Food insecurity is a persistent challenge in South Sudan. Today, it is acute: More than half of the population faces severe hunger as South Sudan confronts one of the hardest chapters in its short history. When proper nutrition is out of reach, the consequences are devastating, especially for young children and pregnant and breastfeeding women.

CMMB has supported nutrition programming in South Sudan for nearly a decade. Together with partners like the World Food Program, UNICEF, and the South Sudan Ministry of Health, we deliver nutrition education and resources to women, children, and people living with HIV or tuberculosis (TB) and their caregivers. As South Sudan endures immense hardship, we are working to reach more people with lifesaving nutrition support.

Upheaval in South Sudan Is Causing a Hunger Crisis

A CHW carries clean water supplies across flooded terrain.

Political unrest and violence, both internally and spilling over from neighboring Sudan, is forcing families to flee their communities. At the same time, large portions of the country are under water, devastated by heavy rains and flooding. Adding to this complex crisis, South Sudan is experiencing the longest cholera outbreak in its history. The deadly disease claimed 1,555 lives by the end of August.

As these crises converge, movement around the country is difficult. The cost of food is skyrocketing. With less humanitarian aid available and limited and fluctuating domestic revenue, the help that remains strains to reach those who need it most. According to UNICEF, 2.3 million South Sudanese children are at risk for acute malnutrition.

CMMB’s Impact on Nutrition in South Sudan

F-75 supplement at the health facility to support children.

Since 2016, we have worked in 10 counties in South Sudan’s Western Equatoria State. Our work in South Sudan includes the following components:

Screening and Treatment

CMMB-supported community nutrition volunteers conduct nutrition screenings to identify women and children who need support. Children in South Sudan often have Vitamin A deficiency due to poor nutrition, which can lead to childhood blindness and increase the risk of death from common illnesses. Twice a year, we distribute Vitamin A to children between six months and five years old. We also provide deworming treatment for parasitic infections that can stunt growth and development.

For children with severe acute malnutrition, we provide nutrition supplies like ready-to-use therapeutic food and connect them to additional health services. Many receive care at St. Theresa Mission Hospital Nzara, where a CMMB-supported nutrition nurse handles some of the region’s most challenging pediatric malnutrition cases.

Critical Support for Mothers

At CMMB, caring for women is a central part of our mission. CMMB-supported health professionals and community health workers educate new and expectant mothers on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, dispelling persistent myths. We connect women to support groups, where they gain community and encouragement to provide their newborns with a critical first source of nutrition. We also show mothers how to prepare three nutritious meals a day using locally-available ingredients, helping them give their children the best nutrition possible, especially during the first 1,000 days of life.

Our work also reaches people living with HIV and TB and the families who care for them. We help them prioritize good nutrition so they can continue treatment and maintain their health.

Sustainable Livelihoods

Families need reliable, affordable nutrition sources to improve their health and protect their futures. CMMB provides tools, seeds, and agricultural advice, giving families the resources they need to grow their own food under sometimes challenging conditions. A home garden provides more than just the fruits and vegetables families need for nourishment. It also creates an additional income source, since families can sell what they don’t need. With this foundation, we help communities create voluntary savings and lending associations, a powerful financial engine so families can start their own businesses, respond to household emergencies, and become more economically resilient.

Expanding Our Reach During Emergency Response

In recent months, CMMB has acted quickly to deliver urgent nutrition support. We supported two mobile clinics that offer nutrition services to displaced families in Nasir County in Upper Nile. At a refugee camp in Yambio, we conducted health assessments to screen families for malnutrition and other health issues. And in Renk County, we provided additional hospital beds to the Nutrition Stabilization Centre, where demand had outstripped supplies leaving three to four patients in a single bed. As South Sudan continues to face multiple emergencies, CMMB is collaborating with a consortium of aid groups and government to meet the country’s growing health needs.

Giving Hope for Better Health

Preparing food in South Sudan.

CMMB’s nutrition work is challenging—and incredibly important. In 2024, CMMB’s nutrition work reached 237,938 people globally. We provided more than 100,000 children with Vitamin A supplements and more than 77,000 children with deworming treatment. We also treated more than 11,000 children under age five for malnutrition.

Yet much work remains. South Sudan sees more deaths of children under five than nearly any other country, and malnutrition is often a contributing factor. By delivering nutrition resources and education, CMMB works to end hunger and the preventable illnesses and deaths that come with it. The families we reach gain access to better nutrition—and the opportunity for healthier lives, even in the most difficult circumstances.

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