The African Development Bank Group has approved a financing adjustment that reinforces its commitment to climate-resilient urban infrastructure in South Sudan, with a renewed focus on sanitation, public health and institutional capacity.
On 8 December, the Bank’s Boards of Directors approved an addendum to the South Sudan Climate Resilient Sanitation and Institutional Support Project, originally cleared in November 2024. Under the revised arrangement, the project’s $11 million grant will now be financed through the African Development Fund’s Transition Support Facility, a mechanism designed to support fragile and transition-affected states.
The decision comes against the backdrop of persistent sanitation challenges in South Sudan, where inadequate waste management systems continue to drive waterborne diseases, pollute rivers and expose residents, particularly in densely populated urban areas, to unsafe living conditions. In Juba, rapid urbanisation has further strained already limited sanitation infrastructure, compounding flood risks and environmental degradation.
The project aims to upgrade and expand faecal sludge treatment capacity in the capital while strengthening citywide waste management systems. New sanitation facilities will be constructed in high-density neighbourhoods such as Munuki and Kator, areas that face some of the most acute sanitation deficits. Once completed, the upgrades are expected to benefit tens of thousands of residents through cleaner surroundings, safer water sources, improved public health outcomes and lower healthcare costs.
From a sustainability perspective, the intervention also addresses climate and environmental risks. Improved treatment and disposal of waste are expected to reduce land and water contamination and lessen flood-related hazards linked to blocked drainage systems and polluted waterways.
Beyond infrastructure, the project places strong emphasis on institutional resilience. Public agencies responsible for sanitation will receive training, equipment and technical assistance to improve planning, operations and long-term maintenance of sanitation services, an essential step in ensuring the durability of investments in fragile contexts.
The initiative is also designed to generate wider socio-economic benefits. Treated waste products will be made safer for agricultural reuse, supporting nearby farmers, while youth-focused internships and training programmes linked to the project are expected to build skills and improve employability. Construction and system operations are projected to create new job opportunities within and beyond Juba.
“This project will deliver measurable change for people in Juba by improving sanitation for thousands of households, reducing the spread of disease, and creating safer living conditions in some of the city’s most vulnerable communities,” said Themba Bhebhe, the African Development Bank’s outgoing country manager for South Sudan.
The project aligns with the Bank’s South Sudan Country Strategy Paper, which prioritises investment in essential infrastructure and the strengthening of core state institutions, as well as the recently approved South Sudan Development Plan 2026–2036.
