Examining Enterprise Capacity - SSDDRC

Before the war, Juba was a centre for trade in Southern Sudan. Currently, Juba is host to many GOSS
ministries and agencies, as well as a wide range of international governmental and nongovernmental
organizations. The soil and climate around Juba are suitable for the growth of a variety
of crops, vegetables and fruits. There are likewise other natural resources available to local people.
The Nile River can be used for irrigation, drinking water, as a source of fresh fish and to generate
hydro-electric power. Poor roads and transportation difficulties make the rainy season, from May/
June to September, a challenging time of year for locals with regards to trade and other forms of
income generation 10 .
General Observations
Juba
Upon arrival in Juba, the contrast in development of basic infrastructure compared with Khartoum
was clear. The few main roads that are cleared of landmines are in terrible condition and
unmanageable without a 4x4 vehicle. Public transport services are poor and do not service all areas
of town, leaving local residents to walk long distances to reach their destinations. Infrastructure in
general is inadequate in meeting the needs of the population – power supply is not continuous and
very limited, buildings are at the fringe of collapse, clean water is scarce and health and public
services are almost non-existent for the majority of residents. This poses gender-specific implications
for both women and men.
There is an enormous presence of the UN officials and NGO staff in Juba. Since the signing of the
CPA, the Juba area has experienced an influx of economic and other activity due to what many call
an ‘NGO invasion’ and the presence of a large number of Kenyan and Ugandan businesspeople. This
has put pressure on the IDPs and residents of Juba, as their access to surrounding land and
resources is restricted and price of commodities in the local markets has skyrocketed. Hundreds of
new 4x4 vehicles are roaming the roads carrying the international development community from
GOSS offices to the UN compound and accommodation locations. . Local accommodation has been
unable to keep up with demand. Renting a tent for the night costs approximately $150 USD and
meals at restaurants serving the non-residents cost approximately $15 USD per person. A car with
driver costs a minimum of $100 USD per day. At the time of the study, the price of bottled water in
the local market was six times that of bottled water found in Khartoum. These extraordinary prices
are a direct result of the infusion of aid workers and development funds. . . . One NGO director stated
that the ‘Juba miracle’ is that residents are still able to survive.
A lot of construction has commenced in Juba, much of it focused on buildings and infrastructure to
service donor agencies. Development funds, other than the cost of UN and NGO salaries, vehicles
and buildings, have been focused on capacity building for the government ministries, including
constitutions, legal documents and training. These important efforts are unfortunately not seen by
most local residents. The banking sector appears quite active. However, the researchers found the
southern-based Nile Bank to be one of the only financial institutions to truly have a vision and desire
for the provision of microfinance to all women, men and children in the community.
Relations between different ethnic groups in Juba, and in much of Southern Sudan, have yet to be
normalized. The hardships of the long war and the accumulation of ethnic, gender, racial and
religious divides advocated by both the GOS and SPLM are still affecting the mindsets of the
population.
10 Ibid
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