Nigel Cross, SNV Sudan Country Director and Mr. Jaden Tongun Emilio, Under Secretary of the Ministry for Agriculture and Fisheries, Government of Southern Sudan
On Wednesday 28th October 2009, the Government of Southern Sudan, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and SNV Netherlands Development Organisation signed their first Memorandum of Understanding.
Under this agreement, SNV will strengthen the general capacity of the Directorate of Forestry of Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries from 1st November 2009 to 31 October 2010. This includes information generation and dissemination to adequately develop policies and strategies that encourage public and private sector investment, environmental management and increased incomes to producers. These producers are crucial for the support and motivation the local producer groups to engage in community based forestry activities.
This agreement is expected to realise an improvement in food security status of the rural poor peoples of Southern Sudan; increased incomes from sale of non timber forestry products such as Gum Acacia, Shea Nut and honey; increased number of people employed in the non timber forest industry and businesses; and improved livelihood of the people in Southern Sudan.
This MoU was signed by Mr. Jaden Tongun Emilio, Under Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisherries and Dr. Nigel Cross, SNV Sudan Country Director. His Excellency Samson Kwaje and other high ranking officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, as well as SNV staff including Juba Portifolio Coordinator, Mr. Malidadi Langa and Senior Advisor–Economic Development Ms. Beauty Jiji, witnessed the signing of the MoU.
HE Samson Kwaje appreciated SNV and its work in Southern Sudan since 2005. He also appreciated the Dutch government and its people for always being there for the Southern Sudan.