Skip to content

Housing and Urban Development

South Sudan population is estimated at 11.3 million according to the World Bank (2013). Large majority of this population is concentrated in rural areas. However, South Sudan’s predominantly rural population has gradually been shifting to urban areas since 2005 when the country gained its semi-autonomy. This urban population growth poses many challenges, exacerbated by dilapidated/destroyed infrastructure and services resulting from decades of war and marginalization. These challenges are:

  • Overcrowding or Overpopulation.
  • Unemployment.
  • Housing problems.
  • Development of slums.
  • Sanitation problems.
  • Water shortage problems.
  • Health hazards.
  • Degraded environmental quality
  • Disposal of trash.
  • Transportation problems.
  • Urban crimes.
  • Increased rates of poverty.
     

    The SDP believes there is an urgent need for infrastructure development and provision of amenities necessary to support the livelihoods of the population in urban centres and to reduce overcrowding as well as solving all the problems that come with urbanization. The country’s rapid urbanization, particularly its capital, Juba and other major cities, calls for large scale urban planning and institutional capacity building of government institutions to be able to effectively plan and implement sustainable urban development initiatives for housing countrywide.

The SDP ideology in regard to housing is ‘Shelter for all.’ To realise this dream, the SDP government will do the following:

  • Both the national and state governments to make low interest rates loans available for people on low income to construct their houses.
  • The government to work in partnership with private sector to construct affordable rental houses.
  • Carry out legal and regulatory reforms, to make land available to citizens at reasonable prices.
  • Develop land mediation, land governance and land administration policies that support peaceful co- existence in the neighbourhoods and all across the country.
  • Creation of conditions for sustainable livelihoods and urban economic development with a focus on improving the status of women and youth by making places of work and skills training available.
  • Develop national urban policy and physical planning for equitable development to sustainable urbanization to transform the lives of people all over South Sudan.
  • Develop the policy of housing and basic services through public works to meet the needs of urban communities, and secondly that livelihoods are enhanced through employment in public works projects.
  • Construction of road infrastructure and development of modern public transport networks in all the major cities.
  • Gender inclusiveness.
  • Investment in basic and economic infrastructure.
  • Investment in information communication and technology (ICT) facilities.
  • Adaptation to climate change and mitigation of it.
  • Promotion of modernized and sustainable agriculture systems to feed both the urban and rural populations.
  • Establishment of small, medium and large scale industries to secure employment for the people in the urban centres especially the youth and women.
  • Upgrading of slums in all the major cities.
  • Establishment of human resource training centres.
  • Strategic location of higher educational institutions and skills training colleges.
  • Promotion of sound sanitation and waste management practices.
  • Sound environmental management policies.
  • Provide incentives for responsible social behaviour.