The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) will implement a $9.98 million project to bolster South Sudan’s defenses against flooding and improve access to clean water under an agreement signed Tuesday with the country’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation.
The initiative, financed by the World Bank and part of the Regional Climate Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa, targets flood-affected and water-stressed communities nationwide.
The one-year project includes a series of targeted interventions across several states. In Maban County, a major refugee-hosting area, $3.05 million is allocated for dyke repairs and drainage pipe installation. Another $2.73 million will fund the rehabilitation of 60 hand pumps and 8 water yards in Eastern Equatoria State.
Further work includes a $1.53 million effort to repair handpumps in refugee areas of Upper Nile State. In Jonglei State, nearly $1 million is dedicated to repairing a community dyke and cleaning drainage channels in Bor Town. An additional $933,141 will rehabilitate 20 handpumps and 3 water yards in Jonglei and Lakes States.
South Sudan’s Undersecretary for Water Resources, Achter Manyuat John, said the ministry is “fully committed to transparency and accountability” as the “custodians of public resources.” He pledged that the work would meet the highest governance standards while delivering tangible benefits to vulnerable communities.
The project plan emphasizes community participation, the use of local labor, and strict compliance with environmental and social safeguards to ensure its long-term sustainability.
Petronella Halwindi Kasaka, UNOPS Country Manager in South Sudan, said the agency is proud to partner with the ministry to strengthen the country’s climate resilience. “This project reflects our commitment to delivering sustainable infrastructure solutions that protect lives, restore essential services, and empower communities to adapt to a changing climate,” she said.