The Warrap State government and developmental partners on Tuesday launched a strategic development plan for 2022-2024 at the Dr. Justin Yaac Hall in Kuajok town.
The three-year plan was developed by the state’s Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and UNMISS.
The occasion was witnessed by Governor Manhiem Bol Malek, state officials, UNDP and UNMISS representatives, and other representatives of humanitarian organizations. The plan stipulates development goals and aims to bridge funding gaps in providing social services.
Governor Bol appreciated the developmental partners for giving technical support in the development of the plan.
“I am glad to present Warrap State’s three-year strategic development plan 2022-2024 as aligned to the national strategic development plan. I appreciate UNDP for assisting the state finance ministry to develop the plan,” he said. “Our priorities are peace, security, and stabilization. The other pillar is resource mobilization and institutional development with full integration of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).”
“The other priority is to improve infrastructure and social and justice services,” Bol added.
The governor said that his government is striving to enhance peace and create an attractive environment for returnees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to avoid trauma and stress.
“I want to assure you that the state government will endeavor to implement the strategic development plan through the appropriate collection of local revenues to finance action plans of this document,” Bol said.
For his part, Titus Osundina, the UNDP deputy resident representative, said peace is the only path to implement government and development partners’ programs.
“With peace, you can introduce mechanized farming in this fertile land and we will earn lots through crop production and never ask others for food because peace will bring economic development to the state,” he said. “This partnership is good because it helps the state to manage financial resources for social development for the people. We are implementing peace and community cohesion, trauma healing, and psychosocial support.”
“We are also establishing peace committees to resolve conflicts among communities and we are financing the rule of law and access to social justice,” Osundina added.
Meanwhile, Adewuyi Adewumi, UNMISS’ acting head of the Warrap State field office, said there is a need to urgently resolve the conflicts among the communities in the neighboring states of Warrap, Unity, and Lakes.
“The issue between Warrap State, Unity State, and Lakes State has lasted long and needs UNMISS and other international organizations to help the communities come to normalcy,” he said.
Adewumi said that UNMISS will continue to support peace and ensure the implementation of the strategic plan.
Angelo Dut Athian of the Warrap State Civil Society Alliance (WSCSA) welcomed the plan and urged the government to prioritize security and health in the state.
“We have witnessed today the launching of the strategic development plan and we urge the state government to put security first because the communities of Twic, Abyei, and Greater Tonj are not at peace with each other,” he said. “So, the government should first bring peace and then other things will follow.”