Missed out: The role of local actors in the humanitarian response in the South Sudan conflict

South Sudan is one of the world’s poorest countries and has a long history of conflict and humanitarian intervention. Since the latest conflict erupted in December 2013, more than 2.3 million people have been forced to flee their homes, and 3.9 million (approximately one third of the population) do not have enough to eat. An estimated 30,000 are facing catastrophic food insecurity.5 All humanitarian actors struggle to respond to these acute needs against a context of chronic poverty, ongoing conflict and insecurity, limited infrastructure and a significant funding shortfall. Local, national and international actors all bring important contributions to this response.

This study seeks to understand the strengths and challenges of working with national and local nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) in South Sudan’s conflict-driven emergency following the escalation of conflict on 15 December 2013, and reviews how the broader humanitarian system facilitates or prevents their involvement.