South Sudan Humanitarian Fund

The South Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SSHF) is a multi-donor humanitarian financing mechanism established in 2012 by the Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC).  Under the leadership of the Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, the SSHF is managed by the OCHA South Sudan's Humanitarian Funding Unit (HFU) based in Juba. 

Conflict and insecurity continue to be significant drivers of people's needs in South Sudan. Sub-national and intercommunal violence, crime, and impunity resulted in widespread displacement and hindered access to vital services. In 2024, 9 million people – three-quarters of South Sudan’s population – are projected to require humanitarian and protection assistance. Two million people remain displaced due to decades of conflict, intercommunal violence and extreme effects and events of climate change, such as flooding and dry spells. 

The mandate of the SSHF is to allocate funding to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity based on humanitarian needs and priorities identified. By providing timely, coordinated, and principled assistance, the Fund aims to enhance the effectiveness and accountability of the humanitarian response.  

The Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) is supported by an Advisory Board on strategic directions, allocation processes, and establishing operational modalities. The Board includes representatives from donors, national and international NGOs and UN agencies to ensure decisions reflect views from across the humanitarian community. 

Like all Country-Based Pooled Funds, SSHF is designed to complement other humanitarian funding sources, such as bilateral funding and the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). The complementary nature of these funds stems from recognizing and leveraging their distinct strengths and contributions to humanitarian efforts.