The Regional Climate Resilience Project (RCRP) was launched in South Sudan on 9 October 2023 in the presence of Firas Raad, the World Bank’s Country Manager for South Sudan. This World Bank initiative for Eastern and Southern Africa aims to address climate change by tackling issues related to water, disaster risk management and the social protection sector.
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In South Sudan, the PRCR is underway with funding of $215 million. “Despite the current challenges facing the water sector, including a shortage of human and financial resources, overlapping institutional responsibilities and fragile management systems, I am optimistic that this project will have a positive impact on our water sector and our ability to cope with future climate shocks,” explained James Wani Igga, Vice President of South Sudan’s Economic Cluster.
Improving flood forecasting
The programme will make it possible to strengthen climate-resilient water resource management planning. With resources from the World Bank, the Government of Southern Sudan will invest in early warning systems, monitoring and forecasting capabilities, and flood risk mapping.
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The World Bank funding will also enable the construction and rehabilitation of flood protection infrastructure and support livelihood activities in flood-prone areas. Among the areas worst affected by flooding is Bentiu. For the past 4 years, the capital of Unity State has been heavily affected by floods that scientists attribute to climate change, while the region is also facing drought.
Capacity building
Two months ago, the World Food Programme (WFP) reported that rainfall in March and April 2023 was 50% above long-term averages in the Lake Victoria basin, identified as the source of the flooding. This situation is affecting more than 8 million people across Southern Sudan. The South Sudanese authorities are hoping to draw on the World Bank’s PRCR regional project to provide a sustainable response to this crisis.
At the project launch ceremony, Pal Mai Deng, South Sudan’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, said that the programme would help build the capacity of his department to develop flood forecasting and early warning systems.
Jean Marie Takouleu