Meeting report: The impact of global aid funding cuts on people and programmes in South Sudan

Low-income countries are reeling from the sudden and wide-ranging cuts to U.S. government foreign assistance, as well as from announcements that several European donor governments are also reducing their contributions. Among the worst affected is South Sudan, a country which is experiencing multiple, intersecting crises. These crises include a breakdown in the 2018 revitalised peace agreement, a severe economic recession made worse by the war in neighbouring Sudan, a food crisis, widespread chronic flooding and outbreaks of disease. Some groups of people are particularly vulnerable, such as internally displaced people, returnees and refugees from Sudan, Ethiopia and other countries who are living in South Sudan. South Sudan relies on international assistance to provide basic services to its people and support civil society-led peacebuilding efforts to avoid a return to war.

To discuss these challenges and reflect upon how they have been amplified by recent global aid funding cuts, SSHAP and the University of Juba organised a roundtable discussion. Government actors, academics, development partners and journalists shared their reflections on the sweeping impacts on people and programmes in South Sudan.

This report summarises the contributions from participants who were asked to reflect on the following topics:

1. How are funding cuts to global aid affecting people and programmes?

2. How is renewed conflict changing needs and programmes?

3. What research or information may be needed to understand the changes going forward?