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Rachael Akual (L) and Akuach Nhial return home after another support-group meeting with other young mothers and expecting mothers from their village of Payuen in Bor County.
Rachael Akual (L) and Akuach Nhial return home after another support-group meeting with other young mothers and expecting mothers from their village of Payuen in Bor County. These mother-to-mother support groups, which are implemented by the Resilience & Food Security Program, have become highly effective platforms for lactating mothers and pregnant women to come together and learn about best practices for young mothers, including correct breastfeeding techniques and nutrition. One of the main lessons for the group is to exclusively breastfeed your baby for the first 6 months. This group is very important because we have learnt about early initiation of breast milk right away after the child is born. We no longer give the child water or tinned milk till after 6 months of age”, Rachael says.
The small ruminants restocking component has helped communities rebuild their livestock and build resilience.
JFSP’s small ruminants program was created to initially restock the livestock that were lost during the crisis of 2013. In consultation with community leaders JFSP targets vulnerable women headed households and through a voucher scheme receive 3 goats under the condition that once the goats have multiplied they are to return the favour and give three offspring to another vulnerable woman identified by the community leader. Abiar Achiek (L) was a beneficiary of the ruminant program almost a year ago “Without these goats, as a widow, the lives of my children would have been worse. Now I have goats milk to give to my children.” JFSP returned to Abiar’s village to see the handover to another vulnerable woman, Ayen Nyok. “I will keep them until they multiply so that I can give three goats to another women just like me”, Ayen says.
Grace Atong pictured here, processes part of the sorghum she harvested.
In 2016, the Jonglei Food Security Program has boosted food security in the state through the creation of nearly 300 farmer producer groups. Working in groups has allowed farmers, like Grace Atong pictured here, to increase productivity by pooling their resources and passing on knowledge that may assist other farmers. The Jonglei Food Security Program also employs government seconded field extension agents to build the capacity of farmers by teaching them new farming practices and better storage techniques. “Since I started working in this group my life has changed,” Grace says. “By working in a group it has helped us all to have enough food to provide for our families.”
Athieng Gai is a member of a SILC groups and the owner of a successful salon in the middle of Bor town in Jonglei State.
The community in Duk is made up of both Dinka and displaced Nuer. Sharing resources, such as a water source was often a point of tension between the two groups. However, Mary Byanwuor (R) and Nyanthak Wany found common ground after attending a Trauma Awareness Workshop which was implemented by JFSP.
RFSP DRR Officer opens sorghum bag to discourage beneficiaries from selling commodities in line with USAID guidelines.
