The government of South Sudan has proposed a compact to donors and aid groups that attended a partnership forum in Washington earlier this week, in a bid to mobilize support for the country’s long-term development.
The proposed agreement focuses on robust government reforms matched with a call for more “timely” and “targeted” aid from a broad range of stakeholders, which would include assistance in improving governance, public financial management and capacity building.
The compact is intended to help fund the salaries of government employees, particularly in the health and educations sectors, and lead to the establishment of a South Sudan Partnership Fund.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns emphasized the need for the international community to provide the funding needed for the country to achieve its development goals.
“I am confident that if we each deliver on our respective parts of this bargain, we will see this young nation join the ranks of Africa’s rising democratic powers,” Burns said at the forum.
The European Union, according to South Sudan’s news agency, unveiled a €285 million ($374.17 million) plan for the country revealed by EU political counselor Christian Manahlof ahead of the event, which took place on April 16.
The compact will be developed in the coming months. Government representatives and aid groups that attended the forum also agreed to support a private sector investment conference in Juba later this year to be organized by South Sudan.
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