JUBA: The World Bank has approved USD129 million in grant financing to help South Sudan's most vulnerable households get access to economic and livelihood possibilities while also improving the performance of the country's national safety net system.

The International Development Association (IDA) award includes USD25 million from the IDA19 Window for Host Communities and Refugees (WHR) and USD30 million from the Crisis Response Window (CRW), according to a statement released today by the global lender.

The new funding, according to Firas Raad, World Bank Country Manager for South Sudan, will assist the government in gradually establishing a nationally owned safety net programme. "It will also contribute to the country's maintaining a predictable and trustworthy national safety net system and increasing citizen confidence in national institutions," Raad said.

He said the funding will go toward the South Sudan Productive Safety Net for Socioeconomic Opportunities Project (SNSOP), a four-year initiative that builds on the lessons learned from previous programmes that helped set the groundwork for South Sudan's safety net system.

The SNSOP aspires to build on and deepen current development accomplishments, give direct income to the poorest and most vulnerable households, and expand social and economic opportunities.

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