UNEP, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and South Sudan government officials jointly hosted a three-day training for national and state level regulators dealing with water harvesting. The training, which brought together over 35 participants from key government institutions, offered new insights and policy recommendations from water construction projects in the various states of South Sudan.

Drawing on joint UNEP-FAO assessment work and utilizing new technical and operational guidelines, the sessions provided important guidance on how to develop cost effective, socially acceptable and environmentally sound water harvesting facilities for livestock. By working with government personnel, the training sought to improve the planning and implementation of water harvesting and in turn contribute to peace building by reducing local-level conflicts over water and livestock among communities.

The workshop was part of a new FAO-UNEP joint project, ''Assessment of water harvesting structures for sustainable livelihoods and peace building in South Sudan'', financed by the Peace Building Fund Office for South Sudan.

More information: cassidy.travis@unep.org