Supporting Livelihoods for Agropastoralists in Lakes State

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) proposes to implement the 3-year program addressing the intersection of agropastoralism conflict and food security with a gender equality focus integrated throughout all activities. CRS has worked in South Sudan since the 1980s and in Lakes State since 2014 and is thus uniquely positioned to take on the multisectoral challenges driving poverty. The proposed program will be managed through CRS existing office in Yirol town and draw on the expertise of the agency’s in-country technical team as well as regional and headquarters experts. The program will target cattle camp communities from Mapourdit Aluakluak and Akot payams in Lakes State. These payams are located along the border of Yirol West and Rumbek East counties. Mapourdit and Aluakluak in Yirol West are predominantly inhabited by the Atuot ethnic group and Akot in Rumbek East is predominantly inhabited by the Agaar ethnic group. The program will target young women (18-35) and young men (18-35) within these agropastoral communities.

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) increased and more equitable access to adequate and stable food supplies among agropastoral communities in Rumbek East and Yirol West counties; and (2) improved reliance on social networks with leadership from women to mitigate against recurrent conflict among agropastoral communities in Rumbek East and Yirol West counties. This project is expected to reach 6 000 people directly (60% female) and 30 000 indirectly.