South Sudan

Emergency response for people in crisis

GOAL's Emergency Response programme is designed to meet immediate need whilst also helping communities prepare for, absorb and respond to future shocks. As part of this, GOAL works with displaced populations in two Melut camp settings - supporting integrated clinics for primary health and nutrition. In 2018, the GOAL team responded to an influx of internally displaced people in Ulang by switching from static to mobile health clinics.

GOAL also leads a consortium 'RECOVER' programme. This sees the team address immediate household needs in Upper Nile and Unity States through unconditional cash transfers. Resilience building activity focuses on increased access to health and education services, livelihoods and income generation, reduced pressure on social capital and the reduction of negative coping strategies.

Strengthening primary healthcare services

This year has seen an expansion of GOAL's Resilient Health programme in South Sudan. We now support more than 60 health facilities, with focus areas including community health promotion, nutrition, immunisation, disease control, maternal and child health. GOAL is also working to build the capacity of county, state and national health systems, improve the delivery of primary healthcare services and enhance accessibility.

As part of this, GOAL trains and mentors healthcare staff to build their understanding around the needs of women, children and young people. The team also works to strengthen health information systems and management processes - supporting state-level ministries to develop strategic frameworks that will help streamline the delivery of effective public health services.

Building resilience to climate shocks and stresses

Closely linked to GOAL's work in Resilient Health, our team have been delivering comprehensive nutrition programming in South Sudan for three decades. This focuses on the provision of preventive and curative interventions to build communities’ understanding of nutrition, encourage positive practice and treat identified cases.

Work also includes a supplementary feeding programme, with resilience-building activity designed to increase food production - targeting good agronomic practices to staple crop farmers, who share their learning with wider groups. GOAL also provides cash transfers for people in the lean season, when volatile weather conditions put agricultural livelihoods at risk.

Skills training for Sustainable Livelihoods

GOAL supports diversification of Sustainable Livelihoods by prioritising agricultural training, resource distribution and the development of Village Savings Loan Associations (VLSAs). To do this, GOAL works closely with staple crop and vegetable farmer groups, training trainers on good agronomic practices and giving them the skills they need to share their learning with other groups. 

The team is also working to establish and support REFLECT groups. This provides women with focused training on numeracy, literacy and business development. All graduates are then given the chance to receive a small grant as seed-funding for their own business. They are also supported to set up VSLAs, which facilitate savings and credit to support businesses growth and expansion.

GOAL's Covid-19 response in South Sudan

South Sudan is one of the most vulnerable countries in Africa, with very weak health systems. GOAL is distributing Covid-19 messaging across local and national radio. These messages have reached over 13,000 people. GOAL has been working with 71 health centres to implement infectious control procedures which will benefit over 1.1 million people.