Amidst years of economic decline, conflict and repeated climate shocks, South Sudan is taking steps to invest in its most valuable resource, its people. In June 2023, the government launched the South Sudan Productive Safety Net for Socioeconomic Opportunities Project (SNSOP), also known as Shabaka Meisha, with $199 million in support from the World Bank. This initiative represents more than financial assistance. It is a platform for change, offering cash transfers, labor-intensive public works and access to small business opportunities that are helping families to move beyond crisis. By targeting over 157,000 households across 20 counties, the program is laying the groundwork for long-term resilience and inclusive growth.
The program comes at a time when South Sudan faces staggering poverty, with up to 92 percent of people living below the national poverty line. Years of economic decline, flooding, high inflation and food insecurity have left households struggling to survive, especially women and children. Against this backdrop, Shabaka Meisha is not only providing a financial safety net but also opening doors to income opportunities, skills and resilience.
Reaching Families Across the Country
Shabaka Meisha is one of the most ambitious safety net projects ever introduced in South Sudan. Over five years, it aims to reach 157,000 households across 20 counties, directly benefiting about 1.2 million people, including refugees and host communities. The program is led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, with implementation support from the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), the Association of Ethiopian Microfinance Institutions (AEMFI) and other partners.
The program provides cash transfers, labor-intensive public works and access to income-generating activities, all while strengthening the National Safety Net Delivery System. Careful planning has been a key part of implementation. Before the first payments were made, households went through biometric registration, enrollment into management systems and the formation of local committees to ensure fairness and transparency.
By mid-2025, 87,867 households, representing over 615,000 individuals, had already received income support across 15 counties. So far, about $11.3 million has been distributed in two rounds of cash transfers, with families reporting life-changing results.
Stories of Change and Resilience
For many households, the cash support has been more than survival money. It has sparked a shift from dependence to independence.
Take Betty Chongodo, a 38-year-old from Torit County in Eastern Equatoria. Before joining Shabaka Meisha, Betty relied on her husband’s irregular support and often had little to feed her children. With the cash transfers, she started a small business selling vegetables, salt and peanut butter. Today, she makes enough to pay school fees, feed her children and watch their academic performance improve.
Similarly, Marlin Kiden from Juba County used to earn a living cleaning floors at a dispensary. Life was tough and she struggled to pay rent and provide for her children. With her first cash payment, she started a small business. Today, her income allows her to cover her children’s education, pay rent and even inspire other women to invest in their own ventures.
Josephine Bakhita, another beneficiary, explained how the cash transfers enabled her to buy food, pay school fees and launch a small trading business. While her profits are modest, the sense of stability and hope they bring has been transformative for her family.
These stories underline what Shabaka Meisha is achieving: it is not just distributing money but creating opportunities. Families are moving from daily survival to planning for tomorrow.
Building a Stronger Future
The impact of Shabaka Meisha goes beyond individual households. It is also strengthening South Sudan’s ability to deliver social protection services effectively. By using biometric registration, digital management systems and community-based structures, the program is laying the foundation for a national system that can support citizens in times of crisis.
The World Bank’s Country Manager for South Sudan, Charles Undeland, noted that the project is more than a lifeline. It is a catalyst for self-reliance, dignity and resilience. By empowering families to invest in businesses, send their children to school and meet their basic needs, the program is contributing to long-term stability and growth.
Still, the road ahead is not without challenges. South Sudan continues to face high poverty, repeated climate shocks and economic instability. Ensuring timely payments, scaling up the program and adding new livelihood opportunities will be critical for sustaining progress. But the evidence so far shows that the approach works. Direct cash support, combined with opportunities to work and grow, can change lives and strengthen communities.
A Safety Net with Promise
Shabaka Meisha has already touched the lives of over half a million South Sudanese people. Its success is measured not only in numbers but in the resilience of mothers like Betty, Marlin and Josephine, who are now providing for their families and creating a ripple effect of hope in their communities.
With continued investment, strong systems and a focus on dignity, Shabaka Meisha can help turn South Sudan’s most vulnerable households into agents of change. It proves that even in the most fragile settings, giving people the tools and resources to help themselves is one of the most powerful ways to fight poverty.
