Norway Financing Supports WFP Food Assistance in South Sudan

(JUBA) – The United Nations World Food Programme has received a contribution of NOK 128.6 million from the Government of Norway to support food assistance efforts across South Sudan. The funding is valued at about 12.5 million United States dollars, which is equal to about 88.75 billion South Sudanese pounds at current market rates.

The support will enable the agency to continue providing food and nutrition assistance to vulnerable households while also supporting services that are essential for humanitarian operations. These services include logistics and access arrangements that help aid reach communities affected by conflict, climate shocks and economic pressure.

The contribution comes at a time when food insecurity levels in South Sudan are rising. According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification assessment, around 7.56 million people are expected to face acute food insecurity during the peak lean season from April to July 2026. This period follows planting and precedes harvests, when food supplies are usually at their lowest and household hunger increases.

Child malnutrition is also worsening. The same assessment estimates that about 2.1 million children are affected by malnutrition, alongside more than one million pregnant and breastfeeding women. These trends present serious risks to future productivity, human capital development and economic recovery, issues that are closely monitored by businesses and investors operating in the country.

The World Food Programme says part of the funding will support initiatives that link humanitarian assistance with local economic activity. These include support for smallholder farmers and the Home Grown School Feeding programme, which sources food locally where possible. Such approaches are intended to strengthen community resilience and support local markets while addressing immediate food needs.

The funding will also help maintain shared services that allow humanitarian programmes to function efficiently across South Sudan, particularly in remote areas where transport and access costs remain high.

Representatives from both the World Food Programme and the Norwegian government have emphasised the link between food security, stability and economic recovery. They noted that sustained access to food supports social stability and creates conditions for livelihoods and business activity to recover at community level.

Norway has been a consistent supporter of food security programmes in South Sudan for many years. The latest contribution brings Norway total support to the World Food Programme in the country since 2020 to more than 29 million United States dollars.

For South Sudan, where agriculture employs a large share of the population and food imports place pressure on foreign exchange, continued investment in food security is seen as critical to stabilising households and supporting longer range economic growth.

Norway Steps Up Support for Food Security Programmes in South Sudan