South Sudan: Environment ministry signs assessment deal with Netherlands firm

South Sudan's Minister of Environment and Forestry, Josephine Napwon Cosmas (standing in black) during the signing of the environmental assessment deal in Juba on 09 February 2023. [Photo: Radio Tamazuj]

South Sudan's ministry of environment and forestry on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding with the Netherlands Commission for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) aimed at assessing the impacts of developmental projects on the environment. 

The agreement is expected to strengthen the areas of environmental impact on social assessment and strategic environmental planning as well as focus on capacity development on environmental impact assessment including reviews and quality control in environmental social impact assessment among selected stakeholders.   

Speaking during the signing ceremony in Juba, Marjan Schippers, the Netherlands Ambassador to South Sudan said the country is currently in conflict, diverting the international community's attention to humanitarian assistance. 

“South Sudan currently finds itself in a conflict trapped aggravated by extensive flooding leading to continuous focus on humanitarian assistance. At the same time, the country is indulged with the treasure of natural resources waiting to be developed for the benefit of the people," he said. "It is therefore essential that the international community support South Sudan on its development trajectory to gradually change human suffering into human prosperity." 

Amb. Schippers called on South Sudan's government to invest in its natural resources wisely for the benefit of all the people. 

“The natural resources are South Sudan's capital in the bank and need to be invested wisely, durably and for the benefit of all, some resources such as the Nile do not only belong to South Sudan but also to other nations and thereby a shared capital with shared responsibility in decision making this will require negotiation within and across borders on sharing and sustainability of resources," Schippers advised. 

For her part, Josephine Napwon Cosmas, Minister of Environment and Forestry said South Sudan will embark on developmental projects that will require environmental assessment as a result of such projects. 

“As a new country which will embark on several developmental projects, the ministry of environment's capacity to conduct screening, scoping, and developing of terms of reference for Environmental Strategic Impact Assessment (ESIA) and for reviewing ESIA report and issuing no objection letter will be enhanced. Likewise, this collaboration will result in the reviewing and development of regulations, tools, and guidelines for the conduct of the assessment," she noted. 

Napwon said the MOU with the Netherlands Commission for Environmental Assessment will ensure that the staff from the NCEA will be accorded all the support to ensure that the objectives of the MOU are realized to ensure sustainable development and environmental integrity.