Africa-Press – South-Sudan. South Sudan’s Ministry of Finance and Planning on Wednesday launched a 10-year strategic development plan aimed at building a prosperous, innovative society while consolidating peace and security.
Finance Minister Athian Diing Athian described the launch of the South Sudan Development Plan (SSDP) 2026–2036 as a pivotal step toward achieving long-term stability and sustainable growth.
“This is more than just a document — it is a strategic framework to translate the aspirations of the South Sudanese people into reality,” Athian said during the launch in Juba.
He said the government is committed to inclusive, coordinated, and results-oriented planning that improves the lives of current and future generations. The success of the SSDP, he added, will rely on partnerships with government institutions, development partners, academia, the diaspora, civil society, and the private sector.
Athian said the plan draws on lessons from previous development strategies and seeks to address systemic challenges, promote economic diversification, and strengthen resilience.
“We are committed to aligning our ambitions with practical strategies informed by our national context and global and regional dynamics,” he said.
Anita Kiki Gbeho, the U.N. deputy special representative for South Sudan, acknowledged the country’s progress but said major challenges remain.
“Overlapping humanitarian, economic, political, and security crises — compounded by the conflict in Sudan, climate shocks, and disease outbreaks — continue to affect South Sudan,” she said.
Gbeho urged the government to resolve political differences through dialogue and uphold the revitalized peace agreement, adding that inclusive engagement will be essential to progress.
“The United Nations remains committed to supporting South Sudan in attaining its vision — a peaceful, prosperous, and stable nation where no one, especially its most vulnerable women, youth, and marginalized communities, is left behind,” she said.
Benjamin Ayali Koyongwa, undersecretary for planning in the Finance Ministry, said the SSDP is the country’s third national development framework since independence.
It follows the South Sudan Development Plan (2011–2013), the National Development Strategy (2018–2021), and its revised version (2021–2024), which runs through June 2026.
The SSDP, Ayali said, aims to consolidate peace, foster innovation, strengthen institutions, promote climate resilience, and invest in human capital. Unlike previous cluster-based approaches, the new framework will be organized around broad thematic pillars.
Development of the plan will follow six stages, including diagnostics, consultations, alignment with international frameworks — such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 — and final endorsement. The plan is expected to be finalized by June 2026.
“Despite challenges from conflict, climate shocks, and economic fragility, this plan presents a vital opportunity to reset South Sudan’s development trajectory,” Ayali said, adding that institutions such as the United Nations, IMF, World Bank, and UNDP support the process.
Ter Manyang, a civil society activist, welcomed the SSDP but raised concerns about the government’s track record on implementation.
“If we look back to programs started in 2006, only about 2 percent were achieved. The biggest problem is the lack of implementation and follow-up,” he said.
He urged the government to create a realistic implementation matrix to track progress and warned that frequent leadership changes threaten continuity.
“These leadership changes affect governance and service delivery. We’ve seen this pattern throughout the country’s history, and many ministers have been replaced in recent months,” Manyang said.
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