March 21, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The recent handover ceremony of Al-Jazeerah state’s Al-Komor Village Girls’ Primary School, which has undergone a series of extensive refurbishments, was attended by a number of foreign and Sudanese dignitaries.

The project was funded by the Japanese government through its grant assistance scheme for grassroots and human security projects (GGP).

February 4, 2013 (JUBA) – The Republic of South Sudan has launched a customs development and trade facilitation programme at its Nimule border, seeking to help the country diversify its economy, currently dependent oil, to non-oil resources.

TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) is implementing the project, under the country’s chamber of commerce, trade and industry, with funds from the UK government.

A significant rise in custom revenue, officials say, has been realised since work to develop South Sudan’s customs service started in 2011.

By Julius N. Uma

July 30, 2012 (JUBA) - The U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) is providing start-up funding and advisory support for the Sudd Institute, a new, independent policy research organization based in the South Sudanese capital of Juba.

By Julius N. Uma

June 24, 2012 (JUBA) - The European Union (EU) on Friday announced the donation of over 80 specialist books, covering a wide range of human rights issues, to South Sudan Human Rights Commission (SSHRC).

The books, the EU said in statement, are expected to support the human rights body in its activities, including enhancing their staff with knowledge and skills on human rights issues, which they can use to train government institutions and the public.

By Julius N. Uma

April 5, 2012 (JUBA) - The Japanese government has earmarked $35m from the 2011 supplementary budget as its contribution in response to the United Nations contingency and other emergency appeals for joint efforts to consolidate peace in newly independent South Sudan.

The announcement, according to a statement extended to Sudan Tribune, emerged during the fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD).

Lily Asuya Kwaje, a South Sudanese returnee can hardly hide her smile. She is among the 300 beneficiaries of a one-day seed exhibition organized by United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in Morobo county, Central Equatoria state.

Having spent 11 years in Uganda as a refugee, the 48-year old Kwaje, who lost her husband during the civil war, returned to South Sudan only two years ago to begin a new life.

October 24, 2011 (JUBA) – The Chinese government today extended a grant of 200 million Yuan (about 31.5 million US dollars) to South Sudan for development projects in the newly independent state.

The grant was announced on Monday in Juba after a meeting between the South Sudanese minister of Information and Broadcasting, Barnaba Marial Benjamin and the Chinese Ambassador to Juba, Li Zhiguo.

April 27, 2011 (JUBA) - The US-based Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has earmarked five million dollars for the development of South Sudan’s regional capital, Juba, its mayor has revealed.

The donation, according to the mayor Mohamed Alhaj Baballa, will mainly be used to boost areas like security, rule of law and the environment. Juba County currently consists of 16 payams (districts).

March 08, 2011 (JUBA) - The Rotary Club of Juba last week donated an anaesthetic system to the government-owned Juba teaching hospital, as part of its corporate social responsibility.

The state-of-the-art Glostavent machine, valued at US$15,000, is specifically designed for use in tough environments. Manufactured by the UK-based Diametica Limited, the machine is expected to enhance the capacity of the hospital to conduct safe operations, particularly in complications in connection with child birth.

In his remarks during the handover ceremony,