The Government and the Development Partners in the natural resources sector today (Tuesday) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to facilitate effective government-led coordination of activities through the Natural Resources Sector Working Group (NRWSG). 

Dr. John Kanisio, Undersecretary, Food Security at the Ministry of Agriculture and Gabriel Leonte, EU Delegation’s Head of Cooperation signed the MoU as Chair and Co-chair of the NRSWG.

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 “The purpose of this MoU is to ensure together with our development partners, we harmonise projects and programmes to avoid duplications in the natural resources sector,” Dr. Kanisio said at the signing ceremony.

According to Mr. Leonte, working coherently with all partners will help build synergies and ensure effective utilisation of the country’s resources for the benefit of its citizens. “The key words of the MoU are harmonisation and mutual accountability. It’s important to have regular coordination meetings and we have to focus on delivering concrete results,” Leonte said.

“We hope this will increase our efficiency of development efforts. Resources are limited and so we have to make sure they are coordinated so that different programmes work in synergy. The ultimate goal is to enable a stable and prosperous South Sudan where people enjoy higher living standards and have economic opportunities; where the natural resources sector is the foundation for economic growth and development for better life in South Sudan.”

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The NRSWG is a government-led structure and mechanism for coordination and harmonisation of sector policies, programmes, and budget priorities with the Development Partners. It will also ensure sustainable management of available natural resources for increased public and private investment into agriculture natural resource potential to improve food, nutrition, and income security and contribute to consolidating peace and stabilizing the economy.

The spending government agencies include the ministries of Agriculture and Food Security, Environment and Forestry, Livestock and Fisheries, Wildlife Conservation and Tourism, Water Resources and Irrigation and South Sudan Land Commission while Development Partners involved are AfDB, Canada, Denmark, EU, Germany, Japan, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USAID and World Bank.

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