A major climate resilience project backed by the World Bank has been launched to confront the persistent flooding crisis in Bor Town, offering renewed hope to tens of thousands of residents who face seasonal displacement and loss of livelihoods each year.
The $8.5 million Regional Climate Resilience Program (RCRP), set for implementation between 2026 and 2027, aims to protect more than 100,000 people from the devastating impacts of floods that continue to batter Bor, the capital of Jonglei State.
Located along the banks of the White Nile, Bor has become one of South Sudan’s most flood-affected urban centers, with fragile infrastructure, rapid population growth, and inadequate drainage systems compounding its vulnerability.
Despite contributing little to global greenhouse gas emissions, communities in the area remain on the frontline of climate shocks.
Project officials say the intervention will focus on critical infrastructure, including the construction of a 10-kilometer primary dyke described as a missing link in Bor’s flood defense system as well as the installation of gated culverts and rehabilitation of key drainage networks across the town.
The initiative builds on earlier flood mitigation efforts carried out between 2022 and 2025, which introduced culverts, pumping stations, and partial dyke repairs.
However, those measures were insufficient to fully contain floodwaters, particularly in northwest Bor, where communities continue to experience severe inundation during peak rainy seasons.
Led by the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the project combines engineering solutions with long-term institutional support aimed at strengthening local capacity to manage flood risks.
“This project is not just about building infrastructure; it is about creating lasting resilience,” said IOM Project Manager Johan Olof Grundberg.
“We are working to ensure that communities in Bor are better protected, that systems are sustainable, and that local institutions have the capacity to manage flood risks long after the project is completed.”
Beyond physical works, the program will also enhance flood modeling systems, improve early warning mechanisms, and establish operation and maintenance frameworks to ensure the sustainability of the interventions.
Once completed, the project is expected to protect up to 70 percent of Bor’s population from recurrent flooding, reduce water levels during peak seasons, and safeguard critical infrastructure, including roads that often double as flood barriers.
Implementation will be aligned with South Sudan’s seasonal calendar, with major construction activities scheduled during dry periods, while community engagement, environmental monitoring, and technical assessments will continue throughout the project cycle.
As climate-related disasters intensify across the country, Bor is increasingly being viewed as a critical test case for whether sustained investment and coordinated action can effectively reduce vulnerability and build resilience in one of the world’s most climate-exposed nations.
