Strengthening Health System Resilience: A Multisectoral Approach to Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response in South Sudan (SHSRP)

Background

South Sudan received US$21.61 million from the Pandemic Fund to fortify the country’s public health system. The grant catalyzed an additional US$89 million in co-financing from international organizations and US$1.4 million in co-investment from the government’s own budget. The project also convened civil society partners, such as Cordaid International, Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Suisse, and others.

South Sudan is committed to the One Health approach as it confronts one of the world’s most complex epidemiological contexts. The South Sudanese people have weathered frequent outbreaks of varying magnitude over the years—from cholera to mpox—and the country's fragile health system struggles to respond effectively. Persistent conflict, floods, and humanitarian crises compound the problem by increasing the risk of disease spread. That risk is exacerbated further by cross-border movement between South Sudan and its many neighbors, including the DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, and Uganda.

South Sudan’s project aligns with the country’s One Health Strategic Plan and features robust multisectoral cooperation, in keeping with the ethos of the Pandemic Fund. The project is a collaboration among the South Sudanese ministries of Health, Finance and Economic Planning, Gender, Child and Social Welfare, Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Livestock and Fisheries, and Wildlife Conservation and Tourism. South Sudan’s government will be supported by three implementing entities: the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), UNICEF, and the World Bank.

Project objectives

With the support of the Pandemic Fund, South Sudan seeks to shore up the country’s prevention, preparedness, and response systems in order to effectively ward off future health threats effectively. The project focuses on epidemic-prone areas and vulnerable populations, including children and internally displaced persons.

Implementation arrangements and key components

South Sudan’s project tackles critical system-wide gaps, aligned with the Pandemic Fund’s priorities: surveillance, laboratory systems, and workforce development. More detail on the project’s components follows.

Fortifying surveillance and early warning capabilities. Activities in this area include expanding sentinel sites, rolling out standard operating procedures for animal health surveillance, institutionalizing event-based surveillance with an emphasis on points of entry and cross-border coordination, and deploying Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response systems. They also include strengthening Public Health Emergency Operations Centers, updating all-hazard plans, and conducting regular action reviews.

Strengthening laboratory systems. This component of the project focuses on updating standard operating procedures for sample management, operationalizing sample referral systems, and running external quality assessments of referral networks. It also involves procuring essential diagnostic tools, upgrading selected laboratories, implementing a national laboratory information system, and enabling genomic sequencing to detect new variant pathogens.

Boosting capacity within the health workforce. Activities in this area include multisectoral trainings in epidemiology, infection prevention and control, surveillance, and critical laboratory functions, as well as joint simulation exercises.

Improving multisectoral coordination and community engagement. This part of the project focuses on implementing a national risk communication and community engagement strategy, facilitating community dialogue in high-priority counties, and promoting infection prevention and control activities at the community level.

Increasing investment in prevention, preparedness, and response. Activities in this area focus on enhancing financial accountability and making more efficient use of resources by integrating financial tracking tools, diversifying funding sources, and engaging actively with the private sector.

The FAO’s support will focus on the country’s animal health systems and collaborate with local veterinary services to prevent potential outbreaks. UNICEF will lead on community-level activities, including risk communication. The World Bank will provide technical assistance, as well as its governance, convening, and coordination expertise.