UN Humanitarian Coordinator launches Partnership for Recovery and Resilience Programme in Yambio

15 Oct 2018

UN Humanitarian Coordinator launches Partnership for Recovery and Resilience Programme in Yambio

Martin Siba / Filip Andersson

In response to increased food insecurity mostly caused by conflict, the United Nation’s Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan on Friday led a delegation launching a Partnership for Recovery and Resilience Programme in Yambio, aimed at reconstructing the Western Equatoria region.

“This event today [Friday 12 October] is about the people of Yambio. It is about the desire of the people and the community to return home to their livelihood projects and build a life project for themselves,” said Alain Noudéhou, who is also the United Nations Mission in South Sudan’s Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General.

The launch, a joyous affair, also saw the government of the Netherlands, through its diplomat Jane Alberda, commit 9 million US dollars to the partnership programme in the region, which consists of eleven key projects.

The UN Development Programme, UNDP, will coordinate the implementation of these projects, which include re-establishing access to basic services, restoring productive capacities and rebuilding trust between citizens and institutions.

“We are very happy today. The way forward for us now, as women, is to make sure that we implement everything that we have committed ourselves to by signing the partnership. We must work in an accountable way to deliver quality services to our communities and continue to protect and empower women, youth groups and others,” said Christine Masande, a women’s representative.

The milestone occasion was marked in a festive and colourful manner, with national and international development partners, UN agencies and local communities exhibiting the full variety of produce, services, projects and support that each stakeholder is bringing to the partnership table, amid drumming, singing and dancing.

The diversity on display, particularly reflected in the eleven-point partnership agenda, was hailed by Wanguai Emmanuel, the chairperson of the Network of Civil Society Organizations.

“The projects take into consideration the needs of displaced people, the youth, women – the needs of all sectors, really. Nobody has been forgotten. Now it is all about building and owning our own development,” Mr. Emmanuel said.

The Recovery and Resilience Programme is designed to fast-track the social dimensions of reconstruction and ensure quick and tangible improvements in the daily lives of citizens, rather than having to wait for years to benefit from large-scale infrastructure projects and structural reforms.

Alain Noudéhou, for one, wants to see sustainable results sooner rather than later.

“Our commitment as development partners is to offer our support to local communities to enable them to fend for themselves and move away from relying on humanitarian assistance.”