The government in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) launched on Wednesday, the fragility index designed to support humanitarian and development actors in moving beyond emergency response programming towards transitional and recovery programming.
Vijaya Souri, IOM Chief of Mission in South Sudan said the tool will enable joint efforts with partners to provide solutions to displacements and also to build on initiatives that offer communities longer-term solutions to withstand future shocks.
“We are very excited about the launch of the fragility index because we must be able to work with the partners, to be able to move from humanitarian response to look more at transitional and recovery solutions, to look at solutions to displacements and to be able to build on initiatives that offer community members longer-term solutions to be able to thrive,” Souri said during a ceremony in Juba.
She noted that the new tool will facilitate the transition from humanitarian-based assistance and international aid to more collaborative development-focused interventions.
“In areas where there is high fragility for security or economic needs, we might be looking at doing more peacebuilding and social cohesion activities, and in areas where the fragility index is lower we might see that the context is more adapted to market -based solution and economic opportunities and development,” Souri said.
The fragility index was conducted from April to May 2024 by IOM in partnership with researchers at U.S-based Duke University in 9 counties out of 79.
The survey that focused on economic fragility, environmental fragility, human fragility, political and legal fragility, and security and societal fragility was conducted in Yei, Wau, Rubkona, Pibor, Morobo, Malakal, Lainya, Kajo Keji and Bor South counties.
Pia Philip Michael, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Peacebuilding, said that most of the humanitarian interventions in South Sudan have not been based on data, adding that the latest fragility index will help in programming, project design, and also in monitoring the investments that are being implemented in parts of the country.
“I know that in South Sudan we are all yearning for stability, and we believe that we cannot attain stability if we only focus on humanitarian interventions, and as we all know there is no development without peace, and no peace without development. I know a proper engagement in resilience building is something that will take our country, communities to stability and also take our communities to social cohesion,” Philip said.
Barbara Egger, Acting Head of Cooperation, European Union Delegation in South Sudan said that with the aid of the fragility index they can achieve a more impactful and sustainable approach to development and peace in South Sudan.
South Sudan is the second most fragile country after Somalia, according to the ranking by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
