Empowering Youth for Advocacy: A Collective Fight Against Hunger in South Sudan
By Denilson Deneki
In a bold move to combat hunger and malnutrition, Action Against Hunger (ACF) brought together members of parliament (MPs) and youth leaders in a high-level dialogue aimed at fostering collaboration and collective action. The one-day event emphasized the crucial role that youth can play in agricultural advocacy and food production in South Sudan, a country currently facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
During the dialogue, Simon Malual Deng, an MP, urged the youth to turn away from violence and instead engage in farming. “You have a role in combating hunger and malnutrition,” he declared. Malual encouraged young people to start small farms as a concrete way to address these pressing issues, highlighting the importance of immediate action while lawmakers work on supportive legislation.
“We shall push for policies that favor food production; you as the youth should focus on taking action,” he said, echoing the sentiments of the need for unity in agriculture. His appeal was clear: the solution to hunger lies in collaboration and proactive efforts, not conflict.
George Gitau, Country Director of ACF, reinforced the purpose of the event, which aimed to engage both lawmakers and youth in meaningful dialogue about their respective roles in addressing hunger. He praised the turnout and encouraged participants to strengthen collaboration for innovative, locally-driven solutions to the ongoing hunger crisis.
The dialogue featured input from Ajak Atem Diing, Chairperson of Aspire Youth Connect, who commended the organizers and called for continued advocacy from the youth. “We need to work together, but each one of us has a role to play,” he asserted, underlining the urgency of addressing the humanitarian crisis facing their nation.
Ajak further urged lawmakers to champion policies that enhance agricultural productivity, as improving food production is vital to tackling hunger. The workshop, supported by the German Federal Foreign Office, convened 40 participants, including youth leaders and media representatives, to discuss policy actions and legislative measures to mitigate the severe impacts of funding cuts on essential interventions.
South Sudan has been grappling with a humanitarian crisis aggravated by a multitude of challenges, including a refugee influx due to the Sudan crisis and climate change-induced disasters like prolonged dry spells and flooding. With shrinking donor funding, the sustainability of life-saving interventions is under threat, and without immediate collective action, millions remain at risk.
The ACF-organized dialogue served as a critical platform to empower youth and amplify community voices, aiming to enhance advocacy in both national and international arenas. As the nation navigates these arduous challenges, the call for unity in action against hunger resonates louder than ever.
