Our work in South Sudan
Following an almost unanimous vote for independence in a referendum last year, the Republic of South Sudan is Africa's newest state. It has great potential, natural resources and support from the international community.
The health system has been weakened by years of unrest, however. South Sudan has the highest maternal death rate in the world. This is caused by a severe lack of trained midwives, inadequate health facilities and the high rate of teenage pregnancy.
There are very few government funds for health. The few hospitals and clinics that do exist are unevenly distributed – with rural areas more poorly served than urban ones. Most health care facilities were destroyed during the civil war and there are few qualified health workers, leaving 11 million people with little or no medical care.
AMREF’s priorities for South Sudan are conflict prevention and security – deepening peace and improving security, Social and human development – investing in people, Economic development – rural development supported by infrastructure improvements, Governance – institutional strengthening and improving transparency and accountability and Seven cross-cutting issues : environment, gender equality, youth employment, capacity-building, human rights, HIV/AIDS, and corruption.
AMREF is a transparent organisation distributing funds of up to $85 million per year.
