South Sudan Crisis Response Plan 2023 - 2025

CRP last updated: December 17 2024
$182,750,000
Funding required
9,300,000
People in need
2,000,000
People Targeted
200
Entities targeted

IOM, working with partners, key stakeholders and communities, will continue to support people in vulnerable situations across South Sudan with essential life-saving assistance, while creating conducive environments for sustainable returns and recovery. IOM will adopt a community-driven approach to all programming, to facilitate transformative changes that address vulnerability and risks. Addressing these challenges means not only making a positive and lasting impact on the lives of South Sudanese affected by crises but also supporting the government in fulfilling the promises of the Revitalized Peace Agreement, creating a base of support for its continued efforts to address potential drivers for future crises.

A woman in Bentiu watering vegetables as a part of a project boosting small-scale farming © IOM 2024
INFORM Risk 8.3, Very high
INFORM Severity 5, Very high
Human Development Index (UNDP)  192 of 193

 

South Sudan faces a complex humanitarian crisis due to a confluence of factors: limited government capacity exacerbated by political instability, recurrent floods, economic hardship, and the influx of returnees fleeing conflict in neighboring Sudan. This influx has created urgent needs for basic assistance in Transit Centers and sparked tensions, particularly land disputes, around urban areas.

In 2025, it is anticipated that the country will continue to face social and political instability due to violence and a series of interconnected shocks, including conflict, persistent flooding, inflation and economic hardships. This is projected to drive increased internal and cross-border displacement, further straining already scarce resources, livelihoods, and basic services, and increasing protection risks, particularly for the most vulnerable groups. Insecurity, fueled by sub-national intercommunal violence, crime and wide-scale impunity, will continue to hamper the country’s roadmap to peace. 

Climate change exacerbates these phenomena, increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. This leads to further conflicts over resources and displacement, while also eroding people’s capacity to recover. The increased flood risk in the region also poses health risks, including damage to water treatment facilities, the spread of water-borne diseases, and improved breeding conditions for disease-carrying vectors like mosquitos. 

Environmental degradation and disasters worsened by climate change also plague the region, including desertification, deforestation, droughts, landslides and floods.

IOM works closely with the clusters, working groups and a variety of inter-agency fora, including the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) and Senior Management Group (SMG), Inter-Cluster Working Group (ICWG) and Operational Working Groups (OWG), and also chairs the Programme Management Team.  

IOM has led the S-NFI Cluster since 2011, is State Focal Point (SFP) for Western Bahr el Ghazal, and manages the common S-NFI pipeline. IOM is also the Cluster Lead of the CCCM Cluster, and CCCM Sector Focal Point in Upper Nile, Jonglei, and Western Bahr el Ghazal, whilst also co-leading the Communication and Community Engagement Working Group (CCE WG). IOM is Co-chairing the National PSEA Taskforce (and is the Technical Lead for the PSEA Taskforce in Renk), and is part of the Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) for Protection and GBV. IOM leads MHPSS Technical Working Group in Unity, Upper Nile, and Western Bahr el Ghazal states. IOM is the programmatic co-chair for the Cash Working Group for the 2024-2026 period. As programmatic co-chair, IOM leads the discussion on improving the structure, function, leadership and resourcing of cash coordination at national and sub-national level, as well as exploring linkages between humanitarian cash assistance and social protection services. IOM is the WASH Cluster Sector Focal Point for Upper Nile and manages a part of the WASH Core Pipeline. IOM is also an active member of the CP Working Group in Bentiu, Protection Cluster, GBV Sub-Cluster, inter-agency PSEA network, and the Housing, Land and Property (HLP) Technical Working Group and coordinates with a broad network of over 150 I/NGOs. IOM is a member of all active State Task Forces on Solutions and the National Technical Committee on Durable Solutions, as well as a member of the Durable Solutions Focal Points group under the Resident Coordinators Office and a member of the technical review committee of the South Sudan Action Plan on Return, Reintegration and Recovery: Achieving Durable Solutions. 

IOM co-chairs the Points of Entry (POE) Technical Working Group in South Sudan, focusing on public health concerns and outbreaks of international significance and is a member of the Health Cluster and co-chairs Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) / Rapid Response Team (RRT) meetings at the national level. IOM is responding to the regional mpox outbreak focusing its health support on migrants, displaced populations, and border communities.

Since the onset of the conflict in 2013, IOM South Sudan has provided support to thousands of people in vulnerable circumstances across the ten states and the Abyei Administrative Area. This support has reached people from the most remote areas to urban centres and across the spectrum of collective centres to formal IDP camps. The Mission is one of IOM’s largest globally and has one of the largest UN operational footprints in the country, with almost 3,000 staff operating in static locations in Juba, Wau, Bentiu, Malakal, and the Abyei Administrative Area, as well as operational capacity in Bor, Rumbek, Magwi, Mayom, Twic, Renk, and Nimule, alongside front-line responses. As an integral member of the UN South Sudan team, IOM South Sudan works across humanitarian, peacebuilding, and development access with a broad range of programming clustered in three areas: humanitarian coordination and support; humanitarian response and resilience; and peacebuilding, transition, and development. IOM reached about 2 million vulnerable individuals in 2024.

IOM continues to support thousands of host communities, returnees, and internally displaced persons (IDPs), including those residing in Protection of Civilians (PoC) sites, formal IDP camps and (ex-) Protection of Civilians (PoC) sites, collective centres, and spontaneous sites in South Sudan, including the returning South Sudanese affected by the Sudan crisis. IOM directly implements and delivers programmes across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus (HDPN) through an integrated, conflict-sensitive and multisectoral approach.

IOM will work with the Government of South Sudan to build synergies with humanitarian development and peacebuilding partners and promote partnerships to maximize the impact of all projects that focus on sustainable development, durable solutions, climate adaptation and resilience. Working with national and local government actors and community structures will remain a key priority to ensuring ownership and sustainability. Through the Enhancing Community Resilience and Local Governance Project (ECRP), funded by the World Bank, IOM works closely with the Government of South Sudan (GoSS), to operationalize South Sudan’s Local Government Act by supporting the formation and training of Boma Development Committees (BDCs) and Payam Development Committees (PDCs). The local administrative units that IOM supports are key drivers of sustainable development. On the national level, IOM works with the GoSS on the design of durable solutions strategy and policy documents. Moreover, IOM supports the GoSS in advancing the agenda for durable solutions by providing technical support to State Authorities in developing roadmaps to displacement solutions, which are then integrated into the State Development Plans; and is a member of national and subnational level, government-led coordination fora for durable solutions. 

IOM will continue to design and deliver locally driven, development-principled initiatives that facilitate transformative change that addresses the root causes and drivers of vulnerability and risk, and mitigate further displacement, with a focus on access and provision of essential services, economic recovery, and local governance and social cohesion. IOM South Sudan is continuing its flagship programming in supporting community-led review and codification of customary law. Preparations are currently underway to begin the review process in Warrap State, which hosted one of the only instances of customary law codification in 1984. Customary laws are being reviewed for, among others, adherence to national legislation including the Transitional Constitution and its comprehensive Bill of Rights, women’s and children’s rights, as well as general human rights which are commonly violated through outdated patriarchal customs (power relations) and structures.

IOM South Sudan is similarly supporting the government in reviewing two central statutory laws, as well as exploring the option of enacting a settlement and registration law.

Key Operating Modalities
Participation and empowerment Conflict sensitivity Integrated Programming Collaboration and partnership Localization Cash-based interventions
Cross-cutting priorities
Data and evidence Protection Mainstreaming Gender Equality Prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse Disaster Risk Climate Change Law and policy

In alignment with IOM's global goals, the South Sudan Mission has developed a comprehensive localization strategy aimed at enhancing the agency’s impact on local communities. Recognizing the unique challenges faced in South Sudan, IOM’s approach to localization focuses on empowering local actors and fostering sustainable development through collaborative efforts. It addresses all five pillars of IOM's Localization Framework.

A key component of IOM South Sudan’s localization strategy is ensuring that local actors receive direct funding to implement programmes that address the specific needs of their communities. By channeling resources to these organizations, we not only enhance their operational sustainability but also promote local ownership of projects. This funding model allows for tailored responses that are culturally relevant and community-driven, thereby increasing the effectiveness of our interventions.

IOM is committed to supporting localization initiatives by prioritizing capacity strengthening programmes that equip local NGOs and community-based organizations with the skills and resources necessary for effective project implementation.

Objective 1 - Saving lives and protecting people on the move
Saving lives and protecting people on the move

$67,800,000
Funding required
1,407,140
People Targeted
328
Entities Targeted
Primary target groups
Internal migrant
Internally displaced person
Local population / community

IOM, working with partners, key stakeholders, and communities, will continue to support vulnerable people across South Sudan with essential life-saving assistance while creating conducive environments for sustainable returns and recovery. IOM will adopt a conflict-sensitive and community-driven approach to all programming to facilitate transformative changes that effectively address vulnerability and risks. Addressing these challenges means not only making a positive and lasting impact on the lives of South Sudanese affected by crises but also supporting the government in fulfilling the promises of the Revitalized Peace Agreement, creating a base of support for its continued efforts to address potential drivers for future crises. IOM South Sudan will provide life-saving services across all areas, including movement assistance for returnees, shelter/ non-food items (S-NFI), protection and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and healthcare services. These complement and reinforce ongoing and critical humanitarian interventions in CCCM, S-NFI and Settlements, WASH, Health, MHPSS, and Protection, which are designed to build community resilience and reduce dependency on humanitarian aid. 

Objective 2 - Driving solutions to displacement
Driving solutions to displacement

$114,950,000
Funding required
594,450
People Targeted
65
Entities Targeted
Primary target groups
Internal migrant
Internally displaced person
Local population / community

IOM will support the development of area-based strategies, collective outcomes and joint activities in coordination with relevant partners and collaborate with national and state government and relevant partners to develop and review durable solutions policies, action plans and other strategic documents, including participation and leadership in national and subnational level coordination aligned with the Secretary-General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement. Through these interventions, IOM will work to support the prevention of displacement related to conflict and climate change and facilitate the safe, dignified and voluntary return, and/or local integration of IDPs through coordinating land allocation, recovery packages, settlement development and livelihoods support. IOM will improve living conditions during displacement, and establish IDP-informed durable solutions for organized closure and ethical phase-out of displacement sites. IOM will promote peace and social cohesion by addressing conflict drivers and integrating community-level peace activities in all interventions.

Objective 1
Saving lives and protecting people on the move
$67,800,000
Funding required
[{"name":"Human suffering is alleviated","y":70},{"name":"Threats and vulnerabilities are reduced","y":15},{"name":"The quality of humanitarian assistance is enhanced","y":15}]
Objective 2
Driving solutions to displacement
$114,950,000
Funding required
[{"name":"Adverse drivers of displacement are minimized","y":30},{"name":"Displaced people are resilient and self-reliant","y":30},{"name":"Displaced people benefit from solutions","y":40}]

Percentage of funding required contributing to the long term outcomes expressed on IOM's Strategic Results Framework.

Convoy transporting new arrivals from Sudan for onward transportation assistance. © IOM South Sudan 2023
Convoy transporting new arrivals from Sudan for onward transportation assistance. © IOM South Sudan 2023
Camp coordination and camp management
$2,000,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans H(N)RP
Health
$15,200,000 Funding required
Humanitarian border management and search and rescue
$6,500,000 Funding required
Mental health and psychosocial support
$7,000,000 Funding required
Protection
$5,750,000 Funding required
Water, sanitation and hygiene
$17,000,000 Funding required
Shelter and settlements
$15,000,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans H(N)RP
Data for action, insight and foresight
$6,300,000 Funding required
Support services for response actors
$3,000,000 Funding required
Disaster risk management
$35,000,000 Funding required
Community stabilization and community-driven development
$36,000,000 Funding required
Livelihoods and economic recovery
$14,000,000 Funding required
Peacebuilding, violence and conflict reduction
$15,000,000 Funding required
Land and property
$4,500,000 Funding required
Operational presence in

South Sudan

28
International staff and affiliated work force
1961
National staff and affiliated work force
5
IOM field office

 

The map used here is for illustration purposes only. Names and boundaries do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by IOM.

Figures are as of 31 December 2023. For more details of IOM's operational capacity in country, please see the IOM Capacity section.

With thanks to our current donors