South Sudan: Emergency Relief, Protection From Sexual and Gender-based Violence and, Market Systems Development

The project focuses on protecting vulnerable refugees and host communities in and around the Gorom refugee camp near Juba. Through survivor-centered services, community engagement, and safe spaces, the program works to prevent gender-based violence, strengthen protection systems, and support the wellbeing of women, children, and other at-risk groups.

Protection activities include psychosocial support and material assistance for survivors of violence, as well as child-friendly spaces where children can safely participate in activities that promote recovery and wellbeing. Community awareness campaigns promote gender equality, strengthen understanding of women’s rights, and help prevent domestic violence, forced marriage, and other forms of abuse.

By combining protection services with community-based prevention and capacity building, Caritas strengthens local support systems and promotes safer environments for displaced populations. Training community members as social and health workers helps ensure that protection and SGBV services remain accessible and sustainable beyond the duration of the intervention.

Initially a pilot that proved the concept in South Sudan, the SMAC+ Project has evolved into a multi-year, multi-million Euro program that strengthens smallholders’ productivity and market readiness through training, tools, and information. Guided by climate-resilience and agroecology, the project builds sustainable links with aggregators, processors, traders, and retailers for key commodities such as honey, groundnuts, and maize.  

Using a Market Systems Development approach, the project also works with government institutions - including the Bureau of Standards and Ministries of Agriculture and Trade - to improve policies and regulations governing trade, creating an enabling environment for both farmers and private sector actors. 

This SPEE Project seeks to reduce conflict and pressure on natural resources in South Sudan’s Central Equatoria State and Uganda’s West Nile sub-regions. It supports sustainable livelihoods, strengthens natural resource management, and promotes conflict prevention strategies at the community level. A strong cross-cutting gender focus ensures meaningful participation of women in decision-making across all levels of the community.

Peacebuilding and conflict-sensitive activities reduce tensions among refugee, returnee, displaced, and host communities, while natural resource management supports sustainable livelihoods and environmental protection.

When crises arise, cash transfers and other assistance meet urgent needs. Interactions between humanitarian, development, and peace components are carefully calibrated to ensure timely, effective investments and avoid dependency or duplication.