South Sudan faces severe environmental challenges exacerbated by climate change, conflict, population displacement and weak institutional capacity.

• Climate change: South Sudan is highly vulnerable to climate change, experiencing recurrent floods and droughts that displace communities, destroy crops and disrupt livelihoods. Floods in recent years have affected millions of people.

• Land degradation and deforestation: Rapid deforestation driven by charcoal production and agricultural expansion, combined with overgrazing, has accelerated land degradation and desertification. Unsustainable land-use practices further weaken ecosystem resilience and reduce natural resource productivity.

• Biodiversity loss: South Sudan's wetlands, savannas and forests host significant biodiversity, including migratory species. Threats include habitat loss, poaching and inadequate protected area management.

• Chemicals and waste: Limited capacity to manage obsolete pesticides, agricultural chemicals and solid waste poses significant risks to human health and the environment.

The Global Environment Facility Small Grants Program (GEF SGP) can support community-led initiatives that contribute to South Sudan's national and global environmental commitments.

• National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): Support community-based natural resource management, the conservation of key biodiversity areas, including the Sudd wetland and national parks, and the development of sustainable livelihoods.

• Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): Promote climate-resilient agriculture, flood-resilient livelihood strategies and decentralized renewable energy solutions, including solar power, for communities and essential services.

• National Action Plan (NAP) under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD): Support sustainable land management, agroforestry and the restoration of degraded lands to improve food security and resilience.

• National Implementation Plan (NIP) under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants: Promote integrated pest management, the safe disposal of obsolete pesticides and community awareness of chemical safety.

• Community management of threatened ecosystems and species: Support communities in the sustainable management of forests and wetlands, biodiversity conservation and the reduction of human-wildlife conflict.

• Sustainable agriculture and food security: Promote climate-smart agriculture, vegetable gardening and sustainable farming practices among smallholder farmers and pastoralists to enhance food security and resilience.

• Access to low-impact energy and co-benefits: Support community-scale solar energy solutions for water pumping, schools and health centres, reducing dependence on diesel and firewood.

• Local-to-global coalitions for chemicals and waste management: Work with farming communities to reduce agrochemical use through integrated pest management and promote the safe handling of agricultural inputs.

• Sustainable urban solutions: Support urban and peri-urban agriculture, green infrastructure, and reductions in post-harvest losses to strengthen food systems in Juba and other towns.