expanding agriculture and food security activities in ... - part - usaid

iii. Environment
USAID helped to build capacity in the forestry sector by training officials in proper management of forest
concessions, and agro-forestry extension. Wildlife officers have been trained in wildlife protection and
biodiversity conservation at the Boma Wildlife Training Center, a government facility that was revitalized
through USAID support. Government officials and NGO workers have been trained in environmentally
sound development practices, including environmental impact assessment. Beginning in 2009, USAID
will support a landscape-level biodiversity conservation program aimed at protecting Sudan’s rich
wildlife resources while enabling communities to benefit from sustainable natural resource management.
iv. Microfinance and Business Development
USAID support resulted in the creation of the first multi-branch financial institution, Sudan Microfinance
Institution, in post-conflict Southern Sudan. SUMI has disbursed more than $2.7 million in loans to
6,000 clients with a repayment rate of 98 percent. Two-thirds of the loans have been to women. In 2009,
USAID launched a new program to continue its support for microfinance institutions in Southern Sudan
through technical assistance for sound financial management and operations. USAID has provided
training and small grants to fledgling small enterprises in Southern Sudan, enabling them to expand and
become fully operational. Support went to small businesses working in the information technology,
catering and construction sectors.
v. Policy
The US Department of Agriculture, working with many Sudanese researchers, has conducted studies to
determine the impact of various policies and programs on poverty reduction, agricultural markets and
food security. Researchers have done modeling of the economy, and studied commercialization of
subsistence/recovery agriculture, impact of road improvement on commodity prices and marketing
margins.
2. Health
The USAID Health program supports three broad areas: improving maternal and child health; preventing
and controlling infectious disease; and increasing access to clean drinking water and sanitation. The
program is expanding urgently-needed services, renovating health facilities and constructing boreholes
and pit latrines. HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and polio are the focus for the infectious disease
program. The water and sanitation program seeks to improve and strengthen sector systems by working
with Government, local community based organizations and the private sector to increase access to safe
drinking water and sanitation with a special focus on promoting sustainability and ownership through
community engagement.
3. Education
The USAID Education program focuses on primary education, girls’ education, teacher training and
institutional development. Activities target out-of-school youth, women, girls, returnees, ex-combatants,
and other vulnerable and marginalized groups. Sudanese citizens have greater access to improved
education services and greater access to English language instruction. They also have greater confidence
in the government’s ability to deliver these services. Of particular relevance to the agricultural sector are
the teacher training and interactive radio instruction and the program to promote girls’ education. The
former could be used for transmitting messages and training about agriculture to rural, isolated areas,
while improving girls’ literacy rates will enable them to seek a wider variety of economic activities
including commercialized agriculture.
EXPANDING AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY ACTIVITIES IN SOUTHERN SUDAN 13