Attachment 1 SOO Resilience through Agriculture in South Sudan.pdf

STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES

TITLE OF ACTIVITY

The activity title is Resilience through Agriculture in South Sudan.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this activity is to significantly improve food security, and community and household recovery and resilience by addressing the below objectives.

BACKGROUND

Despite the tremendous potential of the agriculture sector in South Sudan, threats to food security remain an enormous challenge. Three civil wars and decades of multi-level, violent conflicts have decimated South Sudan’s ability to support a functional economy that can grow and distribute food to its own population. This insecurity, paired with recurring climatic shocks as well as natural disasters, plant pests, human and animal diseases, has adversely impacted agriculture production; limited access to public services; degraded nutritional and food security indicators; traumatized and displaced populations; hindered private sector investment and capacity building; and increased dependency on humanitarian assistance.

The most recent data from USAID’s Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance show that 1.3 million children face moderate to severe acute malnutrition, 470,000 pregnant and lactating women are malnourished, and prior to the emergence of COVID-19, the Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) projected that an estimated 6.5 million people (out of South Sudan’s total population of

11.7 million) will face IPC 3 or worse levels of acute food insecurity at the peak of the lean season.1 In 2019, despite efforts from the international community to support the agriculture sector and the significant contributions from the WFP, which delivered 300,000 tons of cereals in humanitarian aid, South Sudan still faced a deficit of 181,500 tons. Now due to COVID-19 an additional 2.1 million people are estimated to be in need of additional food assistance.

There are few economic opportunities for people under the age of 29, who comprise 70 percent of South Sudan’s population. A poor education system results in high illiteracy rates, limited skill development and few opportunities to earn a wage. In particular, uneducated males are susceptible to recruitment into militias, criminal gangs, and cattle-raiding groups and other activities which perpetuate local insecurity.

Gender dynamics have greatly influenced the needs, opportunities, and risks faced by women, men, girls, and boys with women and girls shouldering domestic and caregiving responsibilities.

Their societal roles as caregivers mean women and girls often bear the brunt of harmful coping strategies, like reducing meal frequency or food intake in favor of other family members.

Fifty years of conflict have devastated social cohesion and trust between and among traditional and government institutions and leaders. Over 40 percent of South Sudanese have symptoms related to post-traumatic stress. The impact of trauma is intergenerational and cyclical -

1 May-to-July, 2020

Page | 1 untreated trauma leads to cycles of violence and reduced productivity as children experience their parents’ trauma, and the lack of food availability is a major stressor for pastoralists.

Theory of Change

If targeted food insecure communities improve gender responsive food production, market-based distribution, and household nutrition then rural households and communities will have improved resilience to cope with, and adapt to, shocks.

OBJECTIVES

● Strengthen local systems and community groups capacities to sustain gender-responsive, diversified and market-sensitive agriculture production;

● Increase availability of, access to, and utilization of diverse, safe, and affordable diet;

● Expand opportunities for sustainable, locally-driven livelihoods.

● As a result of the above: Graduate communities from high Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) to low IPC Acute Food Insecurity (AFI).

PERIOD AND PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance for this award is four years, beginning from the date of the award.

The activity will be implemented in South Sudan.

OPERATIONAL CONSTRAINTS

● Must work within USAID-identified targeted counties in RFP Section F.3.

● Must consider Cross Cutting and Security requirements in C.5 and H.23 respectively.

● Must incorporate a plug figure for Grants under Contract of $1,000,000 and a plug figure of $2,050,000 for construction activities.

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