Southern Sudan is characterised by years of underdevelopment and marginalisation, conflict, drought and floods that have produced a crisis of epic proportions across the region. The humanitarian situation is dire and the demand for humanitarian aid as well as long term development and capacity building in all sectors is huge.
Inspired by the need to contribute to poverty reduction in this context SNV undertook an economic mapping of Southern Sudan in 2004. The mapping identified a number of sub-sectors with substantial opportunities for impacting poverty. The mapping also identified many opportunities for provision of financial and non-financial services to small businesses in order to build their capacities to access local, regional and international markets.
Consistent with the SNV strategy for East and Southern Africa up to 2006, SNV South Sudan programme chose to engage in capacity building of meso level organisations in two practice areas – Responsive and Accountable Local Governance and Market Acces for the Poot. To increase effectiveness of our capacity development services, in 2008/2009 we have chosen to focus on specific sectors where there is potential to have highest impact on poverty reduction. These sectors have been selected based on analysis of key development challenges and the ability of SNV to add value to and compliment efforts of other actors in addressing the challenges. Two Impact Areas have been selected in line with corporate and regional strategies:
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Sustainable and Equitable Production, Income and Employment for the Poor (Economic Development)
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Effective, Efficient and Increased Access to and Delivery of Basic Services