𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐔𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐀𝐅𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐔𝐄 𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐈𝐍 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐇 𝐒𝐔𝐃𝐀𝐍

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management has convened the first South Sudan National Dialogue Platform on Anticipatory Action, bringing together government officials, UN agencies, humanitarian and development partners, donors, NGOs, civil society and other stakeholders.The three-day dialogue, taking place from 14–16 September at Palm Africa Hotel in Juba, held under the theme “Prepared Today, Resilient Tomorrow", to Advancing Anticipatory Action in South Sudan.The platform aims to strengthen national preparedness and shift the country’s approach from responding to disasters after they occur to taking early action before predictable hazards such as droughts and floods cause severe humanitarian impacts.The dialogue brings together stakeholders to agree on national priorities for implementing the National Anticipatory Action Roadmap 2026–2029, identify priority investments and financing opportunities, strengthen coordination and showcase community-based anticipatory action initiatives.The meeting will also seek to adopt the Juba Joint Communiqué on Anticipatory Action and reinforce efforts to institutionalize anticipatory action within South Sudan’s national disaster risk governance and resilience-building frameworks.The event was attended by Patron of the day, H.E. Mama Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior the Vice President of the Republic and Chairperson for Gender and Youth Cluster, Mr. Ramanathan Balakrishnan, UN Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator, senior government officials, representatives of IGAD and ICPAC, UN agencies, ambassadors, donors, international and national NGOs, civil society, academia and other partners.Speaking during the opening ceremony, Vice President H.E. Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior, Chairperson of the Gender and Youth Cluster and Acting Chairperson of the Governance Cluster who also a Patron of the day, said South Sudan must focus on what can be done before disasters strike.Vice President Rebecca said the country is facing a difficult humanitarian situation driven by climate shocks, conflict, displacement and the wider regional situation, while warning that humanitarian resources are declining as needs continue to increase.She urged stakeholders to make the dialogue practical and ensure that women, young people and vulnerable communities are not treated only as beneficiaries but are included as partners with knowledge, ideas and solutions.The Vice President also emphasized the need for South Sudan to strengthen local production and reduce its long-term dependence on humanitarian food assistance, noting the country’s fertile land, water resources and productive communities.In his remarks, Hon. Albino Akol Atak Mayom, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, said South Sudan must move from a reactive disaster-management model to one based on forecasting, preparedness, early action and predictable financing.Minister Akol noted that parts of the country are currently experiencing rainfall deficits, drought conditions, crop stress and water shortages, while forecasts indicate the possibility of increased rainfall and flooding in some areas during the October–December period. He stressed that early warning must lead to early action, supported by financing that is available before disasters cause irreversible losses.Minister Akol called on development partners, donors, international financial institutions and humanitarian organizations to support predictable and pre-arranged financing for anticipatory action, emphasizing the need to “move from financing disasters to financing risk.”He further called for stronger investment in climate services, hydrometeorological infrastructure, impact-based forecasting, community early-warning systems, data and GIS, shock-responsive social protection, contingency planning and local preparedness.The Minister emphasized that anticipatory action should not remain a stand-alone humanitarian project but should become part of national disaster-risk management, sector planning, public financing and local government systems.Minister Akol reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to strengthening disaster preparedness, early-warning systems, anticipatory action and resilience, while working with communities and partners to protect lives and livelihoods before predictable disasters occur.