The French Development Agency (AFD) commissioned ITAR Consultants to conduct a case study on the effects of reduced U.S. aid in South Sudan. The study in South Sudan is part of a broader series of case studies in Africa and the Middle East. The objectives of these case studies are to identify and analyse:
- the impact of the suspension of USAID projects and the reduction in funding allocated to United Nations agencies, primarily WFP, UNHCR, IOM, and UNICEF, on crisis and conflict dynamics;
- the narratives expressed locally by political authorities and civil society regarding the consequences of the halt in aid; and
- the emergence, or lack thereof, of actors stepping in to replace U.S. assistance.
The methodology combined key informant interviews and community-level focus group discussions. A total of 45 focus group discussions were conducted across four geographic areas: Malakal, Maiwut, Bentiu, and Wau. These discussions engaged 346 participants with diverse profiles, including internally displaced persons, host community members, returnees, and refugees, with balanced gender representation. The combined approach ensured both institutional perspectives and community-level insights on aid delivery, constraints, and coping strategies.
