Publication: South Sudan Natural Resources Review
Loading...
Date
2025-01-15
ISSN
Published
2025-01-15
Author(s)
Editor(s)
Abstract
South Sudan’s extensive renewable natural resources are critically important to its predominantly rural population, which relies on largely subsistence livelihoods and has limited access to the market economy. Until recently, almost all South Sudanese lived directly off the land, while colonial and northern administrators and traders inhabited the limited urban centers. Recent decades of conflict have seen widespread displacement and rapid urban growth, but most of the population is still rural and relies mainly on subsistence lifestyles. A low human presence has left the country with vast areas of largely natural habitat that remain critical to sustaining livelihoods. Approximately 75 percent of the population relies directly on local ecosystems for essentials like food, clean water, and energy (Fedele et al. 2021). Large Nilotic tribes like the Dinka, Nuer, and Shilluk all depend on their livestock resources and access to vast areas for grazing, as well as wild foods and medicinal plants (Grosskinsky and Gullick 2000). Populations along the Nile and its central wetlands depend to a large extent on fish, and some communities in areas of richer soils have substantial histories of sedentary agriculture. Communities displaced or cut off from regular livelihoods during conflict often turned to bushmeat for survival.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“World Bank Group. 2025. South Sudan Natural Resources Review. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/42694 License: CC BY-NC 3.0 IGO.”
Associated URLs
Associated content
Other publications in this report series
Journal
Journal Volume
Journal Issue
Collections
Related items
Showing items related by metadata.
Publication Putting Tanzania's Hidden Economy to Work : Reform, Management, and Protection of its Natural Resource Sector(Washington, DC : World Bank, 2008)This paper tells a story about conditions in Tanzania's hidden economy, the parts of the natural resource sector often ignored in conventional economic analyses and studies, and makes recommendations for future policy actions. The paper draws primarily from extensive background studies undertaken of the forestry, fishery, wildlife, mining, and tourism sub sectors (COWI 2005) as well as a wide range of complementary studies undertaken by the World Bank and others. It de-emphasizes those sectors with factors of production that are not readily traded or exported (such as land and water), although some examples are given relating to soil quality and water management based on extensive studies undertaken within the agriculture and water sectors. The story is relatively simple: pricing distortions, coupled with institutional weakness and the lack of rule of law, have created an environment that undermines economic growth. This paper also acknowledges that Tanzania has already taken positive steps to making some of the needed corrections to protect its natural resources. In recent analyses of corruption indicators world-wide (World Bank Institute 2006), Tanzanian stands out among those nations as having made significant progress towards improving accountability and reducing economic leakages. Anti-corruption legislation was drafted for parliament attention in early 2007. Revisions to the Deep Sea Fishing Authority Act were passed into law in early 2007. Moreover, changes in institutional arrangements, taxation, and general management of the resource sector show promise and have contributed positively to general economic growth. Yet, the sector remains fragile and vulnerable in other respects: perceptions of unequal income distribution, impacts of climate change, and other external influences must also be addressed to build on past successes.Publication Natural Resources Governance : Way Forward Action Plan(Washington, DC, 2005-06)A 2003 World Bank study, "Governance of Natural Resources in the Philippines," analyzed natural resources management and governance in the Philippines. It assessed sector policies, particularly property rights, institutions, and financing mechanisms as well as program implementation. The study concluded that implementation failures in the Department arose from: (a) Unclear institutional mandates between national and local governments; (b) Lack of sustained financing at the national level and limited generation of revenues at the local level for natural resources management; (c) Protracted procedures in the issuance of forestry tenure instruments and difficulties in the enforcement of provisions of agreements; (d) Lack of equivalent tenure instruments for coastal waters and resources; (e) Administrative constraints, such as inadequate funds and personnel to carry out sustainable natural resources management; and, (f) Insufficient capacity, accountability and transparency in public and private institutions responsible for natural resources management. Because the Governance study stopped short of proposing a way forward, this follow-on activity was designed to develop an actionable follow-on plan that could be translated into short-term to medium-term investments. This follow-on study had the following specific objectives: (a) A Policy Review of the various legislations, such as acts and executive orders that govern the management of resources; and (b) An Institutional Environment Review. Activities to promote integrated community-based watershed management would focus on developing management plans for the major watersheds; strengthening institutional arrangements; providing incentives for good governance; generating adequate funding for river basin management; reclassifying forestlands and taking into account the rights of indigenous people; developing a land use policy and preparing land use mapping; and consolidating all databases and lessons learned. Activities are also proposed to fully develop integrated coastal zones management and to promote community-based protected area management.Publication Investing in Natural Capital for Eradicating Extreme Poverty and Boosting Shared Prosperity : A Biodiversity Roadmap for the WBG(Washington, DC, 2014-06)The World Bank Group (WBG) has a long experience in engaging in biodiversity with world-class expertise in the field. It has been the single largest funder of biodiversity investments since the late 1980s. The WBG investments have largely been of two kinds: (1) investments in biodiversity, aimed at the conservation and sustainable use of species, habitats, and ecosystems that sustain healthy ecosystems, while enhancing people's livelihoods and safety nets. These investments have also been providing jobs and economic development in frequently impoverished rural areas for example by supporting protected areas and an increasingly important tourism industry; and (2) investments that add value to projects in other sectors, such as irrigation, hydropower, and infrastructure, by increasing their environmental sustainability. The WBG is a global center of excellence that provides economy wide technical and economic knowledge and expertise on biodiversity and ecosystems. It has the standing and convening power to facilitate participatory dialogue between client countries and networks of other relevant stakeholders on matters of biodiversity and climate change concern, such as loss of ecosystem resilience, forest law enforcement and governance, wildlife trade, and overexploitation of natural resources.Publication Safeguarding Important Areas of Natural Habitat in Mongolia alongside Economic Development(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2009-01)As market reforms to the Mongolian economy continue and the country enjoys rapid economic growth, the environment has entered a period of unprecedented pressure. Mining, infrastructure development and tourism development, in particular, are undergoing rapid expansion, and all pose risks to Mongolia's globally important biodiversity. In order to strengthen its safeguard review process in Mongolia, specifically implementation of its operational policy on natural habitats, the World Bank contracted Birdlife Asia to identify important areas of natural habitat in the country, and assess the extent to which these areas overlap with development plans. Birdlife Asia undertook this study in close collaboration with the Wildlife Science and Conservation Center (WSCC) of Mongolia. The study looked at the extent of overlap between sites of conservation importance on the one hand, and mining licenses, major infrastructure plans, and tourist camp locations on the other. It determined the scale of overlap at the national level, provided a strategic overview of potential impacts, and identified particular sites where there is cause for concern. Recommendations were made for how environmental issues arising might be addressed, including examples of guidance and best practice from outside of Mongolia.Publication Indonesia Sustainable Natural Resources Management through PNPM Green Investments(World Bank, Jakarta, 2013-09)The PNPM Green program has been implemented for four years. The studies reported in summary here were undertaken to identify the benefits of the program, and to examine to what extent the program meets its objective to make the utilization of natural resources by rural communities sustainable. PNPM Green aims to improve environmental and natural resources management (NRM) and associated governance, while increasing household incomes in poor communities, and empowering local groups who prepare and execute the sub-projects and activities. To assess the effects and outcomes of PNPM Green in targeting these objectives, the Economic and Livelihoods Study applied the concepts of financial, natural, human, and social assets, as well as influence and access . The Micro-Hydropower Return on Investment (MHP ROI) Study analyzed Micro-Hydropower (MHP) schemes using a business assessment methodology. This was expanded by incorporating non-tangible and social benefits of MHP schemes. The Spillover Effect Study measured the extent of benefits in non-participating communities. These studies indicate that participation of beneficiaries in PNPM Green sub-projects and activities is likely to be higher if the sub-project: (a) conforms to the priority needs of participants livelihoods; (b) provides immediate benefits to the community; (c) directly increases household incomes in participating communities; (d) is supported by local values, local regulations, or local knowledge; and (e) is co-facilitated by community leaders and local government officials. Sub-projects with these characteristics are also more likely to be replicated by other villages.
Users also downloaded
Showing related downloaded files
Publication The Markets and Competition Policy Assessment Toolkit(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-01-09)The markets and competition policy assessment toolkit (MCPAT) is a guide for understanding how policy can positively shape markets and address market failures that ultimately affect micro- and macroeconomic development issues. The MCPAT aims to support policymakers, competition authorities, and development finance institutions in realizing the advantages of competitive and well-functioning markets by setting the right conditions for firms to improve their economic performance and for markets to allocate resources efficiently. Competitive and well-functioning markets do not just benefit consumers, - they benefit entire economies as they promote productivity, innovation, efficiency, and consumer choice. The goal is not simply to increase the number of firms in a market or to restrict market power but to create an environment where competition can thrive, firms can innovate, and markets can function optimally. The structure of this toolkit follows the steps to conduct an MCPAT analysis in a specific sector or market. Part I provides an overview of key concepts that set the basis for conducting the MCPAT analysis and covers the first step of the MCPAT. Part II focuses on diagnosing market issues. Part III is about how to fix markets.Publication Pathways for Peace(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2018)The resurgence of violent conflict in recent years has caused immense human suffering, at enormous social and economic cost. Violent conflicts today have become complex and protracted, involving more non-state groups and regional and international actors, often linked to global challenges from climate change to transnational organized crime. It is increasingly recognized as an obstacle to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This has given impetus for policy makers at all levels – from local to global – to focus on preventing violent conflict more effectively. Grounded in a shared commitment to this agenda, Pathways for Peace: Inclusive Approaches to Preventing Violent Conflict is a joint United Nations and World Bank study that looks at how development processes can better interact with diplomacy and mediation, security and other tools to prevent conflict from becoming violent. To understand ‘what works,’ it reviews the experience of different countries and institutions to highlight elements that have contributed to peace. Central to these efforts is the need to address grievances around exclusion from access to power, opportunity and security. States hold the primary responsibility for prevention, but to be effective, civil society, the private sector, regional and international organizations must be involved. Enhancing the meaningful participation of women and youth in decision making, as well as long-term policies to address the aspirations of women and young people are fundamental to sustaining peace.Publication Classroom Assessment to Support Foundational Literacy(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-03-21)This document focuses primarily on how classroom assessment activities can measure students’ literacy skills as they progress along a learning trajectory towards reading fluently and with comprehension by the end of primary school grades. The document addresses considerations regarding the design and implementation of early grade reading classroom assessment, provides examples of assessment activities from a variety of countries and contexts, and discusses the importance of incorporating classroom assessment practices into teacher training and professional development opportunities for teachers. The structure of the document is as follows. The first section presents definitions and addresses basic questions on classroom assessment. Section 2 covers the intersection between assessment and early grade reading by discussing how learning assessment can measure early grade reading skills following the reading learning trajectory. Section 3 compares some of the most common early grade literacy assessment tools with respect to the early grade reading skills and developmental phases. Section 4 of the document addresses teacher training considerations in developing, scoring, and using early grade reading assessment. Additional issues in assessing reading skills in the classroom and using assessment results to improve teaching and learning are reviewed in section 5. Throughout the document, country cases are presented to demonstrate how assessment activities can be implemented in the classroom in different contexts.Publication Global Economic Prospects, January 2025(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-01-16)Global growth is expected to hold steady at 2.7 percent in 2025-26. However, the global economy appears to be settling at a low growth rate that will be insufficient to foster sustained economic development—with the possibility of further headwinds from heightened policy uncertainty and adverse trade policy shifts, geopolitical tensions, persistent inflation, and climate-related natural disasters. Against this backdrop, emerging market and developing economies are set to enter the second quarter of the twenty-first century with per capita incomes on a trajectory that implies substantially slower catch-up toward advanced-economy living standards than they previously experienced. Without course corrections, most low-income countries are unlikely to graduate to middle-income status by the middle of the century. Policy action at both global and national levels is needed to foster a more favorable external environment, enhance macroeconomic stability, reduce structural constraints, address the effects of climate change, and thus accelerate long-term growth and development.Publication At Your Service?: The Promise of Services-led Growth in Uzbekistan(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-01-07)In Uzbekistan, the services sector accounts for more than half of all jobs and has been central to the process of structural transformation over the past three decades. In the past decade, the growth of Uzbekistan’s services exports has lagged behind its manufactures' exports while FDI greenfield announcements to both sectors have been even. The growth of the services sector in the past five years was driven by social services, mostly reflecting increased public spending. This report groups the services sector into four categories based on their skill intensity, the extent of their linkages with other sectors, and their tradability in international markets: low-skilled consumer services, low-skilled enabling services , global innovator services. Of these groups, social services accounted for three-fourths of employment growth in the services sector between 2017–2022. These services also experienced relatively high rates of labor productivity growth, which was largely driven by higher public spending on wages and salaries.