South Sudan: Strengthening Resilience in Agriculture, Livelihoods and Markets Phase II (STREAM II)

Nov 25, 2025 (Deadline: 2025-12-11) | Mercy Corps
View Original

Mercy Corps has been operating in South Sudan since 2005. Since the country’s independence in 2011, Mercy Corps has remained committed to addressing urgent humanitarian needs while laying out the foundation for long-term recovery and resilience. The organization’s work prioritizes food security, peace and good governance, water security, and economic opportunities. With funding from multiple donors, including the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mercy Corps South Sudan supports conflict-affected youth, women, internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and host communities. Through adaptive management, gender mainstreaming, and resilience-focused approaches, the agency seeks to empower people to recover from crisis, build sustainable livelihoods, and strengthen local systems.

Program Description

The Strengthening Resilience in Agriculture, Livelihoods and Markets Phase II (STREAM II) program, implemented by Mercy Corps South Sudan from February 2023 to June 2026, aims to enhance resilience, food security, and inclusive economic opportunities for conflict-affected households in Greater Mundri, Western Equatoria State. Building on the achievements and lessons of STREAM I (2021–2023), the program continues to address structural barriers that constrain productivity and equitable market participation, particularly among smallholder farmers, MSMEs, women, and youth.

Funded by multiple donors, including the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, STREAM II adopts a Market Systems Development (MSD) approach adapted for fragile contexts to improve agricultural input and output markets, strengthen non-farm enterprises, and foster social cohesion. Key interventions include promoting climate-smart agricultural practices; expanding access to inputs through seed and equipment fairs and village retail shops; supporting post-harvest handling, storage, and solar-powered processing hubs; and linking producers with buyers and off-takers. The program also invests in financial inclusion by partnering with institutions to develop tailored financial products, increase credit access, and build financial literacy. Recognizing the importance of inclusive economic growth, STREAM II deliberately targets women and youth to increase their participation and agency in markets. In Western Equatoria’s complex context—marked by ethnic diversity, economic marginalization, and ongoing displacement, the program is deliberately structured to promote equity, reduce grievances linked to exclusion, and strengthen trust between communities, market actors, and local governance structures.