The Royal Norwegian Embassy signed approximately USD 3.2 million (NOK 30 million) in additional grant to Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) to strengthen durable solutions for displacement-affected communities in South Sudan.
With this additional grant, NRC will support durable solutions interventions for displacement-affected communities in Aweil, Wau, Raja, Juba and Bentiu through December 2027. This will also enable an integrated approach addressing land and property rights, access to basic services and legal identity, livelihoods and social cohesion, while strengthening local institutions.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, the NRC Country Director, Mr. Kennedy Mabonga stated: "We are making a big difference because through the durable solutions, we are seeing people who have been displaced beginning to live normal lives. With this support, we will have rooms to expand to other locations where we still have people who are displaced and are in dire need of assistance."
"Transition under durable solutions is very important and we are glad that we are able to continue supporting NRC and extend this programme to other locations," Eirik William Sandsten, Chargé d’Affaires, added. "We think this is very good programme to support displaced communities."
South Sudan’s protracted displacement crisis requires sustained efforts beyond immediate humanitarian assistance. Durable solutions are essential to enabling displaced people, returnees and affected communities to rebuild their lives, strengthen resilience and achieve greater self-reliance.
Norway’s longstanding engagement in durable solutions to displaced communities in South Sudan is built on previous support to both the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and NRC, which total approximately USD 11 million since 2022.
Norway’s earlier support to NRC expanded access to land for returnees, strengthen livelihood and agricultural opportunities, improve community infrastructure and local coordination, and foster better interaction between returnees and host communities and the local government in Northern and Western Bahr el Ghazal states.
The additional support will contribute to safer, more self-reliant communities through stronger tenure security, improved access to services and livelihoods, enhanced protection, and effective dispute resolution mechanisms.