Shabaka Meisha Supports Families With Income Opportunities

(JUBA) – A government led safety net programme backed by the World Bank is helping thousands of South Sudanese women and families start businesses, improve household income and regain a sense of stability in one of the world’s poorest economies.

In June 2023, the Government of South Sudan launched the South Sudan Productive Safety Net for Socioeconomic Opportunities Project, locally called Shabaka Meisha. The programme is funded with 199 million US dollars, equivalent to about 1.41 trillion South Sudanese Pounds (SSP). It is designed to support fragile communities through cash transfers and small scale income generating activities, while also strengthening the national delivery system for social protection.

The initiative targets 157,000 households in 20 counties, including 24,000 refugees and 38,500 members of host communities. In total, around 1.2 million poor and vulnerable individuals are expected to benefit.

So far, 87,867 households, or about 615,000 people, have already received payments under the programme. Two rounds of transfers, worth 11.3 million US dollars (around 80.2 billion SSP), have been distributed across 15 counties. These payments have provided temporary relief to families and laid the groundwork for small businesses that can generate longer term income.

South Sudan faces one of the highest poverty levels in the world, with an estimated 92 percent of the population living below the national poverty line. High inflation, economic decline, and recurrent floods continue to drive hunger and insecurity, particularly among women and children. In this context, targeted cash transfers have become a critical tool to address both poverty and food shortages.

The Shabaka Meisha programme is coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, with implementation support from the United Nations Office for Project Services, the Association of Ethiopian Microfinance Institutions, and other partners. The project combines direct payments with labour-based public works and access to business opportunities.

Beneficiaries are registered using biometric systems, enrolled into a national information management system, and supported by community committees to ensure transparency. The payments, though modest, have had wide social and economic impacts.

One example is Betty Chongodo from Torit County in Eastern Equatoria. She used her transfers to start selling vegetables, salt, and peanut butter. From each bag of tomatoes, she earns about SSP 50,000, equal to seven US dollars, and can sell up to two bags per day. Her earnings now cover food costs and school fees for her children.

In Juba County, Central Equatoria, Marlin Kiden turned her first payment into a small business that has grown enough to pay rent and keep her children in school. Before joining the project, she worked as a cleaner at a local dispensary. She now encourages other women to reinvest their earnings into businesses that can expand and sustain families.

Another recipient, Josephine Bakhita in Torit County, explained how her life changed when she began selling basic goods in the market. She said she can now feed her children, pay school fees, and provide for her family in a way that was not possible before.

These stories show how direct transfers are transforming lives by enabling self-reliance and stimulating microenterprise. According to the World Bank, the programme is not only offering relief but also giving families a path to resilience and dignity.

Charles Undeland, World Bank Country Manager for South Sudan, said: “Cash transfers through Shabaka Meisha are not just a lifeline, they are a catalyst to a better future. They enable small businesses, create hope, and strengthen community resilience, while also equipping the government to deliver services.”

The challenge ahead is to maintain and expand this progress. Sustaining regular payments, scaling up business opportunities, and strengthening delivery systems will be essential for South Sudan to reduce poverty and build economic stability.