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

<p dir="ltr">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 <a href="https://www.socialscienceinaction.org/blogs-and-news/aid-cuts-and-healthcare-devastation-in-south-sudan/" target="_blank">multiple, intersecting crises</a>. These crises include a breakdown in the 2018 revitalised peace agreement, a severe economic recession made worse by the war in neighbouring Sudan, a <a href="https://www.socialscienceinaction.org/resources/key-considerations-alleviating-chronic-food-insecurity-in-south-sudan/" target="_blank">food crisis</a>, <a href="https://www.socialscienceinaction.org/resources/key-considerations-for-responding-to-floods-in-south-sudan-through-the-humanitarian-peace-development-nexus/" target="_blank">widespread chronic flooding</a> and outbreaks of disease. Some groups of people are particularly vulnerable, such as internally displaced people, <a href="https://www.socialscienceinaction.org/resources/crisis-in-sudan-briefing-note-on-displacement-from-sudan-to-south-sudan/" target="_blank">returnees and refugees from Sudan</a>, 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.</p><p dir="ltr">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.</p><p dir="ltr">This report summarises the contributions from participants who were asked to reflect on the following topics:</p><p dir="ltr">1. How are funding cuts to global aid affecting people and programmes?</p><p dir="ltr">2. How is renewed conflict changing needs and programmes?</p><p dir="ltr">3. What research or information may be needed to understand the changes going forward?</p>