Cattle keepers in the Mingkaman cattle camp. ©FAO/Stefanie Glinski

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) continues to support evidence-based response and decision making in South Sudan by reporting on the food security situation, including how many people are hungry, where they are found and the drivers of the food insecurity they are facing. The recent release of the May 2019 IPC analysis findings was followed by presentations to various stakeholders including the donor community, food security and livelihoods practitioners among others. As a tradition in FAO practice, the presentation included a session on what FAO in South Sudan is doing to immediately address hunger through cash-based interventions, as a precursor for leveraging broader strategies to uplifting the production capacities of the farming communities.

“We must focus on our mandate of Zero Hunger by using all means and resources available to us to address the hunger that is here now. One of the options that have an immediate impact is the use of cash-based interventions to improve nutrition at the household level and then leverage on that to invest in livelihoods. A hungry household cannot optimally engage in livelihood activities.”

Meshack Malo, FAOR in South Sudan

The recent release of the IPC indicates that an estimated 7 million people will be hungry by the end of July 2019, the highest number ever for South Sudan. To prevent further deterioration of the food security situation, the humanitarian community is continually innovating on the optimal blend of response actions that can effectively address food insecurity in the country. Cash-based interventions are key in this strategy and FAO in South Sudan has committed to continue investing in their expansion, in close collaboration with other response partners, and in alignment with the IPC findings.