Attachments
Authors: Abishkar Subedi, Gerrit-Jan van Uffelen and Tony Ngalamu
Introduction
Background to the Study
Collaborative Effort by S34D and FNS-REPRO
This case study is a collaborative effort by the Feed the Future Global Supporting Seed Systems for Development (S34D) Activity and the FAO Food and Nutrition Security Resilience Program (FNSREPRO, or REPRO). This country case provides a better understanding of the current status of South Sudan’s seed sector, documents the challenges it faces, and presents recommendations and pathways to develop a more resilient and vibrant seed sector.
The aim of this case study is to provide guidance to humanitarian and development agencies to contribute to resilience building among farmers by proposing ways in which seed systems can provide farmers in fragile states with access to quality seed of appropriate varieties in a timely and affordable manner. It will contribute to resilient seed systems by proposing models for the (re-)establishment of new, more robust seed systems that are able to adapt and transform to withstand the various shocks and stresses that impact food and seed systems in fragile states.
S34D Activity on Fragile States
This activity explores and develops models for the emergence of enhanced and resilient seed systems in fragile contexts, based on lessons that emerge from historical, recent, and on-going initiatives through selected country studies, including South Sudan. The models of interest to S34D encompass aspects of formal, informal, and intermediary (including emergency seed model) seed systems and explore how these can work to support and strengthen each other.
The S34D activity is funded by the Feed the Future Initiative through the Bureau for Resilience and Food Security (RFS) and by USAID through the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA).
FNS Resilience Program REPRO and ISSD-Africa
In South Sudan REPRO aims to contribute to the development of context-sensitive seed systems resilience, aiming to reduce the number of people in Integrated Food Security Phase Classification - phase 3 (IPC-3) (food crisis) through integrated seed sector development and to reduce the number of people in IPC-4 (food emergency) through an effective seed insecurity response. The Dutch-funded FAO-implemented REPRO program works with the Wageningen Centre for Development Innovation (WCDI) of Wageningen University and Research (WUR) to provide guidance to Government, humanitarian, and development actors, and the private seed sector, to build more resilient seed systems that improve food systems performance aimed at improved food and nutrition outcomes for South Sudan’s peoples.
In implementing its learning and capacity-building agenda, WCDI works in close partnership with the Integrated Seed Sector Development Africa program (ISSD-Africa), in particular on research themes ‘seed sector development in fragile states’ and ‘effective seed insecurity response’. REPRO is funded by the Inclusive Green Growth Department of the Dutch Ministry of Development Co-operation.