a. Food Security and Smart Livelihood

The approximate population of South Sudan is 13.4 million people, of which 7.7 million people are projected to experience high food insecurity IPC Phase 3 or above (December 2024 – March 2025), 2.1 million children aged 6-59 months suffer from acute malnutrition, including 650 000 cases of Severe Acute Malnutrition and 1.11 million pregnant or lactating women suffer from acute malnutrition. In addition, 1.2 million returnees and refugees were displaced by the conflict in Sudan. To assist 3.9 million people alone, FAO requires USD 60 million for 2025. With the funding cut order, many people are likely to face severe impacts of hunger.

GVO is committed to addressing the impacts of climate change by promoting sustainable food security and livelihood initiatives. The organization supports communities in adopting climate- smart agricultural practices, enhancing resilience to environmental challenges, and improving access to nutritious food. Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in South Sudan is widespread and women’s economic empowerment is a prerequisite for sustainable development and for achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs), Providing equal access to financial services, and helping give women more power over income and assets like land, technology, and professionalizing the caregiving sector can help accelerate progress in women’s economic empowerment.

a. Women Economic Empowerment

Deep entrenched gender and cultural norms, limited access to resources, gender-based violence and the conflict situation are still a hinderance to women and girls in South Sudan enjoying their full economic rights.

GVO women economic empowerment strategy is geared towards efforts to promote women’s economic participation through skills building, supporting saving and loans groups, offering in-kind start up support, and linking vulnerable women and girls to livelihood and entrepreneurial opportunities. Some activities economic empowerment activities women and girls are engaged in include; liquid soap making, embroidery, tailoring, knitting wall hangings and door mats, charcoal briquettes making, trainings in salon and beauty care, juice and snacks making.