Bethlehem Youth Farmers Group started a demonstration farm near Yambio, South Sudan

Victor Lugala/USAID

In 2019, more than half of South Sudan's population faces extreme, life-threatening hunger. Conflict that began in December 2013 in South Sudan has disrupted livelihoods, agricultural production, markets, and access to services and sanitation, resulting in displacement, disease outbreaks, and extremely acute malnutrition levels.  A robust international humanitarian response helped roll back famine that was declared in parts of South Sudan in February 2017.

In addition to lifesaving food and other humanitarian assistance, USAID is helping South Sudanese households resume or improve their livelihoods in farming, livestock, and microenterprise, to build their self-reliance and help them become better equipped to weather economic, conflict, and environment-related shocks.