The combined effects of conflict, climate shocks, and economic instability have left South Sudan with severe levels of food insecurity, child malnutrition, and a high dependence on emergency aid. Some 31% of South Sudanese children under five years of age are affected by stunting, while the country’s child wasting rates are among the highest in the world.
The Right2Grow project, a five-year initiative currently operating in six different countries, aims to boost local food systems while giving communities and civil society the tools to hold governments accountable. “We've seen communities change their mindset and behaviors and start to produce their own food,” said Denish Ogen Rwot, communications and advocacy manager for Action Against Hunger in South Sudan. In flood-affected areas, communities have adapted their farming practices by using floating gardens and cultivating flood-tolerant lowland rice, he added.
It's a banner year for malnutrition funding. But challenges remain
UNICEF and RUTF manufacturers face challenges in spending all the money that has been pledged this year for malnutrition treatment.
An important aspect of the project is building the knowledge and voice of community members, especially young people. In South Sudan, over 150 young people have been engaged as “change-makers” who advocate for better nutrition and sanitation practices from the government, resulting in an increase in nutrition, water, sanitation, and health budgets.
Watch the full video to hear more from Ogen Rwot about why building up the capacity of communities, as well as local organizations, is crucial for tackling malnutrition.
Dig into Roots of Change, a series examining the push toward locally led development.
This piece is produced in partnership with Action Against Hunger as part of our Roots of Change series. Click here to learn more.
About the author
Naomi Mihara
Naomi Mihara is an Associate Editor for Devex, working on creative and audiovisual projects. She has a background in journalism and international development, having previously served as an assistant correspondent for Japanese newspaper The Yomiuri Shimbun and as a communications officer for the International Organization for Migration in Southeast Asia. She holds a master’s degree in Multimedia Journalism from Bournemouth University.
