The South Sudan Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, represented by Undersecretary Dr Michael Roberto Kenyi Legge, and the European Union (EU) on Wednesday convened the second Steering Committee meeting of the Green and Resilient Economy Team Europe Initiative (GRE TEI).
The meeting brought together the relevant line ministries, the co-funding donors (Germany, the Netherlands), and the implementing partners. It provided a platform for coordination, oversight, and strategic guidance.
A press release dated 28 January said the GRE TEI’s objectives are to support agriculture and rural development, and to strengthen food and nutrition security and rural livelihoods, particularly in marginalized regions and among vulnerable groups, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, and returnees.
“The initiative also seeks to generate new employment opportunities, particularly for women and young people, and to promote climate-smart business development by improving market connectivity and inclusive value chain development. All interventions are based on the sustainable management of natural resources, including water, land, and forests,” the statement reads in part. “Two flagship projects were launched at the end of 2024. The Green and Resilient Agriculture and Climate Economy (GRACE) project is implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Trade Centre (ITC), and the World Food Programme (WFP) across Central Equatoria, Lakes, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, and Western Equatoria states. The project focuses on equipping farmers with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to improve productivity, resilience, and market access.”
“The Community-Driven Rural Development (CDRD) project, implemented by GIZ in Western Equatoria, Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, and Western Bahr el Ghazal State, and co-funded by the EU, Germany, and the Netherlands, aims at developing more competitive, sustainable, and climate-resilient agricultural value chains,” the statement added.
Four new projects joined the GRE TEI at the end of December and were officially presented to South Sudanese authorities during the steering committee for input and strategic guidance:
The Sustainable Markets and Agribusiness Competitiveness Plus (SMAC+) project, implemented by CARITAS in Central and Eastern Equatoria, co-funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), will focus on market systems development and resilience while integrating peacebuilding and social inclusion.
“The Strengthening Pathways towards a Green and Resilient Rural Economy in South Sudan project, implemented by ACTED, will support agro-pastoralist communities in the greater Bahr el Ghazal region and strengthen institutional capacities for natural resource management in Western Equatoria, including in the Southern National Park,” the statement said. “Through the Supporting Sustainable Livelihoods and Conservation in the Great Nile Migration Landscape project (GNML), African Parks Network will implement conservation activities and livelihoods in the Great Nile Migration Landscape, covering Boma and Badingilo National Parks and the Jonglei sector.”
According to the statement, finally, International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) will implement the Green and Resilient Economy Business Incubator (GREBI) project to stimulate entrepreneurship, value addition, and the growth of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) within agricultural value chains and geographical hotspots supported by the GRE partners.
With a total resource envelope of €115.6 million, this comprehensive package will support sustainable and climate-resilient economic development in South Sudan over the next four years. It will contribute to improved food security, job creation, natural resource protection, and stronger community resilience.
Massimo Scalorbi, Head of Cooperation of the European Union Delegation to South Sudan, highlighted that “Peace and stability are essential to ensure that our common efforts, donor investments, and the work of implementing partners bear fruit, allowing the South Sudanese population to thrive and long-term development to take root.”
Meanwhile, Undersecretary for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Michael Roberto Kenyi Legge, affirmed that “The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is fully committed to providing leadership, policy guidance, and coordination to ensure the success of the GRE Programme, a cornerstone of our efforts to deliver concrete results during the 2026 agricultural season.”