Quarterly (Q2 – January 2018) Report: Sustainable Agriculture for Economic Resiliency Program in South Sudan (SAFER)

The project aims to promote sustainable livelihoods of vulnerable households and populations in South Sudan by addressing household, community, and agriculture sector level vulnerabilities that lead to food and nutrition insecurity. The project has three main pillars: restoring and diversifying livelihoods, restoring and strengthening agricultural production practices, and strengthening community and intercommunal resource sharing and management practices. The project focuses on six counties in Rumbek and targets vulnerable households, returnees, and internally displaced persons. During the second quarter of the project, key achievements included the completion of the baseline study, the development of the monitoring and evaluation plan, and the branding and marketing plan. Additionally, four requests for proposals (RFPs) were launched for the selection of implementing partners in December 2017. The procurement process for the forthcoming agricultural season is also underway. The project has identified several key areas for focus in the coming quarter, including the selection of implementing partners and the signing of letters of agreement, preparatory work for conducting market assessments, stakeholder meetings in all project areas, and a high-level mission to Yambio for a proposed joint project with several international organizations. The project has also developed a 2018 workplan, which outlines targets per cluster area. The workplan includes activities such as the selection of implementing partners, the signing of letters of agreement, and the conduct of market assessments. The project will also conduct stakeholder meetings in all project areas and a high-level mission to Yambio. The project's monitoring and evaluation plan was completed in December 2017, and revisions are in the pipeline with the arrival of the project manager in January 2018. The plan will guide the project forward and ensure that progress is tracked and reported. The project's geographic focus is on six counties in Rumbek, South Sudan, and targets vulnerable households, returnees, and internally displaced persons. The project's timeframes are from August 2017 to August 2020, with quarterly reporting periods.