The African Development Bank (AfDB) has reiterated its commitment to increase agricultural production and productivity for enhanced food security in South Sudan.

Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade, the AfDB’s Vice-President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery, said this in a statement issued on the bank’s website.

Ms Akin-Olugbade was in South Sudan on a three-day visit, where she met with high-level government officials, including First Vice-President, Dr Riek Machar, and the Governor of the Central Bank.

Others were the ministers of Finance and National Planning, Interior, Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, and Youth and Sports, as well as senior officials from the ministries of Agriculture and Forestry, Water Resources and Irrigation.

Their discussions centred on strengthening collaboration around the government’s strategic priorities and addressing South Sudan’s development needs.

The AfDB’s vice-president pledged a 60 per cent increase in the bank’s financing to the country in 2024, in response to their significant humanitarian and development needs

“The bank has allocated $46.7 million to support agriculture value chain development, notably for rice, sesame, sorghum, and fish.

“I commend your country for being amongst the first countries to implement the Food and Agriculture Compact Programme, following the Dakar 2 Summit held in January 2023.

“The mission also seeks additional pathways for closer collaboration with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, the UN Refugee Agency.

“To strengthen support to forcibly displaced persons in the context of increased conflicts in Africa, including in the region,” she said.

Responding, the Sudanese first vice-president thanked the bank for the continued strong partnership.

Mr Machar then appealed for more support in the key priority areas such as agriculture, energy, roads, and water and sanitation.

The AfDB vice-president joined UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner-Operations, Raouf Mazou, for a joint visit to Gendrassa Refugee Camp in Maban County, in the northeastern part of the country.

Ms Akin-Olugbade also visited the bank-financed resilience water scheme for improved livelihood in Juba, which boosted the water supply infrastructure in the city.

Yero Baldeh, director of the Transition Support Coordination Office; Themba Bhebhe, country manager for South Sudan, and Gassia Assadourian, chief programme officer, accompanied the vice-president on the visit.

AfDB’s ongoing portfolio in South Sudan amounts to $160 million, with the top sectors being agriculture, skills and social development, and governance.

(NAN)