South Sudan fact sheet

South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, faces deep challenges shaped by cycles of conflict, limited governance, and growing climate risks. With 80% of the rural population reliant on agriculture for livelihoods and around 50% experiencing acute levels of food insecurity, productivity remains low, ecosystems are degraded, and infrastructure is limited. Displacement, erratic rainfall, prolonged floods, and localised droughts have increased vulnerability, while limited services keep literacy and health indicators among the lowest in the region. SNV’s recent assessments highlight widening livelihood disparities, fragile market systems, and an urgent need to transition from short-term humanitarian assistance to resilient, locally led development pathways.

Since 2015, SNV has worked alongside the Government of South Sudan and local partners to strengthen resilience, inclusive governance arrangements, and sustainable food security and livelihoods. To this end, SNV promotes climate-resilient agriculture, regenerative land and water management, and market activation, in particular, to facilitate young people’s meaningful participation and women’s empowerment. SNV’s systems approach blends technical expertise, institutional capacity building, and multi-stakeholder coordination to align with the government’s national priorities and to contribute—by 2030—to scaling cross-sectoral, integrated solutions that bridge humanitarian and development efforts.

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