Cooperation programme – South Sudan
The Swiss Cooperation Programme in South Sudan 2026-2029 focuses on two priority areas: 1. Food Security and Sustainable Livelihoods; 2. Protection and Social Cohesion.
Switzerland’s engagement contributes to alleviate suffering, build lasting livelihoods, improve natural resources management and promote social cohesion. The core of Switzerland’s engagement is to respond in an effective and sustainable way to needs and aspirations of the most vulnerable with a specific focus on women and youth. Swiss-supported initiatives are guided by needs, relevance and potential impact.
The Triple-Nexus approach (i.e. Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus) has proven successful and remains crucial in the fragile context of South Sudan. This approach allows Switzerland to respond to immediate needs with humanitarian interventions while integrating long-term development initiatives addressing root causes of poverty and conflict.
During the implementation of the Swiss Cooperation Programme 2026-2029, Switzerland’s financial commitment amounts to around CHF 8 million per year. Contributions to WFP, ICRC and UNHCR as well as contributions to the Swiss Red Cross are managed directly by the responsible services in Berne.
Switzerland continues to work with a mix of different partners, adapting its partnerships to the volatile context. Champions among a broad range of actors (local government, think tanks, UN agencies and other multilateral institutions, civil society networks, youth and women led organisations, international, national and Swiss NGOs and the private sector) are selected to support the implementation of the Cooperation Programme. Over the course of the programme period 2026 – 2029, a stronger focus will be put on empowering local organizations and institutions. Furthermore, experts of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit are temporarily seconded to various UN partners operating in South Sudan (e.g. IOM, UNOCHA and WHO).
In consultation with the Embassy of Switzerland in Addis Ababa, the Swiss Cooperation Office in Juba is following the developments related to the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
The Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (FDDPS) seconds staff officers and specialists in humanitarian mine clearance and logistics to the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS).
Themes
Food Security and Sustainable Livelihoods
Switzerland supports emergency food distribution programs, responding in an agile way to needs of the population affected by conflict and natural disasters. Development initiatives focus on livestock, agriculture and natural resource management. Small businesses for alternative livelihoods and farmers are supported to increase production beyond subsistence levels. The objective to build certified value chains for local markets will be pursued, also by promoting linkages between subsistence farming and marked-based production. Targeting the private sector, economic empowerment of vulnerable groups, particularly youth and women entrepreneurs, has become a new focus under the Swiss Cooperation Programme in South Sudan 2026-2029. This includes enhanced financial and digital literacy as well as access to micro finance systems.
Protection and Social Cohesion
Armed conflicts and natural disasters put populations at risk of physical and psychological violence. The safety and well-being of those affected is jeopardised in South Sudan. The protection portfolio includes displaced people and their host communities. Specific attention is given to most vulnerable groups at risk to become victims of violence and human rights violations, namely women, children and youth. Issues such as the recruitment of child soldiers, early and forced marriage and sexual violence are central to Switzerland’s protection portfolio. Awareness of root causes and the negative impact of Gender Based Violence (GBV) with a stronger focus on men and traditional local leaders is scaled up as well as response services for victims, such as psycho-social support measures. Efforts to strengthen institutional capacities is enhanced and the finalization of important legal and normative frameworks – such as the Gender Based Violence and Family Bill – pushed forward. Switzerland supports local peace committees, informal justice mechanisms and local development councils. These platforms enable dialogue and mediation between individuals, communities and other actors. They improve access to justice and address issues such as land disputes, cattle raids, natural resource management and the inclusion of marginalized groups. Through the engagement with well rooted local structures, Switzerland promotes social cohesion and peaceful coexistence within and between communities.
Transversal themes
All Swiss-supported interventions promote good governance, gender equality and youth empowerment. Given the heavy impact on South Sudan, the effects of climate change and appropriate measures are integrated into humanitarian and development programming.