Agricultural extension specialists practice fertilization techniques during a training of trainers in Bor, South Sudan.

Accelerating Food Systems Resilience in South Sudan

Project Summary

Accelerating Food Systems Resilience in South Sudan (AFSRiSS)

South Sudan | 2024–2026

Context and Project Objective

Years of conflict and instability have constrained the growth of South Sudan’s agricultural sector, contributing to fractured food systems and food insecurity. Smallholder farmers have insufficient technical knowledge to sustainably grow vegetables under changing climatic conditions, and there is little support available to them. Sector professionals, including agricultural extension workers and NGO trainers, lack knowledge of good agricultural practices, especially climate-smart agricultural techniques, and have few models for training farmers effectively. While agro-input dealers play a key role in advising their smallholder customers, their lack of training in effective and responsible vegetable production practices affects the quality of the guidance they provide, and they are not well positioned to scale up operations as farmers begin to demand more quality seeds and other inputs. 

To address these gaps, the AFSRiSS project aims to build the capacity of sector professionals and agro-input dealers to better support smallholder farmers in South Sudan. EWS-KT will be working closely with ZOA Dorcas South Sudan and the other project partners to achieve the project goals.

Specifically, EWS-KT will: 

  • Use a training-of-trainers approach to equip agricultural extension workers and ZOA Dorcas staff with knowledge and skills in climate-smart agricultural practices for vegetable cultivation.
  • Develop training materials and modules on good agricultural practices and climate-smart techniques to enable local actors to more effectively support farmers. 
  • Strengthen agro-input dealers’ technical capacity and their finance and business skills so they can better serve their customers and anticipate farmers’ growing demand for quality vegetable seeds and related inputs. In addition to in-person training, EWS-KT will provide online training and certification for agro-input dealers through the GrowHow learning platform. 
  • Provide on-field technical support to fields supported by ZOA Dorcas staff and establish and maintain vegetable cultivation learning sites at Dr. John Garang Memorial University of Science and Technology in Bor and at the University of Bahr El-Ghazal in Jur River.
  • Build farmer capacity through a tailored training for lead farmers and the introduction of the VeggieTap for Africa app for vegetable production.

Expected Outcomes 

  • 48 sector professionals (ZOA Dorcas agronomists and other agricultural extension workers) trained in best-fit and climate-smart agricultural practices for vegetable cultivation
  • 20 agro-input retailers equipped with technical knowledge and finance and business skills to better serve their smallholder farmer customers

EWS-KT Partners

Funding partner: Accelerating Resilient Food Systems in Africa (ARFSA), a program of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency commissioned by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. With knowledge and expertise, ARFSA helps organizations with proven experience to scale up and accelerate their contribution to resilient local food systems, working together to increase food security in Africa and Yemen.

Implementing partners: ZOA Dorcas South Sudan (lead partner); Wageningen University & ResearchUniversity of JubaIntegrated Seed and Sector Development Uganda (ISSD Uganda)

Project Period

1 April 2024 – 31 March 2026

Location

South Sudan: Western Bahr el Ghazal state (Jur River county), Jonglei state (Bor South and Pibor counties), and Eastern Equatoria state (Torit county)

Netherlands Enterprise Agency logo
ZOA Dorcas South Sudan logo
Wageningen University & Research logo
University of Juba logo
ISSD Uganda logo
Agricultural extension specialists learn about pH testing in the field during a training of trainers in Bor, South Sudan.
Agricultural extension specialists learn in a classroom setting during a training of trainers in Bor, South Sudan.
Agricultural extension specialists practice making leaf pots for seedlings during a training of trainers in Bor, South Sudan.