From September to November 2024, Global Aim South Sudan (GASS) advanced resilient livelihoods across Magwi County with FAO support—training farmers, fisherfolk, and livestock caregivers while preparing families for a productive dry season.
What we achieved
- Strengthened community accountability: 90 members of GRM/AAP committees trained on leadership, protection, and feedback handling; safety audits held in all target bomas.
- Built farmer capacity where it matters most: community-based planning with 8 farmers’ groups; four demonstration sites (Omeo, Agoro Maji, Magwi, Panyikwara) hosted hands-on sessions for 300 farmers on good agronomic practices and integrated pest management.
- Scaled practical skills: 110 crop-production and 116 seed-production group members trained to adapt to climate change and improve yields.
- Boosted animal health and fisheries: 9 Community Animal Health Workers trained; a county-wide radio talk show on vaccinations reached an estimated 2,680 listeners; 31 women in a milk marketing group trained on hygiene and business skills; 60 fisherfolk trained in climate-smart processing and preservation.
- Advanced inclusion and safeguards: 1,622 people reached through awareness on labor management, health, safety, and GBV.
- Positioned families for the dry season: agricultural inputs (vegetable seeds, fishing kits, sickles) moved to field stores targeting 2,000 beneficiaries; nutrition voucher systems set up for 500 households (committee formed, markets assessed, vendors onboarded, registration done).
A story of change
Asunta Andrua John, a 46-year-old returnee from Jelei Boma, planted cowpeas and sorghum using project inputs and techniques learned through training. She’s saving seed for the next season and planning to expand, sharing what she’s learned with neighbors.
Challenges & what’s next
Poor roads, patchy networks, and inflation complicated logistics, but teams adapted—using motorbikes, chief-led mobilization, and budget adjustments. Next up: distributing vegetable and fishing kits, rolling out nutrition vouchers, vaccinating and treating livestock, expanding post-harvest and value-addition training (including VSLA), establishing a community tree nursery, and continued monitoring and PDM.
Thank you to FAO, county departments, and community leaders for walking this journey with us.