High-ranking Guests visited our Team

Today, May 8, 2025, representatives of the Bureau of Agriculture & Natural Resource Development from Gambela, the Anywaa Zone Administration & Agriculture Office, the Woreda Administration & Agriculture Office and the Kebeles of which the Nile Foundation's working and reforestation sites are located, visited some of our newly built tree nurseries. Among the visitors were the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resource Development of Gambela State, the Chief Administrator of the Anywaa Zone and the Chief Administrator of the Gog Woreda. The inspection and information tour took place to mark the installation of our new information panels, which are now being gradually installed at all locations operated by the Nile Foundation. The event was organized and led by our Regional Director, Mr. Omod Ahiben Ojwato. In addition to visiting newly constructed or rebuilt tree nurseries and engaging in discussions with our staff, the event also included a tour of the planned expansion areas. Our plan calls for a standard size of at least one hectare of land per nursery. Furthermore, the plots should always be in close proximity to a village and at least one permanent water source. Some sites of the reforestation project implemented and continued in 2024 did not meet all of these infrastructure standards, but that will now be made up for.

Production of native Tree Species

The Nile Foundation's reforestation project in Gambela State aims to ensure that at least 200,000 seedlings of various indigenous tree species are to be grown in each tree nursery that our project operates. Different tree seedlings are currently growing in our nursery sites, for example Albizia gummifera, Balanites aegypteaca, Tamarindus indica, Pithecellobium dulce, Cordia africana, Vitellaria paradoxa and Azahdaracta indica in potted polyethylene tubes. More species, including indigenous bamboo, will be added over the next few weeks. At the beginning of the rainy season, the small trees will then be planted in forest areas that were previously destroyed by illegal logging as part of the Ethiopian "Green Legacy Campaign." The women and men who work in our nurseries collect the tree seeds partially from the remaining forests in the surrounding areas and then allow them to germinate and grow in the nurseries. It is important to us not to propagate foreign or expansive tree species. The forests will be restored as closely as possible to their original and natural form so that the region's typical biodiversity can reestablish itself and thrive. In the future, the restored natural forest will make a noticeable contribution to the microclimate, the regional water balance and the regeneration of soil biomass.

Contributions of the Nile Foundation

Ethiopia is making significant strides in economic self-reliance, successfully substituting $2.7 billion worth of imported goods with domestically produced alternatives in the first eight months of the current fiscal year, which began on 8 July 2024. This achievement reflects the government’s strategic push to strengthen local manufacturing, reduce dependence on foreign imports, and mitigate chronic foreign currency shortages. Tarekegn Bululta, Ethiopia’s State Minister of Industry, confirmed that the government has identified 96 critical imported products for substitution. This initiative forms part of Ethiopia’s long-term development plan, aiming to prioritise self-sufficiency in key sectors and elevate the role of domestic production within the economy. The shift towards import substitution is designed to foster economic resilience, ensure the availability of affordable goods, and generate employment. In the previous fiscal year (ending 7 July 2024), the country produced $2.8 billion worth of substitute goods, with locally manufactured products now accounting for over 43% of the national market. Ethiopia has set an ambitious target of $3.9 billion in import substitution by the close of the current fiscal year, underscoring its determination to boost industrial output and economic sustainability. The Nile Foundation will make an important contribution to Ethiopia's economic self-sufficiency and further development of prosperity, particularly in the areas of timber production and processing.

Tree Nurseries expand Capacities

The tree nurseries run by the Nile Foundation in the GOG WOREDA have already hired dozens of new employees in the first few months of this year to increase their productivity for the upcoming planting season. All of our employees – most of whom are women – come from neighboring villages in the region. This eliminates long commutes, and so the newly created jobs have a direct social impact on the local community. At least 200,000 seedlings of various indigenous tree species are to be grown in each nursery. By implementing and revitalizing tree nurseries from a historic reforestation project, which received financial support for years from, among others, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and whose budget was cut in early 2024, the Nile Foundation is creating many new jobs in rural Gambela State. Because people are receiving regular salaries again, purchasing power in the communities increases, food supplies improve, and children can go back to school. Thus, our contribution generates a direct social impact that is fully in line with the United Nations' 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) defined by it. All 10 former tree nurseries of the implemented project are to be gradually rebuilt and brought to full capacity.

African Parks closes management deal

South Africa-based conservation NGO African Parks has signed a long-term deal with Ethiopian authorities to manage Gambela National Park. The park is Ethiopia’s largest protected area, a 4,575-square-kilometer (1,766-square-mile) landscape on the border with South Sudan. Its savannas, floodplains, and woodlands host some of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Ethiopia, including threatened species such as its largest remaining population of savanna elephants, as well as Nubian giraffes and Nile lechwe, a type of antelope. So far, tourism in the parks in Ethiopia is very low, with the exception of the Simien Mountains. Gambela forms part of a wider landscape that encompasses two parks across the border in South Sudan: Boma National Park and Badingilo National Park, both of which are also managed by African Parks. Last year, the group announced findings of an aerial survey that showed an annual migration of 6 million antelopes between the three parks. That’s double the size of the Serengeti wildebeest migration, which makes it the largest in Africa. Gambela National Park borders directly on the Nile Foundation’s forest conservation and reforestation areas. - We look forward to future cooperation with African Parks!

Exploring Indigenous Bamboo Forests

Shortly before this year's Christmas, a team from the Nile Foundation, led by our Regional Director, Mr. Omod Ahiben Ojwato, visited Dimma Woreda in the south of Gambela State to inspect a tree nursery that was being revitalized and some potential reforestation areas. On the long journey from Gambela to Dimma, the team passed through large areas where indigenous bamboo grows. It was lowland bamboo (oxytenanthera abyssinica). The upland and lowland bamboo stands in Ethiopia are estimated to cover an area of ​​1.47 million hectares. This makes Ethiopia the largest natural bamboo stand in Africa. Bamboo has a very high carbon sequestration capacity, with 1,662 tCO2/m3, bamboo binds more carbon dioxide than most trees. Due to their rapid growth and production of biomass, bamboo forests allow the humus layer to grow significantly, they bind water and counteract soil erosion. Bamboo forests also bind surface water and ensure healthy watersheds by improving groundwater quantity and quality. Ethiopia recently presents a market-driven strategy and action plan for bamboo development aimed at increasing resources and managing them sustainably. The focus is on the development of forestry and green industries to produce value-added products for the domestic, regional and global markets. The Nile Foundation has recognized the great potential of the plant and has already decided to develop its own bamboo project in Ethiopia.

Collecting tree Seeds in Forests

Preparations for the next planting season are already underway in our tree nurseries. In addition to providing humus soil, organic fertilizer, building materials, and sun protection for the planting beds, large quantities of tree seeds from various native species are particularly needed. Although there are numerous seed dealers in the country, unfortunately, not all of the tree species that our teams plan to cultivate in the 2025 season and plant out at the start of the rainy season are available there. Seeds of the following species are particularly difficult to obtain: Albizia gummifera, Balanites aegyptiaca, Tamarindus indica, Pithecellobium dulce, Cordia africana, Vitellaria paradoxa, and Azadirachta indica. The obvious solution, therefore, is to collect tree seeds directly from the region's still intact and species-rich forests. Our dedicated employees have been out every day for weeks collecting seeds from a wide variety of tree species. This way, we can ensure the greatest possible diversity in the upcoming planting season. This approach ensures that those indigenous tree species that have been a characteristic feature of the region for centuries are reforested. They not only ensure the ecological balance of natural forests, but also provide native animal species with exactly the habitats they need to survive.

Grain Harvest in the Land of the Anyuak

In the traditional settlement area of ​​the Anyuak people on the South Sudanese side of the Akobo border river, this year's grain harvest yields have increased significantly compared to previous years. Our Regional Director, Mr. Ogebe Omot Ochan, and his team have visibly expanded the cultivated areas and, in addition to the traditional grain maize, have been able to harvest the popular and nutritious sorghum. With regard to grain production around the towns of Pochalla and Otallo, the Nile Foundation already entered into partnerships with both the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in the capital, Juba, and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in 2021. The good relationship with the WFP regarding crop purchases and support in farmer training began with former Country Director, Mr. Matthew Hollingworth, and is being continued by current Country Director, Ms. Mary-Ellen McGroarty, and her team, even though the WFP does not currently operate its own field office in the region. The first priority, however, is to strengthen food security in the local Anyuak community, which is suffering from the effects of climate change, among other things, and has been affected by droughts and severe floods in recent years. It is a matter close to the heart of the Nile Foundation to show even greater commitment to these agricultural projects in the future and to continue to support the communities.

Ethiopia Earns US$ 70 Million

Ethiopia has achieved a major breakthrough in global climate finance, generating approximately US$ 70 million through carbon trading agreements with international partners. This milestone highlights the country’s rising profile in environmental stewardship and its growing engagement with the international carbon markets. According to Fana Broadcasting Corporate, the revenue was secured through partnerships with several bilateral and multilateral institutions, including the World Bank, following significant progress in afforestation and land restoration under Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative. Launched in 2019 under the leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the Green Legacy Initiative has been pivotal in combating deforestation, restoring degraded ecosystems, and enhancing climate resilience. As of April 2025, Ethiopia’s national forest cover has increased to 23.6%, a remarkable achievement for a country that once faced severe land degradation and biodiversity loss. The country’s next goal is the planting of 7.5 billion seedlings during the upcoming 2025 rainy season (June to September), building on the 40 billion seedlings already planted over the past five years. Learn more here: https://furtherafrica.com/2025/04/08/ethiopia-earns-70-million-from-carbon-trading/

Stakeholder Engagement

Indigenous peoples and local communities are custodians of 80 percent of the world's biodiversity and manage at least 24 percent of all the above-ground carbon stored in the world's tropical forests. Therefore, local communities, indigenous peoples, smallholder farmers, and their organizations must play a significant role in the management of forest resources and land use more broadly. Furthermore, the free, prior, and informed consent of indigenous communities is a crucial element for the full engagement of all stakeholders. Broad, active stakeholder engagement is essential to ensure that local forest conservation (REDD+) and reforestation initiatives are embedded in local communities, who must have the opportunity to fully participate, contribute to, and benefit from the overall project. The Nile Foundation ensures that indigenous peoples and marginalized forest-dependent communities are fully and transparently informed from the outset of a project and are included in all decisions affecting the community forest. Community-based forest monitoring, in which the government, indigenous committees, councils of elders, woreda leadership, and civil society are actively involved, contributes to building an important knowledge base on land-use dynamics and forest cover changes for forest policy frameworks. Therefore, the Nile Foundation involving all relevant key leaders and stakeholders in the implementation process.

Bottom-up approach clearly favored

The Nile Foundation implements a bottom-up approach to managing all of its reforestation and afforestation projects in Gambela State. This means that individual site managers are given considerable responsibility but also considerable scope for action. Not every decision needs to be made by a central board; the leaders at the tactical level are best placed to assess the situation on the ground. They know all of their staff personally and, in most cases, have even hired them themselves. They are familiar with the soil conditions, water balance, and microclimate in each forest section. They can see exactly how a plantation is developing or how productive a tree nursery is, and where improvements are needed. The Nile Foundation develops its projects in a decentralized manner, selects its management personnel very carefully, and grants the local manager of a unit a great deal of freedom and autonomy. The objective, schedule, and budget are set centrally by the operational management level, while tactical implementation and determining the best course of action are the responsibility of the local leaders. This leadership principle was developed by the German military in the 19th century under the name "Lead with mission“. Today, this leadership style is also successfully applied in business and in many civil organizations. „Lead with mission“ is a timeless leadership philosophy due to its focus on trust and human creative potential.

Revitalizing Tree Nurseries

During the negotiation process prior to the signing of the "Cooperation Agreement on Implementation of the Gambela Conservation & Reforestation Project" between the Bureau of Agriculture & Natural Resource Development in Gambela (BoANRD) and the Board of the Nile Foundation, the Head of the BoANRD, H.E. Ojulu Lual Owitti, asked the Board of the Nile Foundation whether the organization could integrate and continue a reforestation program that has been operating in Gambela State for many years into its own program. This was the NRDE-Program, which had been running for well over a decade, still employed 82 people, operated 10 tree nurseries, was managed and funded by the BoANRD and had already reforested thousands of hectares of natural forest in Gambela State over the course of its history. Unfortunately, the BoANRD lacked the budget for 2024 and the following years to continue this program, hence the Minister's request. The Nile Foundation Board agreed to visit the remaining tree nurseries and reforestation sites, hold discussions with the management and employees, and examine the continuation of the program by integrating it into its own new Gambela Conservation & Reforestation Project (GCR). Following the review process, the Nile Foundation Board decided to retain the still functioning parts of the program and restore full capacity in the medium term.

Signing of the Implementation Agreement

The President of Gambela State, H.E. Omod Ojulu Obup, represented by the Head of the Bureau of Agriculture & Natural Resource Development, H.E. Ojulu Lual Owitti, and representatives of the Nile Foundation signed the "Cooperation Agreement on Implementation of the Gambela Conservation & Reforestation Project" in Addis Ababa. The agreement is based on a Memorandum of Understanding signed in December 2023 and on a comprehensive feasibility study previously prepared. The project aims to protect existing natural forests and repair degraded areas damaged by years of illegal logging and slash-and-burn agriculture. The reforestation and forest conservation project is organized as a public-private partnership and financed, among other things, through the generation and sale of carbon credits. The Nile Foundation acts as the project developer and implementing organization. Generated surpluses are reinvested in scaling the project or used for social impact measures that benefit the local population in the project area and are intended to sustainably strengthen community resilience. In addition to many positive effects for the local communities, the Gambela Conservation & Reforestation Project will also make a significant national contribution within the framework of the Ethiopian Green Legacy Initiative, whose goal is to stop deforestation in Ethiopia and thus protect the soil, water resources and climate.

Presentation of a Feasibility Study

A professional feasibility study is always one of the most important milestones in the development process of new projects. The larger and more complex a project, the more comprehensive and detailed the feasibility study must be. In the case of our „Gambela Conservation & Reforestation Project“, the Nile Foundation commissioned three renowned developers of climate and environmental protection projects from Brazil, Germany, and Switzerland to prepare pre-feasibility studies last autumn. In December, on the basis of these studies, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the President of Gambela State, H.E. Omod Ojulu Obup, represented by the Head of the Bureau of Agriculture & Natural Resource Development, H.E. Ojulu Lual Owitti, and the Board of the Nile Foundation. Subsequently, the Swiss company First Climate AG was commissioned to prepare a comprehensive feasibility study to analyze, calculate, and evaluate our project in detail. This study was now presented and handed over to the Board of the Nile Foundation in Zurich. The results are very promising; the figures from the pre-feasibility studies have largely been confirmed. Based on this technical basis, a comprehensive "Cooperation Agreement on Implementation" will be drawn up in the coming weeks and discussed in detail with the relevant representatives of Gambela State.

Clarifying Roles in the Carbon Market

Historically, carbon asset developers maintained primary relationships with clients and investors. In contrast, project developers remained in the background, focused on executing activities in the field. This division of labor made sense during the early stages of carbon markets, when the ecosystem was less sophisticated, lacked rigorous rating systems, and was not subject to intense scrutiny. The contemporary landscape, however, has transformed significantly. Buyers and investors now pose more probing questions, seek greater transparency, and demand direct engagement with the entities that own the assets, manage associated risks, and bear ultimate responsibility for delivering results. For an extended period, the identity of the credit seller was of little consequence to buyers and investors, provided that pricing and other criteria were satisfactory. Today, the scenario has shifted. Investors and buyers have become more discerning, no longer content with purchasing carbon credits without thorough understanding. They seek direct access to the projects they support, aiming to comprehend the communities involved, assess delivery risks independently, and ensure the authenticity of the impacts they finance. Merely providing certified credits is now insufficient; the capacity for real implementation holds far greater significance than technical intermediation. The Nile Foundation has already implemented this new approach.

President Omod visits Germany

On the occasion of the 9th German-African Agribusiness Forum, which took place under the motto "The Path to Food Sovereignty - Sustainable and Resilient Agriculture for Africa", the President of Gambela State, H.E. Omod Ojulu Obup, together with the Minister of Agriculture & Natural Resource Development, H.E. Ajack Ochalla Gnegelo, and the Minister of Economic Development and Investment of Gambela State, H.E. Dr. Lou Obup Opiew, visited the German capital Berlin. The invitation for the high-ranking delegation from the Ethiopian state was organized by the Board of the Nile Foundation, which, as a member of the German-African Business Association, was one of the hosts. In addition to numerous specialist presentations, panel discussions, receptions, and side events, the Nile Foundation also hosted a kickoff meeting to further define the planned forest protection and reforestation project in Gambela State and to prepare the next concrete steps, such as the official presentations in Addis Ababa and Gambela State. All in all, the trip was a complete success for our Ethiopian friends, who were visiting the German capital for the first time. In addition to the obligatory sideseeing, our guests had the opportunity to meet several German politicians and representatives of international organizations and a dinner reception with the Ethiopian ambassador was also arranged.

On tour with the King of the Anyuak

On June 5, representatives of the Nile Foundation from Ethiopia, South Sudan and Germany met with a delegation from the King of the Anyuak People, who had traveled from the USA and Canada, in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. The goal of this meeting was to engage in a frank exchange about how to meaningfully and beneficially cooperate in the areas of environmental protection, agriculture, and forestry on the Ethiopian side of the Akobo River in the future. In the following days, the delegations visited the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC), the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, where they had the opportunity to hold in-depth discussions with the Minister, as well as various federal agencies, embassies and organizations that might be relevant to the intended engagement. The group then flew together to Gambela State, where they spent 12 days not only holding talks with the President of Gambela State, H.E. Omod Ojulu Obup, various ministers and community representatives, but also primarily to tour the region and search for suitable locations for possible engagements of the Nile Foundation in the areas of environmental protection, agriculture and forestry and in addition to get to know the situation on ground, especially to get to know the humanitarian situation of the people there.

Dead Donkeys Fear No Hyenas

Land grabbing is a well-known and serious problem, particularly in the countries of the Global South. It involves the acquisition of large areas of forestry and agricultural land by international investors, global corporations, or state actors, often on long-term leases or purchase agreements. This can have far-reaching negative consequences for the local population and the environment. "Dead Donkeys Fear No Hyenas," a Swedish-Ethiopian documentary film by director Joakim Demmer, was released in 2017. The film centers on farmland, the new green gold in Ethiopia, where foreign and national investors have been able to take control of millions of hectares of supposedly unused land, triggering massive forced evictions of the local population and the violent suppression of protests and resistance. The film was shot in and around Addis Ababa, but primarily in the western Ethiopian province of Gambela. The film celebrated its world premiere at CPH:DOX 2017 in the USA and was subsequently selected for numerous film festivals and received international acclaim. The film addresses the problem and shows how the leasing of vast areas of land has led to the destruction of hundreds of thousands of hectares of forest in Gambela State. The indigenous Anyuak community, in particular, has lost part of their habitat as a result.

Preparations for the Pitch Day

During the past week the IGNITE Food Systems Challenge BootCamp took place at the UNDP Accelerator Lab in Juba. Two team members from each of the 16 selected startups were allowed to participate, including Ogebe and Nyager from NILE ORGANICS. UNDP South Sudan organized the BootCamp to nurture young entrepreneurs and innovators. Entrepreneurship and innovation are crucial to address development challenges and food insecurity in South Sudan. Food Systems Innovators have been introduced to efficiently and solution-oriented refine their business models to fight hunger in South Sudan. Opportunities and challenges in agribusiness in South Sudan were identified and evaluated. The intensive and very helpful BootCamp served to empower the young entrepreneurs, equipping them with the skills and know-how to take their ideas and businesses to the next level. The conclusion and highlight of the IGNITE Food Systems Challenge will be the PITCH DAY, which will take place in Juba on May 11th. The BootCamp was a very good preparation for the pitch. Now our team from NILE ORGANICS is preparing and looking forward to this highlight event.

We applied and were actually shortlisted

Last December, NILE ORGANICS decided - like many other companies from the South Sudanese startup community - to take part in the "IGNITE Food Systems Challenge" organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Food Programme (WFP). A total of 255 South Sudanese companies took part in the application process and presented their ideas and business models in writing. On March 18, 2022, UNDP informed us that 16 startups had been selected from the pool of 255 applicants and had been shortlisted. NILE ORGANICS is grateful and delighted to be one of these selected startups. What does that mean for us and how does this process continue? First of all, it is a great honor for us to have been selected from such a large number of applicants. This success and the recognition of our work by such renowned organizations as UNDP and WFP strengthens our reputation and will certainly impress our customers, our shareholders and perhaps also potential partners. Next, part of our team will be invited to participate in a boot camp at UNDP's Accelerator Lab in Juba. We are very excited to see what our people will learn there and how the process will continue.

Outlook into the future of farming

Our team from NILE ORGANICS is planning the implementation of Agri-Photovoltaic Systems (Agri-PV) in the medium term, in order to be able to supply the farms themselves with the electricity they need with the help of renewable energy. Agri-photovoltaics describes a process for the simultaneous use of agricultural land for food production and PV power generation. The technology enables the efficient dual use of agricultural land: photovoltaics in open spaces can be substantially expanded without significantly consuming valuable resources in fertile arable land. Through targeted light management, the yields from PV and photosynthesis are optimized and, in addition, agri-photovoltaic systems reduce the water consumption required for the irrigation systems. This technology was invented and is largely being developed in Germany. That is why the NILE ORGANICS team intends to work closely with the German Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE as a potential technology partner. A collaboration with the University of Juba is conceivable for the development and construction of the pilot system. © Image: Fraunhofer ISE

Cooperation Nile Organics & Areos Group

In the POCHALLA region in the east of our home country, the German-Swiss Areos Group is currently developing its first large-scale farm project in the Republic of South Sudan. An area totaling 5,000 hectares is to be cultivated in an environmentally friendly manner in the form of agroforestry and prepared for grain production. The company intends to produce the grain exclusively for the national market and stands ready as a future supplier for the World Food Programme (WFP), which must import around 500,000 metric tons of grain every year in order to be able to successfully reduce hunger in South Sudan. Our NILE ORGANICS team works locally in partnership with the Areos Group to leverage synergies. We are already helping with the establishment of the first arable land for testing different types of plants, with recruiting employees, we help with field irrigation and with the transport of equipment and seeds. In return, the Areos Group will plan, finance and build our Farmer Business School in POCHALLA. This vocational training center will be operated by NILE ORGANICS in the future and will become an elementary part of our social impact approach.

Insights into the startup community

On Friday the 3rd of December the South Sudan Business EXPO 2021 took place in partnership with Chamber of Commerce & UNDP South Sudan. At the event more than 30 companies — from leading corporations to start-ups and SME’s — presented their goods and services and also WFP South Sudan has announcing an innovation challenge around food systems. Our team from NILE ORGANICS attended South Sudan Business EXPO for the first time, an event that brings together companies and experts on hand to display, connect, and exchange on themes of business-to-business linkages. Such an event, which is a matter of course in many other countries, would have been unimaginable in South Sudan just a few years ago. Here young creative entrepreneurs and startups can present themselves, their business models and their products and exchange their thoughts and experiences with other young entrepreneurs and potential partners. Such events are really motivating, this optimistic and positive spirit is exactly what our country needs. We saw today that a startup ecosystem and a community of young entrepreneurs are being built. Fortunately, some South Sudanese are returning from the diaspora to their home country to set up their own business here with fresh ideas, know-how and equity.

Plane Crash near our Farmland

On the morning of November 2, an Antonov 26 cargo plane, belonging to the local operator Optimum Aviation LTD, crashed over GONDOKORO. All five crew members, two Ukrainians, two Sudanese and one South Sudanese, were killed. The cargo plane was reportedly carrying 28 barrels of fuel for the World Food Programme to MABAN, a district housing more than 100,000 refugees. The plane hit the ground right on the edge of our farm. We are deeply affected but also grateful that none of our employees and no residents of the local community were injured. But property damage has occurred, some houses have been destroyed and the population is deeply shocked by the event. While the investigations and recovery work were ongoing on site, NILE ORGANICS offered to donate a memorial to remember the crash and the victims with dignity. Our thoughts are with the relatives of the deceased crew members.

SDG 2 - Zero Hunger

In order to create globally sustainable structures, the member states of the United Nations have set themselves 17 goals by 2030, which are set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: The UN Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs for short. One of the most important of these goals is SDG 2, which specifically means: end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. In the Republic of South Sudan in particular, food security is one of the main issues. Approximately 70-80% of the vegetables consumed by the residents of the capital JUBA are currently imported from foreign countries. NILE ORGANICS will replace some of these imports with local production. This makes the supply chain more stable and the local added value and economy is strengthened. As a result, more South Sudanese get jobs and more money stays in their homeland.

Plan and build a new Farm

After the decision of the management board of NILE ORGANICS and in coordination with our partners and the local authorities, the first areas of our new farm near GONDOKORO have been identified and the lease agreements have been signed. In the next steps the recruitment of local employees and the provision of equipment and tools will be prepared so that the bush clearing and cultivation of the fields can begin. In the medium term, our new farm at GONDOKORO is to be scaled to a size of 100 hectares. The farm infrastructure to be built will also include a powerful field irrigation system and a jetty for cargo boats. At a later date, the construction of drinking water wells, photovoltaic systems, greenhouses and a Farmer Business School (FBS) for the professional training of our own employees and also for the training of independent small-scale farmers from the region are planned. The local community of GONDOKORO should and will of course participate in these investments.

Meetings with local Communities

A group of managers and advisors from our Nile-Organics-Team visited the villages TOKIMAN, GONDOKORO and MANGALLA to talk about opportunities for cooperation and the development of farmland. In line with our bottom-up approach, our team always speaks to the local community first. Only if the local community is fundamentally behind our project ideas and development plans, we analyze the framework conditions for a possible engagement in detail. After interesting, personable and fruitful conversations with elders and landowners from all three villages - and of course with the consent of the responsible authorities - our team decided to start a scalable farm project near the beautiful village of GONDOKORO. In the next weeks and months NILE ORGANICS will build a new farm for the production of vegetables, herbs and salads on site near the banks of the Nile. In the near future our products will be supplied to the local markets and customers in the nearby capital JUBA.

Meetings with Investors & Government

The Nile-Organics-Team together with the head of ANYUAK, H.E. King Akwai Agada Akwai Cham, visit the capital Juba, present and explain new agricultural projects in Central Equatoria and in Greater Pibor Administrative Area. Very constructive and fruitful meetings took place among others with the Foreign Minister Amb. Beatrice Khamisa Wani, the Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Ms. Lily Albino Akol Akol, the Country Director of the World Food Programme, Mr. Matthew Hollingworth, the Country Director of GIZ, Mr. Maik Schwarz and with the German Ambassador H.E. Manuel Müller. Our Nile-Organics-Team was accompanied by representatives of the German-Swiss Impact-Investor AREOS GROUP, who came from Europe especially for these conversations. For the future a close cooperation with UNMISS and WFP is planned.

Examination of potential Farmland

Our parent company Grainfield Enterprises LTD intends to grow and scale alongside our main investment in the POCHALLA region. In order to select further potential arable land, the NILE ORGANICS team visited various interesting locations directly on the banks of the Nile river near the capital JUBA during the last few days. Our team conducted interviews with landowners, village elders and the community of various villages. The bottom-up approach is always very important to us. That is why NILE ORGANICS always talks and negotiates with the local people first. Without the full support of the local community, no project will be sustainable or successful. At the moment we are looking for a suitable location to set up a vegetable production facility near the South Sudanese capital. Over the next few weeks we will decide on one of the possible options.