FOOD SECURITY AND LIVELIHOODS

In 2025, we had a profound impact on the food security and livelihoods of children and their families in South Sudan:

• Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) and Emergency Response: 436,560 individuals (72,760 households) received support.  
• Farmer Support: 83,400 smallholder farmers trained in climate-smart agriculture.
• Extension Network: 75 Agriculture Extension Advisors and 245 Community Animal Health Workers trained. Established home and demonstration gardens to lower Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) risks.
• Diversification: 540 new income-generating activities supported. 80,017 people supported with livelihood activities (52% women). 88% reported increase in income for program participants.
• Youth Empowerment: 2,136 vulnerable youth graduated from TVET and entrepreneurship programs.
• Financial Inclusion: 140 Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) established and strengthened.

Save the Children in South Sudan has prioritized the following response strategies to address protracted humanitarian, recovery, and development needs, achieving significant impact across our key pillars:

EMERGENCY FOOD AND CASH ASSISTANCE

To address immediate humanitarian crises, we are using child-sensitive Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA). This modality improves immediate access to food and essential items while simultaneously strengthening household recovery. By providing flexible support, this approach allows families to maintain their dignity and prioritize their most urgent needs during periods of acute instability. 

To date, SCI has reached a cumulative total of 436,560 individuals (72,760 households) with life-saving Multipurpose Cash Assistance, demonstrating a consistent capacity to manage large-scale, complex interventions. 

In 2026, we aim to support an additional 108,768 individuals through a combination of seasonal MPCA and a rapid-response Crisis Modifier to address sudden-onset shocks.

Our strategy leverages Integrated Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) to empower crisis-affected populations through a choice-based, market-responsive model. By utilizing functional local markets, we improve food access while bypassing the logistical hurdles of traditional in-kind aid. 

To ensure resilience against shocks like flash flooding, our response incorporates a Crisis Modifier for rapid scale-up. Furthermore, by emphasizing localization, the program strengthens supply chains through vendor engagement and synchronizes efforts with national clusters to ensure a non-duplicative response.

AGRICULTURE RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE

For long-term sustainability, the Agricultural Recovery and Resilience program focuses on climate-smart practices and crop diversification. We have successfully supported 83,400 smallholder farmers with improved agricultural extension and climate-smart techniques, helping households generate consistent income despite increasing climate threats. 

This is further bolstered by our Agriculture & Livestock Extension Services, which trained 75 Advisors and 245 Community Animal Health Workers to vaccinate over 650,000 animals.

Additionally, we promote nutrition-sensitive agriculture by supporting home and demonstration gardens, as well as small-scale animal husbandry, to enhance dietary diversity and strengthen food security across the communities we serve.

LIVELIHOODS DIVERSIFICATION AND ADOLESCENT AND YOUTH EMPLOYABILITY

Economic independence is further reinforced through Livelihoods Diversification and Adolescent and Youth Employability. We have empowered 2,136 vulnerable youth with market-relevant entrepreneurship training, resulting in a reported 88% increase in income for participants. 

This holistic approach is complemented by the formation of 140 Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) and the provision of grants for 540 income-generating activities. 

By focusing on "green jobs" and financial inclusion for groups like fisherfolk and livestock traders, we ensure the transition from emergency aid to economic independence is supported by a diversified, skilled, and financially resilient workforce.