Germany, Netherlands, and EU Expand Rural Development Initiative to Central Equatoria

Farmers and communities in Central Equatoria State are set to benefit from new international support as Germany, the Netherlands, and the European Union officially launched the expansion of the Community Driven Rural Development (CDRD) Project in Juba this week.

The €48 million initiative aims to improve the livelihoods of 27,500 households across eight counties in Western Bahr el Ghazal, Western Equatoria, Central Equatoria, and Eastern Equatoria. With this latest funding, the project is extending its reach into Juba County, with a focus on enhancing food security, expanding market access, and empowering women and youth.

During the launch ceremony, Hon. Lily Kapuki, State Minister of Agriculture, Environment, and Forestry, emphasized the project’s potential impact. “This expansion could play a decisive role in addressing hunger and poverty in rural South Sudan,” she stated. “For smallholder households, food and nutrition security are critical. This project will support families not only in increasing their production but also in accessing markets and building resilience.”

The CDRD initiative is part of the EU’s Green and Resilient Economy Programme, which funds projects designed to strengthen rural economies while mitigating the effects of climate change. In Central Equatoria, the project will work alongside the GRACE Project, implemented with support from FAO, WFP, and ITC in other regions of the country.

Vittoria Longato, Food Security and Rural Development Manager at the EU Delegation to South Sudan, highlighted the collaborative approach. “Our shared goal is to support the people of South Sudan in building a sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient economy,” she said, underscoring the “Team Europe” approach behind the initiative.

The project, implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in partnership with the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) and other stakeholders, will focus on strengthening agricultural value chains. This includes helping farmers increase production, improving access to markets, and ensuring that field-based lessons inform national policies.

Beyond agriculture, the initiative emphasizes sustainable natural resource management on a landscape scale—an approach aimed at environmental protection while securing the rural economy’s foundation.

Germany’s support to South Sudan extends beyond agriculture, encompassing programs in local governance, peacebuilding, gender equality, and the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence. Similarly, the Netherlands and the EU have invested heavily in rural development and food security across the country.

For many communities in Central Equatoria, the expansion of the CDRD comes at a challenging time, as climate change, conflict, and economic hardships continue to exert pressure on households. With increased funding and broader reach, the project’s backers hope to lay the groundwork for a more resilient and sustainable rural economy.