![UNDP - South Sudan - Lars Petter Henie—Charge de Affairs, Embassy of Norway and UNDP Resident Representative Dr. Samuel Doe signing the grant agreement at the Norwegian Embassy in Juba.](/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2023-11/signing-2.jpg)
Lars Petter Henie—Charge de Affairs, Embassy of Norway and UNDP Resident Representative Dr. Samuel Doe signing the grant agreement at the Norwegian Embassy in Juba.
20 November 2023, JUBA —The Norwegian Embassy in South Sudan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have signed an additional grant agreement for strengthening public administration and implementation of public financial management (PFM) reforms.
The contribution will enable the continuation of capacity-building initiatives and policy support that contributes to the implementation of Chapter IV of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
Speaking during the signing ceremony on 17 November 2023, Lars Petter Henie—Charge de Affairs, expressed enthusiasm about the extension and reaffirmed Norway’s commitment and support to the implementation of R-ARCSS to restore stability and peace in the country.
“Effective governance and robust economic management are crucial for development and economic growth in the country”, said Lars.
On his part, Dr. Samuel Doe, UNDP Resident Representative in South Sudan, highlighted the significance of the extended partnership, noting that it will play a key role in strengthening public administration and economic governance institutions, ultimately promoting good governance and sustainable peace and development.
With the added financial support of NOK 17.4 million, Norway’s contributions totals NOK 104.2 million (over USD 10 million) since 2019.
The major emphasis for the support has been on strengthening good governance of the economy and public sector reforms. Chapter IV of R-ARCSS emphasizes the need for better resources, and economic and fiscal management to restore peace and stability in South Sudan.
Norway has been a longtime partner in various peace agreements in South Sudan, and support for this project has been instrumental in fostering governance structures and bolstering economic management systems in the country.
![UNDP - South Sudan - Sam Doe and Lars Petter Henie—Charge de Affairs, Embassy of Norway shaking hands at signing of the grant in Juba 2023](/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2023-11/signing-6_0.jpg)
Lars Petter Henie—Charge de Affairs, Embassy of Norway and UNDP Resident Representative Dr. Samuel Doe shaking hands at the signing of the grant agreement at the Norwegian Embassy in Juba.
Background
With Funding from Norway, UNDP’s Governance and Economic Management Support (GEMS) project in South Sudan strives to strengthen public administration and economic governance at the national level with outputs and activities geared towards support of: 1) National Constitutional Amendment Committee (NCAC) to review the critical laws as required in Chapter IV of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), 2) Public Finance Management Reform Strategy (PFM-RS) Secretariat to coordinate the meetings and facilitate the follow-up of the resolutions of PFM-Oversight Committee (OC) as well as the recommendations of PFM-Technical Committee (TC) on PFM-RS eleven (11) Plus two (2) priorities.
The project will also continue to enhance the functioning of the installed System for digitalization of the work of the National Audit Chamber (NAC), Aid Information Management System (AIMS) in the Ministry of Finance and Planning (MoFP), and Payroll Server System and the Human Resource Records in Ministry of Public Service and Human Resource Development (MoPS&HRD). It will engage Special Skills Experts (SSEs) to train, coach, and mentor Change Agents (CAs) in the targeted Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) to improve coordination and performance on institutional reforms.
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For more information, contact:
Amos Agiro, Communications Analyst: amos.agiro@undp.org, +211928747291
Jale Richard, Communications Officer: jale.richard.wilson.santos@mfa.no, +211920900540