SDC Humanitarian Aid (SDC-HA) in South Sudan

With the signature of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in January 2005, the long lasting civil war between Sudan and South Sudan was brought to an end. The CPA period finally concluded on 9 July 2011 with the independence of South Sudan.

Since 1994, SDC-HA has been helping to alleviate the suffering of civilians affected by the civil war in South Sudan. In August 2006, SDC-HA opened an office in Juba, the capital of South Sudan which is also representing the other Swiss Government actors in Juba upon the Authorities of the Government of South Sudan.

The current Medium Term Programme 2010-12 for Sudan (including South Sudan) focuses on food and livelihood security, basic services and protection of civilians with an indicative budget per year of CHF 14 million (whereas CHF 6.5 million are allocated to South Sudan).

SDC-HA is maintaining its office in Juba, in order to implement the MTP 2010-12 in South Sudan. Additionally, one SDC sub-office was opened in 2011 in Aweil, Northern Bar el Gazal, in order to support a new directly implemented project in the area of water and sanitation.

Due to the present phase of political transition, Switzerland combines emergency and recovery aid (SDC-HA), development assistance (SDC-RC), peace-building (Division for Human Security) and support to the Security Sector Reform (Federal Department of Defence, Protection and Sport).

As the context in South Sudan remains very fragile and South Sudan needs to build up its nation, Switzerland will continue supporting the peace and state building process in South Sudan and is currently drafting a new Cooperation Strategy 2013-16.

SDC-HA is planning to increase its humanitarian programme in South Sudan (from about CHF 6.5 to CHF 9 mio./year), while focussing on emergency aid as well as on early recovery/reconstruction with a focus on Northern Bar el Ghazal state.