By Kidega Livingstone
African Development Bank (AfDB) has injected about 46.7 million dollars to support agriculture value chain development in South Sudan.
The institution’s Vice President for Regional Development Integration and Business Delivery, Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade announced the grant after visiting South Sudan, last week.
“The Bank has allocated forty-six point seven million dollars ($46.7 million) to support agriculture value chain development, notably for rice, sesame, sorghum, and fish,” she stated.
The Agriculture Value Chain Development is under Food and Agriculture Compact programme.
Akin-Olugbade commended South Sudan for being among the first African countries to implement the programme.
She pledged a sixty percent increase in bank financing for the country in 2024 as a response to the significant humanitarian and development needs.
The Bank’s ongoing portfolio in South Sudan amounts to $160 million, with the top sectors being agriculture, skills and social development, and governance.
Last week, Akin-Olugbade met with high-level government officials, including the First Vice President, Riek Machar, and the ministers of Finance and National Planning, Interior, Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, and Youth and Sports.
She also met senior officials from the ministries of Agriculture and Forestry, Water Resources, and Irrigation and the Governor of the Bank of South Sudan.
Their discussions centered on strengthening collaboration around the government’s strategic priorities and addressing South Sudan’s development needs.
Ms. Akin commended the government of South Sudan for its excellent portfolio performance and reiterated the bank’s commitment to increase agricultural production and productivity for enhanced food security.
The AfDB also sought additional pathways for closer collaboration with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to strengthen support for forcibly displaced persons in the context of increased conflicts in Africa, including in the region.
Akin-Olugbade joined UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner-Operations, Raouf Mazou, for a joint visit to the Gendrassa refugee camp in Maban County, in the northeastern part of the country.
She also visited a bank-financed Resilience Water for Improved Livelihood project in Juba, which has boosted water supply infrastructure in Juba city.
She then visited the African Development Bank’s country office and interacted with staff members.
Yero Baldeh, Director of the Transition Support Coordination Office; Themba Bhebhe, Country Manager for South Sudan; and Gassia Assadourian, Chief Programme Officer, accompanied the vice president.