As part of efforts to  strengthen economic governance in South Sudan, UNDP has signed a four-year $9million grant from the African Development Bank(AfDB). 

The ‘Institutional Support Project for Strengthening Economic Governance in South Sudan (STEG-SS), which will cover the period December 2022 to September 2026, will enable UNDP to support the Government and the people of South Sudan to achieve the development objectives articulated in the Revised National Development Strategy (RNDS) and the Revitalised agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan-RARCSS. 

Speaking during ceremony, AfDB Country Director, Themba Bhebhe said the Bank is committed to contributing to the development of South Sudan and will continue to support different areas of development in the country. 

Making his remarks after signing the grant; UNDP Deputy Resident Representative for Programmes - Titus Osundina appreciated the great collaboration between UNDP, the Ministry of Finance and Planning and the AfDB.

‘We appreciate the hybrid implementation arrangement for the $9million Project. The project components implemented by UNDP in collaboration with the relevant institutions, amount to $6million while the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) of the Ministry of Finance implements $3million,’ he said. 

Mr. Osundina further said among others, the objective of STEG-SS is to strengthen capacity at all levels to provide evidence-based and inclusive policy making. Speaking earlier, the Minister of Finance and Planning - Honourable Dier Tong Ngor thanked AfDB for the support to the Government and the  people of South Sudan.

He noted that the hybrid implementation arrangement, through which the PIU implements 25% of the grant, the Bank will empower  people of South Sudan. Through the STEG-SS Project, UNDP will work with key institutions at the national level, including the Ministry of Finance and Planning, National Bureau of Statistics, Ministry of Investment, and the Transitional National Legislative Assembly.  

At the state level, the geographical focus of the project is intended to build on earlier investments in PFM work in six states (Northern Bahr El Ghazal, Western Equatoria, Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei and Warrap), where UNDP supported PFM capacity building of State Legislative Assemblies, and State Revenue Authorities.

The project will initially focus on 3 state capitals: Juba/Central Equatoria, Wau/Western Bahr el Gazal and Malakal/Upper Nile, and depending on the specific activity (such as investment, data collection etc.), extend to states in the 3 sub-regions.