

David Deng Maker is a Programme Analyst with UNDP’s Human Development and Inclusive Growth Unit. He has an integral role in the implementation of our pilot Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development project, launched last June. The project has so far trained 110 men and women in entrepreneurship skills and business development advisory services.

Six prosecutors in Jonglei State, including one female, have completed specialized training in investigation and prosecution of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) cases and child protection issues organized by South Sudan National Police Service in collaboration with UNDP’s Access to Justice and Rule of Law project.

Awerial County South and Awerial County North wrestling teams participated in a tournament organized by Solidarity Ministries Africa for Reconciliation & Development (SMARD) with the support of UNDP’s Peace and Community Cohesion project (PaCC) in the new community stadium constructed in Mingkaman

A two-day seminar aimed at creating awareness and discussing the modernization and tax policy reform agenda of the Government at national and state levels has recently concluded sessions in Juba with a set of resolutions.

Some 100,000 people are already facing famine in South Sudan, while 1 million more are on the brink. UNDP South Sudan, with UNICEF, FAO, and WFP, has championed and proactively engaged in an integrated recovery and resilience-building programme, strengthening social services for the most vulnerable, building peace, strengthening governance, and reinvigorating the local economy

Tarkuo Weah is based in Aweil, South Sudan as Rule of Law Officer with UNDP’s Access to Justice and Rule of Law project. Recently he helped coordinate a training on the principles of law and human rights to local traditional leaders, jointly with the Ministry of Local Government and Law Enforcement.

The President of the Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today welcomed the appointment of Achim Steiner as the Organization’s new Administrator.

Helen Clark today completes her time as head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) where she has spearheaded significant development and institutional reforms and been a highly visible communicator since assuming the position of UNDP Administrator and Chair of the UN Development Group in 2009.

As part of the UN Secretary General’s call for action to respond to the famine crisis and heightened food insecurity in South Sudan, UNDP has activated its crisis response mechanism to provide boosted capacity and resources towards joined up humanitarian and recovery interventions that serve the needs of the most vulnerable.

UNDP, in partnership with South Sudan Peace and Reconciliation Commission, conducted a three-day training to equip women with conflict mediation skills in preparation of a new market construction.