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CLEAN WATER TRANSFORMS LIVES IN WAU.

In Hai Jedid Surb Residential Area, residents are celebrating a new dawn in access to clean water and community-led environmental initiatives that are improving livelihoods and promoting resilience.

Speaking to us , Manyang Mayom, Secretary General of the Boma Community Development Committee, said the community has taken charge of solving its challenges through the establishment of a water yard and an initiative to grow vegetables and mango seedlings.

“This project has helped reduce water shortages and given us hope to improve our livelihoods,” said Manyang. “The water yard is managed by the community, and the proceeds from vegetable and seedling sales help sustain it.”

Ajok Kot, the Chairlady of Hai Jedid Surb Residential Area in Wau Boma Community Development Committee, said the project has brought tremendous change.

 “People were suffering before drilling this water yard here—it has brought us life. People used to move very far in search of water,” she said. “For us to sustain the water yard, we collect small contributions and also plant vegetables and mango seedlings.”

Ajok explained that the idea to grow vegetables and seedlings came from the Boma Community Development Committee itself.

“The idea of planting vegetables and mango seedlings came through the Committee to preserve the climate and address environmental issues. The vegetables are sold to our own community in Hai Jedid, while mango seedlings are sold to people of Wau at 10,000 SSP to raise money for us, the women,” she said.

She added that the mango seedling initiative has attracted buyers even from outside the area.

“People who are in need of mango seedlings buy and plant them in their homes. Mango seedlings are sold in Wau Market at 20,000 SSP, but most of them are bought from here and taken to the market—we sell them at 10,000 SSP,” she said. “We use the same money to take care of our families.”

Ajok noted that their motivation is not only financial.

“The plan for planting these vegetables and mango seedlings is not just to depend on income as the main support—it is also to make our area green and fight environmental challenges,” she explained.

The women’s group now raises around 40,000 SSP monthly from vegetable sales, which helps them maintain the water yard and support their families.

Government and IOM Support Under ECRP II

This development is part of the Enhancing Community Resilience and Local Governance Project Phase II (ECRP II), which is being implemented by the Government of South Sudan in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The $150 million project aims to benefit 950,000 individuals across 79 counties in Western Bahr el Ghazal, Unity, Upper Nile, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, and Warrap states. IOM is implementing the project in 12 counties, while local NGOs are leading implementation in four counties of Warrap and Northern Bahr el Ghazal.

“The Government and IOM recognised our situation and provided us with this water yard,” said a community leader in Wau North Payam.

Appeals from Neighbouring Communities

In Bessilia Payam, Angelo John, Headteacher of Jebel Andiya Primary School, described the intervention as life-saving but appealed for repairs to their broken borehole.

“This is a turning point, but our only borehole is broken,” he said. “During the wet season we drink from the water tanks installed by IOM and the Government, but in the dry season starting in November, we walk very far to fetch water from the stream, which dries up by February. We are appealing to the Government to drill another borehole for us—the only lifesaving water source for the entire community.”

Meanwhile, in Bagari Payam, Tereza Joseph Ubi, a women’s representative from Biringi, expressed gratitude for the borehole constructed near Biringi Primary School, which serves over 6,000 people.

“We are so excited for the only borehole drilled for our community. It’s saving lives,” Tereza said. “We have only two sources of water—the stream and this borehole—but the borehole never rests, and we don’t know if we’ll ever get a second one. The borehole in the PHCU is broken, and it’s not supporting us all.”

Municipal Call for Responsibility

Julio Emmanuel Mama, Chief Executive Officer of Wau Municipality, urged residents to take collective responsibility for maintaining the water facilities provided to them.

“I urge the community to make good use of the borehole and the water yard. If they don’t take care of these facilities and they break down, they will be accountable—not just the Government. All of us will pay for it,” he said.

These efforts under ECRP II highlight how partnership between communities, the Government of South Sudan, and humanitarian agencies like IOM is creating tangible impact enhancing resilience, ensuring access to safe water, and empowering local women through green economic initiatives.