YAMBIO, Western Equatoria State — The German development agency, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening food security, improving nutrition and supporting rural livelihoods in South Sudan.

In a press release issued to mark World Food Day on October 16, 2026, GIZ said it remains committed to promoting sustainable agriculture, improving access to water and building resilience among smallholder farmers and vulnerable households.

The agency made the commitment during World Food Day celebrations organized jointly by the Western Equatoria State Government, non-governmental organizations and development partners in Yambio.

Farmers supported by GIZ projects exhibited and sold fruit tree seedlings during the event, while exchanging knowledge on planting techniques, tree care and practical approaches to improving agricultural productivity.

The celebrations were held under the theme “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow,” featuring dialogue sessions and exhibitions of locally produced crops and agricultural innovations.

GIZ said agriculture, improved nutrition, sustainable natural resource management and coordinated development efforts remain essential to addressing hunger and food insecurity in the country.

The agency noted that many South Sudanese households continue to face difficulties accessing adequate food due to recurrent conflict, displacement, climate variability, prolonged dry spells, flooding, limited access to agricultural inputs, weak market linkages and declining natural resources.

According to GIZ, addressing these challenges requires an integrated approach that strengthens farmers’ productive capacity, improves access to nutritious food, creates income-generating opportunities and protects natural resources.

Through its Food and Nutrition Security and Management of Natural Resources (FONA) project and the Community Driven Rural Development (CDRD) project, GIZ works with communities, smallholder farmers, local institutions, NGOs and development partners to improve food production, nutrition, livelihoods and rural resilience.

The FONA project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, while the CDRD project receives funding from the German government, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the European Union.

The press release states that approximately 34,500 households, representing up to 310,500 people, benefit from direct interventions under the projects.

On World Food Day, GIZ called on government institutions, development partners, humanitarian organizations, civil society, the private sector and communities to strengthen collective efforts to ensure every household has access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food.

The agency also emphasized the importance of sustained investment in agriculture, local food systems, rural infrastructure and community resilience to improve long-term food availability and strengthen household livelihoods.

GIZ reiterated its commitment to working with local authorities, communities and development partners to increase agricultural production, improve nutrition, protect natural resources and create sustainable livelihood opportunities.

World Food Day is observed globally on October 16 to raise awareness of hunger, food security and the importance of ensuring access to adequate and nutritious food for all.