South Sudan: Meet the Innovators Transforming Food Systems in South Sudan
WFP-supported entrepreneurs in South Sudan are transforming the country's food systems by processing local crops, creating jobs, and improving nutrition. Initiatives like Africa Cornerstone and Lulu Bakes are connecting farmers to markets and reducing reliance on imports.
Intelligence analysis by Gemini 2.5 Flash
A World Food Programme (WFP) initiative in South Sudan is empowering local entrepreneurs to build resilient food systems, moving away from emergency assistance. Through grants, training, and market access, businesses like Cissy Apio Mario's oilseed processing and Helen Foni's bakery are boosting local production, creating employment, and enhancing food security.
Imagine South Sudan used to buy a lot of its food from other countries, even though its own farmers grew good stuff that sometimes went to waste. Now, some clever people, with help from a group called WFP, are starting businesses to use those local crops. They're making cooking oil, healthy bread, and more, which means farmers sell their produce, people get jobs, and everyone eats better, like planting your own garden instead of always buying from the store.
Analysis
Africa Cornerstone
Cissy Apio Mario's journey with Africa Cornerstone exemplifies the potential for local innovation to address systemic food challenges in South Sudan. Witnessing the paradox of unsold local oilseed crops alongside a heavy reliance on imported cooking oil, Mario established her women-led food-processing business in Juba in 2024. Initially a small, manual operation, Africa Cornerstone began by sourcing and processing oilseeds domestically, directly challenging the country's import dependency.
The business's growth has been significant, expanding its network from 15 to 90 farmers and increasing weekly oil production from 10-20 litres to 120 litres after receiving support from the WFP's IGNITE Innovation Hub. This expansion not only boosted local agricultural output but also created vital employment opportunities, particularly for women. Mario's success is measured not just in production figures but in the tangible impact on lives, enabling employees to pursue education and support their families, thereby fostering broader socio-economic development.
IGNITE Innovation Hub
The World Food Programme's Nairobi-based IGNITE Innovation Hub serves as the crucial catalyst behind these transformative efforts across East Africa, including South Sudan. This initiative is designed to empower local entrepreneurs, startups, and small-and-medium enterprises to develop sustainable solutions for food insecurity. By providing a comprehensive support package that extends beyond mere financing, IGNITE helps promising ideas evolve into viable, long-term businesses.
In 2025, 11 selected businesses across five South Sudanese states collectively received US$544,000 in grants and business support, fueling a new generation of food systems innovators. Regionally, IGNITE challenges have supported over 100 enterprises with more than US$2 million in grants, which in turn has catalysed over US$20 million in impact investment. This strategic approach, combining financial aid with training, mentorship, and market access, is instrumental in building resilient and self-reliant food systems, as highlighted by Mutinta Chimuka, WFP Country Director in South Sudan.
Lulu Bakes
Helen Foni's Lulu Bakes bakery in Juba represents another innovative approach to strengthening local food systems and improving community well-being. Founded in 2023, Foni's business was driven by a dual concern: addressing poor nutrition and tackling unemployment, particularly among single mothers and girls who had left school. By using locally grown sorghum and millet—nutritious grains that are staples for South Sudanese families but underutilized in commercial production—Lulu Bakes offers healthier food options, which Foni notes can help manage conditions like diabetes.
The bakery also plays a critical role in the food supply chain by providing a reliable market for local grain producers. An initial challenge of ageing equipment was overcome with a US$25,000 IGNITE grant, enabling Lulu Bakes to acquire industrial machinery that significantly boosted productivity. This investment allowed Foni to double her workforce from 2 to 14 employees, with women comprising 80 percent of her staff. Foni envisions expanding her impact by establishing a skills training centre, further empowering women to launch their own businesses and contribute to the local economy.
Key points
- WFP's IGNITE Innovation Hub supports South Sudanese entrepreneurs to build resilient food systems.
- Businesses like Africa Cornerstone process local oilseeds, connecting 90 farmers to markets and empowering women.
- Lulu Bakes uses local sorghum and millet to produce nutritious bread, creating jobs and addressing health concerns.
- The initiative provides grants (e.g., US$544,000 to 11 South Sudanese businesses), training, mentorship, and market access.
- These innovations aim to reduce South Sudan's reliance on imported food and foster local economic growth.
The WFP's investment in local entrepreneurs in South Sudan promises a future where the nation is less dependent on emergency aid and more self-reliant. Continued support for these innovators could lead to robust local food systems, sustained economic growth, and improved nutritional outcomes for communities.
While promising, the long-term sustainability of these enterprises could be challenged by factors like political instability, limited access to broader markets, or insufficient ongoing investment. Without continued support and a stable operating environment, these nascent businesses might struggle to scale and fully transform national food security.
