FCDO Development Director: South Sudan

Join us as we host Kobi Bentley, the Development Director in South Sudan for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), who will present FCDO’s development strategy, programming and pipeline of opportunities in South Sudan.

South Sudan’s overarching aim is to transition away from expensive humanitarian assistance towards investing in longer-term economic development and poverty reduction, as per the Revised South Sudan National Development Strategy 2021-2024.

The 2018 peace agreement brought an end to 5 years of civil war, however progress against all parts of it - including the development strategy – has been slow and inconsistent, and South Sudan remains the world’s third most fragile state (Fragile States Index, 2022). Elections due in December 2024 are now at risk of another extension, due to missed milestones and failing to meet the targets agreed in 2018. In this context, sustainable development remains extremely challenging and reliance on humanitarian support is very high.

FCDO priorities in South Sudan are providing lifesaving humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable people and, where possible, strengthening their resilience to conflict, climate, and economic shocks; delivering quality health and education services; and strengthening public financial management and democratic accountability. At the core of FCDO’s work in South Sudan is a focus on women and girls, and climate resilience. In the financial year 2024 to 2025, the indicative ODA budget for South Sudan will be £111 million.

Kobi Bentley will offer us updates on the current context on the ground as well as insights into FCDO’s development strategy in the country.

Agenda:

• BEI Introduction: 10 min
• Presentation from Kobi Bentley, FCDO Development Director in South Sudan: 15 – 20 min
• Q&A: 30 min