Improving security, reducing inter-communal violence, and fostering harmonious coexistence between civilians and security forces are the hoped-for and expected outcomes when the rehabilitation of the road that connects the counties of Yei, Lainya and Kajo-Keji.

The project, encompassing a 145-kilometer-long stretch of road, is carried out by Bangladeshi peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

In South Sudan, not least in the Greater Yei Area of Central Equatoria State, which is an important food source for the region, people continue to suffer from the impact of armed conflicts. Many have been displaced to other communities and neighboring countries. As peace slowly returns, these individuals are beginning to return home but are still struggling to rebuild their lives and livelihoods.

Samuel Alawiya Moses, a youth leader in Gimunu, noted that the road repair work has already had a positive impact.

“It has significantly reduced the travel time to reach Pokula, located 36 kilometers from Gimunu. This makes it possible for us to finish our daily activities in a timely manner.”

Rose Sunday, a women’s representative, also praised the initiative, particularly the improved accessibility to essential services such as education and medical care.

“We have been living in darkness for a long time, feeling hopeless, staying in the bush with our children and husbands for years, drinking stagnant water from ditches,” she said.

In addition to undertaking the major road improvement task, UNMISS has been actively engaging in peacebuilding activities within the greater area. Dialogues and trainings with various security forces, religious groups, and local communities, have been conducted to promote harmonious relations.

“We are dedicated to supporting the people of South Sudan in fully implementing the revitalized peace agreement and creating an environment that is conducive for free and fair elections, paving the way for a prosperous future,” affirmed Sonny Onyegbula, a representative of the peacekeeping mission’s office in Yei.

The ceremony in Gimunu to mark the start of the road rehabilitation project was attended by some 600 people, including local authorities, community and religious leaders, children and ordinary citizens keen to enjoy the many benefits that a better road will bring.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

In a significant gesture of international cooperation and goodwill, the Government of Liberia has received a substantial donation of rice from the Government of Japan. The formal handover ceremony took place on June 18, 2024 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia. The donated KR Food Aid rice, a vital food staple for many Liberians, is expected to bolster food security and provide relief to vulnerable populations across the country. The acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Gabriel H. Salee, accepted the donation on behalf of His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakia, Sr., President of the Republic of Liberia. In his remarks, Acting Foreign Minister Salee expressed deep gratitude to the Government and people of Japan for their unwavering support and solidarity, noting that the donation aligns with the ARREST Agenda of the government.

“Today’s donation is a testament to the strong and enduring friendship between Liberia and Japan. This generous contribution will go a long way in addressing the food needs of our people, particularly those who are most vulnerable. We are profoundly grateful for this assistance, which reflects Japan’s commitment to international cooperation and humanitarian aid,” Minister Salee stated. The Acting Foreign Minister said the rice donation from the Government of Japan marks a significant milestone in Liberia’s ongoing efforts to ensure food security and improve the well-being of its citizens. “It underscores the strength of the Liberia-Japan partnership and the shared commitment to addressing global challenges through mutual cooperation and support”.

His Excellency Mochizuki Hisanobu, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Liberia, presented the rice on behalf of the Japanese Government. Ambassador Hisanobu highlighted the importance of this donation in the context of Japan’s ongoing efforts to support Liberia’s development and humanitarian needs. “Japan is committed to supporting Liberia in its pursuit of sustainable development and prosperity. This donation of rice is part of our broader effort to assist Liberia in enhancing food security and improving the livelihoods of its people. We believe that by working together, our two nations can overcome the challenges we face and build a brighter future,” Ambassador Hisanobu remarked.

The Japanese Ambassador said the Food Assistance program has been one of the sustainable means of raising revenue through the Counterpart Value Fund to tackle the Government of Liberia’s ARREST developmental initiatives and also address cross-cutting challenges to the survival, livelihood and the dignity of people, adding that the donated rice is value at US$1.5 million. Providing context for the donation, Mr. Steven Flahn-Paye, Head of JCVF Secretariat, outlined the historical background and significance of this latest assistance. Mr. Flahn-Paye emphasized that this donation is part of a long-standing tradition of Japanese support for Liberia, which has included various forms of humanitarian aid and development assistance over the years.

“Japan’s food aid to Liberia dates back to 2008, with numerous contributions aimed at alleviating food insecurity, supporting agricultural and infrastructure development. This latest donation is a continuation of that legacy, reinforcing the strong bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. It is also a reflection of Japan’s commitment to global food security and its recognition of the critical need to support nations facing food shortages, the proceeds from the sale of the donated rice is used to build needed markets and other infrastructures in Liberia,” Mr. Flahn-Paye explained. The shipment, which comprises several thousand metric tons of high-quality rice, is set to be distributed to communities across Liberia in the coming weeks by Fouta Corporation. The Liberia Marketing Association (LMA), in collaboration with relevant local and international partners, will oversee the distribution process to ensure that the rice reaches those in greatest need.

For his part, the Deputy Minister for International Cooperation and Economic Integration, Dr. Ibrahim Al-bakri Nyei proudly announced that Liberia has successfully maintained the integrity of the KR rice initiative, reinforcing the nation’s commitment to its agricultural and economic growth. This dedication will be highlighted at the upcoming Japan-Africa Summit. “We are proud to say that Liberia has maintained the integrity of the KR rice program and will continue to do so to fully accelerate our national development agenda,” said Nyei. “This initiative is pivotal in ensuring food security and promoting sustainable development across the country.” At the Japan-Africa Summit, Liberia will emphasize the significance of the KR rice program in its strategy for national development.

The Government of Liberia views this donation as an opportunity to not only address immediate food security needs but also to strengthen bilateral relations with Japan. The two nations have enjoyed a robust partnership, with Japan providing support in areas such as health, education, and infrastructure development in Liberia. Moving forward, both governments have expressed a commitment to exploring additional avenues of cooperation. Discussions are underway to identify further opportunities for collaboration in agricultural development, capacity building, and technology transfer. These efforts are aimed at enhancing Liberia’s self-sufficiency and resilience, ensuring long-term food security and sustainable development.

During the ceremony, several key stakeholders offered their perspectives on the importance of the donation and the broader implications for Liberia-Japan relations. Hon. Julius Selee, Executive Director, Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment (LACE)), praised the donation as a timely intervention that aligns with ongoing efforts to combat hunger and malnutrition in the country. “The LACE is pleased to see this significant contribution from Japan, which will complement our initiatives aimed at improving food security and infrastructure development in Liberia, stating that LACE is implementing most of the projects under this arrangement. Partnerships like these are essential for achieving our developmental agenda,” Mr. Selee noted. As the rice is distributed and utilized, the Government of Liberia remains hopeful that this act of generosity will inspire further collaborative efforts, not only between Liberia and Japan but also within the broader international community. Together, through unity and shared purpose, the challenges of food insecurity can be met, and the foundation for a more prosperous and resilient future can be laid.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.

Zimbabwe, a landlocked country in Southern Africa, lies entirely within a total of five transboundary river basins (Buzi, Limpopo, Pungwe, Save and Zambezi) and one international lake (Kariba) while the number of transboundary aquifers is yet to be ascertained. These transboundary basins create socio-economic, environmental and political interdependencies between countries, making cooperation over them crucial.  

In this context, Zimbabwe confirmed during a national workshop its intention to accelerate the accession process to the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (UN Water Convention) which constitutes a unique global legal and intergovernmental framework for the sustainable management of transboundary water resources, serviced by UNECE. Zimbabwe’s Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water,&Rural Development, Mr. Vangelis Peter Haritatos, reiterated the aim “to propel forward the process towards Zimbabwe’s accession to the UN global water conventions which will enable Zimbabwe to accrue multiple benefits in transboundary water resources management”. 

The national workshop, organized on 17-18 June 2024 in Harare, discussed both the UN Water Convention, adopted in 1992, and the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (UN Watercourses Convention) adopted in 1997, collectively referred to as the ‘UN global water conventions’. It was an opportunity for Zimbabwe to detail the obligations under both conventions, the benefits it can derive from accession, possible challenges, as well as the next steps in the process. The Deputy Minister reaffirmed “the Government’s readiness and commitment to the accession of the UN global water conventions” highlighting that “Zimbabwe intends to join both conventions on the basis of their compatibility and complementarity.” 

Bringing together over 60 participants from different ministries, basin and regional organizations, academia and civil society, among others, the national workshop unpacked how the UN Water Conventions will add value to the many existing transboundary water cooperation initiatives to which Zimbabwe is already a part of.  

Zimbabwe is a party to several basin agreements and a member State of the associated river basin organisations, including BUPUSACOM, LIMCOM, ZAMCOM, representatives of which also took part in the discussions. Zimbabwe is also a party to the 2000 Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) Revised Protocol on Shared Watercourses. The recent results of the 3rd reporting exercise measuring progress to achieve SDG indicator 6.5.2 on transboundary water cooperation (2023) further demonstrate Zimbabwe’s commitment to strengthen transboundary cooperation over increasingly scarce shared water resources, improving from having 69.90% of all its shared basins covered by operational agreements for cooperation in 2020, to 90.4% in 2023. Despite strong progress, challenges were also highlighted, especially with regards to data collection and management and groundwater management. 

The notable momentum towards accession to the UN Water Convention in Southern Africa – with Namibia as the first Party in the region following its accession in 2023; and Zambia, Botswana and Tanzania currently in accession processes and Malawi having indicated its readiness to start the process – creates the enabling conditions for other countries to join and maximize the relevance and usefulness of the Water Conventions and the related tools. As highlighted by the Deputy Minister, with its upcoming accession, “ Zimbabwe is sending a tone to other countries in the region which may help them decide on acceding to the conventions”. 

Recognised by the Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union to Zimbabwe, Mr. Jobst von Kirchmann, as a “milestone moment” for Zimbabwe’s initiatives in the sphere of transboundary water cooperation, highlighting also the importance given by the EU to transboundary water cooperation as a tool for peace, security and stability, the workshop paved the way for promising work to strengthen transboundary water cooperation and management at national and regional level. As such, implementing the Water Convention will build on the existing initiatives and work already undertaken by Zimbabwe and in collaboration with relevant technical and financial partners.  

In this regard, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Zimbabwe, Mr. Edward Kallon, reaffirmed the UN’s “commitment to supporting the Government in sustainable management of all water resources and active engagement in regional and transboundary initiatives that promote attainment of all SDGs.”  

The workshop was organized under the European Union project “Promoting accession to the Water Convention”, which aims to support accession to and implementation of the Water Convention, thereby strengthening transboundary water cooperation and the sustainable and peaceful management of shared water resources. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).