The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) and the Ministry of Gender Child and Social Welfare (MGCSW) Handover Assets to the Commission for Refugee Affairs (CRA)
Dr. George Leju Lugor, the Acting MAFS Undersecretary (Right), hands over car and motorbike keys to the CRA Chairperson John Paul Akot (Middle) in Juba. Photo Credit: MAFS
May 7, 2025, Juba. The Government of the Republic of South Sudan through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), together with the Ministry of Gender, Child, and Social Welfare (MGSCW) is handing over assets to the Commission for Refugee Affairs (CRA) to support coordination of project activities in refugee hosting counties of Pariang, Maban and Juba. The handover of the critical assets marks a major milestone in the implementation of flagship safety net project. The assets include 1 vehicle (Toyota Landcruiser hardtop), four motorbikes, office chairs and tables, printers, laptops and projectors and office space worth over $100,000.
This support is part of the institutional capacity strengthening and social protection component of the South Sudan Productive Safety Net for Socioeconomic Opportunities Project (SNSOP) also known as Shabaka Meisha, meaning “livelihoods net”, a five-year, US$ 199 million World Bank financed initiative led by the Government of the Republic of South Sudan. The project aims to provide cash transfers and income-generating opportunities to 1.1 million individuals in 157,500 households in 20 counties across South Sudan and strengthen the National Safety Net Delivery System. Implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, the project includes cash transfers and Labour-Intensive Public Works to uplift households in addition to behavioral change training.
The handover that took place at the CRA head offices in Thongping, Juba South Sudan, was officiated by Dr. George Leju Lugor, Program Coordinator for the Single Project Coordination Unit (SPCU) at the Ministry Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) where the SNSOP project is domiciled, and Hon. Esther Ikere Eluzai, Undersecretary for Ministry of Gender Child and Social Welfare, and Charles Undeland, the World Bank Country Manager for South Sudan. They were joined by Arafat Simeone, World Bank Task Team Leader for the project, and Mazedi Peter, the Acting Program Director, Single Projects Coordination Unit (SPCU). These assets will greatly facilitate government efforts to provide cash transfers to vulnerable households across 15 counties in South Sudan including refugee hosting counties whre the CRA is involved aim to alleviate the financial burden on vulnerable households amidst inflation and other challenges, enabling them to meet immediate needs and invest in productive activities. Shabaka Meisha will also provide access to socio-economic opportunities to promote human capital development.
Dr. George Leju Lugor remarked and the handover that, “We are glad to present these assets to the Commission for Refugee Affairs at the Ministry of Interior today. These materials are critical for managing the SNSOP project’s support to refugee hosting committees, enabling them to take part in economic opportunities and agricultural including agricultural production which is vital for our own survival and livelihoods. As the Ministry of Agriculture, our mandate is to support people at the grassroots level with basic livelihoods, and this is where this action will complement the work of the CRA to that end, so thank you.”
Mukulish Arafat, the SNSOP project Task Team Leader noted that under the project, “157,000 households have been reached including 24,000 refugee households across 15 counties in South Sudan. The project not only caters to the refugees, but also supports host communities, ensuring inclusive development”.
Meanwhile, David Santos, The Acting World Bank Country Manager, emphasized the importance of shifting from third party project implementation to government led implementation saying, “we believe all service delivery should ultimately come from the government of South Sudan”. And Hon. Esther Ikere, the undersecretary for Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Services reemphasized the importance of the project for refugees, noting that “This project provides the opportunity for refugees to not only moving from one location to another, but while they are there with the host communities, they are participating in social life.”
First launched nationally in August 2023, the Shabaka Meisha project builds on the successes and lessons of earlier initiatives supported by the World Bank, aiming to reduce vulnerability and strengthen resilience of South Sudanese households.