(JUBA, CENTRAL) – The Minister of Finance and Planning in South Sudan, Hon Kuol Daniel Ayulo, has held discussions in Juba with a visiting delegation from the African Development Bank African Development Bank led by the Executive Director for Eastern Africa, Mr Cafrine Ronald Justin, focusing on ongoing cooperation and the progress of key development programmes.
The meeting reviewed a range of projects supported by the bank in South Sudan, including urban electricity distribution systems, agricultural development initiatives, climate resilience programmes, and efforts aimed at economic diversification. These sectors remain central to the country’s development strategy and broader fiscal planning agenda.
The minister commended the working relationship between the government and the African Development Bank, noting that continued cooperation is important for the delivery of infrastructure and economic projects. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working closely with the bank to ensure successful implementation of priority programmes.
The AfDB delegation outlined regional development initiatives planned for Eastern Africa, noting that South Sudan is expected to benefit from several of these projects. The discussions also covered coordination mechanisms intended to improve project delivery and strengthen regional integration in development financing.
The engagement comes at a time when South Sudan is seeking to expand its development partnerships in order to support infrastructure growth, improve public services, and strengthen economic stability.
In related developments, the Ministry of Finance and Planning has concluded a five week training programme for government accountants aimed at improving financial management practices and strengthening public sector accountability.
Officials who completed the training were encouraged to apply the skills acquired in their work, with emphasis placed on professionalism, transparency, and improved record keeping in public financial operations.
Speaking during the closing ceremony, Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Hon Thok Turuk Thok highlighted the role of accounting officers in supporting reform processes and ensuring accurate government financial records. Technical Advisor Hon Simon Kiman supported these remarks, noting the importance of strengthened institutional capacity in improving public expenditure management.
The Director General for Accounts, Dhel Mayuol Tong, praised the ministry leadership under Hon Kuol Daniel Ayulo for supporting the training programme. He described capacity building as an essential part of institutional development and urged participants to put their training into practical use.
Certificates were awarded to participants at the end of the programme, marking the ministry’s continued efforts to build a skilled workforce capable of improving service delivery and financial accountability.
In a separate engagement, the Ministry of Finance and Planning also hosted a multi stakeholder dialogue with development partners under the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation, focused on improving coordination and monitoring of development assistance in South Sudan.
The dialogue aimed to review monitoring results, identify gaps in development cooperation, and agree on joint actions to strengthen aid effectiveness and service delivery outcomes. The GPEDC framework, established in 2011 in Busan by 163 countries, serves as a global platform for improving development cooperation and supporting progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
In opening remarks, Undersecretary for Planning Hon Benjamin Ayali Koyongwa emphasised the importance of collaboration among stakeholders and called for open discussions to address challenges affecting development implementation and accountability.
The Director General of Aid Coordination, Suzy Albert, noted that while progress has been made in strengthening institutional frameworks and aligning aid flows, challenges remain in areas such as transparency, accountability, and inclusive participation.
Representing development partners, David Santos said the dialogue was an important step towards improving service delivery outcomes. He encouraged stronger government leadership in coordinating development programmes and ensuring that national budgets reflect priority sectors supported by available resources.