Recovery and development in Southern Sudan: progress during 2006

1. Recovery and development in Southern Sudan:progress during 2006 Abdon Agau Secretary General, GoSS 19th March 2007 Sudan Consortium, Khartoum

2. Achievements of 2006 • Government of Southern Sudan • Establishment of the basic structures for good governance in Southern Sudan. • Operationalisation of the GoSS and federal level entities • States and counties • Selected initiatives to establish governance structures in states • Basic financial and administrative support to counties. • Donor support • Inflows were inadequate relative to requirements and commitments

3. Constitutional development • The basis for democratic transition in GoSS and state governments firmly established • SSLA fully operational with functioning sub committees and fully engaged in legislation and budgetary approval and review. • Ten state governments and legislative assemblies constituted. • Southern Sudan Judiciary operationalised • Seven tier judicial structure (Supreme court, Appeal courts, High Courts, County courts and Traditional Authorities) in place • The number of judges being increased • The capacity of the judicial system to provide timely and efficient justice being strengthened; however additional resources are required. • Nineteen autonomous commissions constituted and are being operationalised • Additional resources are required.

4. Accountability; Public Financial management • The budget process • 96%of the 2006 budget outlay was spent due to lower than expected oil revenues and irregular transfers despite draw down from reserves. • Only 66% of the budgeted development outlay could be spent due to low capacity to manage the procurement process and resource constraint. • Donor support remained below budgeted levels. • Budget sector working groups have been formed for planning purposes. Budget design for 2007 was inclusive and involved all stakeholders. • Budget for 2007 presented on time to Legislative Assembly and approved with a slight lag. • Public sector accounting and expenditure management • An Accounting Agent is in place to manage aggregate accounts of GoSS and a separate Project Accounting Agent for MDTF transactions is being appointed. • In 2007 budget outturns will be submitted on a quarterly basis to SSLA. • Public Financial Act and an Income tax Act are being drafted to institutionalise the structures for accountability and transparency. • Interim Procurement Regulations are in place and are being followed by GoSS • A Procurement Agent has been appointed to manage all government procurement. • Safeguards • The Anti corruption commission has been operationalised. • Strict disciplinary action has been taken against errant senior public servants • Forensic audits are ongoing to identify and root out corruption in government. • The Auditor general is in place and External Auditors are being appointed. • The Southern Sudan Fiscal and Financial Allocation and Monitoring Commission (FFAMC) has been constituted and will guide government on inter governmental transfers.

5. Public administration • Cabinet system in GoSS and states fully operational. • Twenty Three Ministries of GoSS and all State Governments are functional. • Civil service established and process of integration of cadres, recruitment and evaluation of capacity ongoing. • Inter governmental relations in Southern Sudan being guided by process of phased decentralisation. • External relations • Arrangements for formal bilateral interaction for economic cooperation established in eight countries. • Sixteen consulates established in Juba.

6. Basic services and social sectors • The Presidents 200 day plan implemented successfully • Education, health and social sector programmes aligned to target MDG indicators. • Education • 3000 teachers recruited, including from returnees • Programme for rehabilitating physical infrastructure of basic, secondary and higher education launched. • Vocational training facilities being revamped. • Alternate education strategies for adults, war affected and thos with special needs being launched. • Health • Physical infrastructure of primary health care being rehabilitated. • Key hospitals being rehabilitated. • The strength of health care personnel being increased through recruitment. • Social sectors • Gender • War affected • SSRC

7. Infrastructure • Roads programme operational • 84 km of city roads completed • 2500 km of intercity roads completed • Juba port capacity being enhanced • Air terminal capacity being Juba enhanced • Drinking water supply being enhanced • Significant numbers of bore wells dug • Rehabilitation of the water and sewage system in Juba being rehabilitated. • Electricity generation and distribution capacity being enhanced • Telecommunications network being developed • VSAT connectivity completed for all state capitals • Public housing stock being rehabilitated and enhanced

8. Economic services • Planned boost for agricultural productivity being implemented • Facilities for livestock and fisheries management enhanced • Support for industries being implemented • Facilities for private investment enhanced • Support for development of markets underway • Trade facilitation being implemented

9. Security • Police recruitment and training under progress • Correctional facilities being rehabilitated • DDR being implemented • Internal security improved • Reduction in incidents of tribal conflict • Enhanced policing of inter city routes • Joint Integrated Units in place

10. The way ahead;Challenges for 2007 • Consolidation of early achievements for GoSS • Capacity building and strategic interventions for service delivery in states and counties • Facilitating donor support: • Technical assistance and financial support required to deal with the low capacity of public entities. • Domestic resources are inadequate and must be supplemented by larger donor support for enhancing pro-poor spending and infrastructure • Improving the inclusiveness, transparency, efficiency and effectiveness of governments pro- poor interventions