South Sudan: CSOs Present Position Papers for Government to Act on Service Delivery

CSOs, Right2Grow Consortium Members and Specialized Committees at the South Sudan National Legislative Assembly. Photo: Cicilia Ade Hillary / Save the Children

JUBA – WEDNESDAY 16^TH: The Right2Grow’s supported civil society organisations (CSOs) led by Save the Children have submitted three position papers to the relevant national parliamentary committees on health, WASH, food security and nutrition in response to South Sudan’s national budget proposal for fiscal year (FY) 2024/2025.

The position papers have been submitted for the government through the specialised committees of health, WASH, food security and nutrition to address inadequate budget allocations, low and late payment of wages and salaries to sectoral staff, limited support to agriculture production and productivity, as well as overdependence on donor funding. The team is expected to submit another position paper for the government to address the humanitarian situation of the people in the country.

The CSOs call for the government to prioritize the financing of the health sector by increasing a minimum of 3% of the annual budget and increasing the Ministry of Agriculture's budget from 7.4% to 10% of the total national government budget to end child hunger in South Sudan starting from 2025/26. On WASH, CSOs have called on the government to address pressing water scarcity issues, improving the quality of life for residents.

Hon. Bonguot Amum Okech, chairperson of the specialised committee on Water Resources and Irrigation in the parliament and chair of national WASH concurs, said:

“The connection of the water to the houses is very slow, and we urge the government to do the allocation. We can’t depend on water tankers, and like now, if they are told to reduce the prices, they go on strike, and it affects our country. We need to improve on the wash facilities generally in the country, like the building of public toilets in the stresses and markets, for this country to be free from open defecation.”

Save the Children, in partnership with the Child Rights Coalition, the Sun Movement, and other members of the Right2Grow consortium, has actively engaged with relevant specialised committees of Health, WASH, food security and nutrition at the National Legislative Assembly, and key stakeholders over the past 2-3 years to enhance the consortium's advocacy and influence efforts, focusing on budget analysis and advocacy, among others.

The CSOs seek to minimize all forms of hunger and malnutrition, ensuring that all individuals, particularly children, have access to sufficient and nutritious food, health, and WASH throughout the year in South Sudan.

The initiative is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.