The Vice President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery of the African Development Bank, Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade, recently concluded a three-day visit to South Sudan. During her visit, Akin-Olugbade engaged in discussions with high-level government officials, including First Vice President Riek Machar, and various ministers, focusing on strengthening collaboration and addressing South Sudan’s development needs.
Dr. Machar expressed gratitude for the strong partnership with the Bank and appealed for additional support in priority areas such as agriculture, energy, roads, and water and sanitation. In response, Akin-Olugbade pledged a sixty percent increase in Bank financing to South Sudan in 2024. This commitment is intended to address the country’s significant humanitarian and development needs.
Akin-Olugbade also announced that the Bank has allocated $46.7 million to support agriculture value chain development, specifically for rice, sesame, sorghum, and fish. She commended South Sudan for being among the first countries to implement the Food and Agriculture Compact program, following the Dakar 2 Summit held in January 2023.
In addition to discussions with government officials, Akin-Olugbade also explored opportunities for collaboration with the UN Refugee Agency to provide support to forcibly displaced persons in the context of increased conflicts in Africa. This included a joint visit to the Gendrassa refugee camp in Maban County.
During her visit, Akin-Olugbade also took the opportunity to visit a Bank-financed project focused on improving water supply infrastructure in Juba. The project, known as Resilience Water for Improved Livelihood, has had a positive impact on water supply in the city.
Accompanying Akin-Olugbade on her visit were Yero Baldeh, Director of the Transition Support Coordination Office, Themba Bhebhe, Country Manager for South Sudan, and Gassia Assadourian, Chief Program Officer. The African Development Bank currently has an ongoing portfolio in South Sudan amounting to $160 million, with key sectors including agriculture, skills and social development, and governance.
In conclusion, the African Development Bank’s commitment to increasing financing for South Sudan in 2024 is a promising development for the country. The focus on key priority areas such as agriculture, energy, and infrastructure is a testament to the Bank’s dedication to supporting the country’s development needs.
For further inquiries, please contact Joyce Mulama, Communication and External Relations Department, via email: [email protected].
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