By James Innocent
The Organisation for Agricultural Opportunities (OFAO) has held a one-day meeting in Yei River County to present and seek government endorsement of rural development plans prepared for Boma Development Committees (BDCs) and Disaster Risk Management Committees (DRMCs).
The meeting, held on Wednesday, brought together more than 30 participants, including county officials, community representatives, development partners, and other stakeholders.
Yei River County Executive Director Hillary Lokudu Muhammed welcomed the initiative, saying the plans could help guide development activities at the Boma level.
He said the county government was willing to work with the documents developed by OFAO as part of efforts to strengthen local development planning and community participation.
OFAO Executive Director Hakim John James thanked the county government, stakeholders, and project partners for participating in the meeting.
He said the initiative is being implemented through the Community-Driven Rural Development (CDRD) Project in South Sudan, which seeks to support community-led and risk-informed income-generating activities in rural areas.
James said the project focuses on rural development and disaster-risk management through participatory approaches.
Peter Mbale, an OFAO staff member, said the organisation is implementing the program in Pokula, Minyori, and Gimunu Bomas of Yei River County.
He said OFAO is supporting Boma Development Committees through training and engagement with local leaders to strengthen community resource mobilisation, development planning, and disaster-risk management.
Mbale said the Boma development plans would be submitted to county authorities for endorsement.
He added that the CDRD program supports participatory community development, climate-resilient agriculture, improved livelihoods, food and nutrition security, sustainable natural-resource management, disaster-risk reduction, and responses to climate change.
The meeting allowed government officials, community representatives, and development partners to review the proposed plans and discuss their implementation at the local level.