The new reservoir offers an innovative solution for South Sudanese beef cattle

This artificial lake is one of the latest results of a rapid impact project initiated by the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (DON’T MISS).

Meanwhile, UNMISS was mandated by Security Council to protect civilians in volatile areas of the country, one of its tasks is to support the communities served by peacekeepers, from building roads to building peace.

Livestock conflict

The reservoir project in Terekeka not only responds to chronic water shortages in the region, but is also a major cause of conflict, with ongoing competition between farmers and ranchers over scarcity of water and grazing resources.

The goal was clear from the start: provide farmers with a reliable source of water for their crops while reducing the need for ranchers to venture onto farmlands in search of water for their livestock, which was a constant source of tension and violence.

“This project is very close to our hearts because it directly addresses humanitarian challenges and drivers of conflict, and the impact is already visible,” said UNMISS Civil Affairs Officer Lawson Assagaya at a recent ceremony to hand over the reservoir to the community.

Location is key

The locations were carefully selected, far enough from agricultural land to reduce competition, but close enough for farming communities to benefit, UNMISS said.

The hope is that the reservoir will create new opportunities for herders and farmers to coexist peacefully, and signs of change are already starting to appear.

New livestock camps have begun to be built around the reservoir, encouraging people displaced by the conflict, including members of the Wonduruba Mundari community, to begin returning to their homes.

A brighter future

Livestock keeper John Kenyi, a father of three who is expecting his fourth child, has long hoped to see changes that would, among other things, provide a brighter future for his children.

“It is disheartening to see how our peaceful societies end up fighting over scarce resources and lacking coordinated migration patterns rather than working together,” he said. “Every day I hope for unity again.”

For Kenyi, livestock is not just a status symbol, but an investment that can help pay for his children’s education, an approach he says he learned from the farming community around him.

“I don’t know if I would say we are brothers, but we are definitely one community,” he said. “We are proud that this area is now re-emerging as a place that can be called home for many people.”

Cooperate

A sense of unity also emerged during construction of the reservoir, according to Point Investment Company, the project’s local partner.

When workers arrived at the site, they found no suitable ramp for the heavy equipment needed to begin work.

When news of this project spread, farmers and herders from surrounding communities immediately came with equipment to help clear and build roads to the site.

“What is special about the construction of this project is the excitement of the Rego Payam community,” said Point Investment Company project manager, Juman Emmanuel. “You can really see how excited everyone is about this new water source.”

Encouragement from nature

Nature also gave the project an unexpected boost when workers discovered an underground water source that naturally filled the approximately 3,200 square meter reservoir.

This discovery means that the cement layer that was originally planned is no longer an option because it could contaminate clean groundwater.

“When we saw water coming out from underground, we all felt relieved,” said the construction worker. “This means the Rego community will have a more sustainable opportunity to stay safe now.”

Renewed hope

The project was completed in just one month, so the community has a sustainable water source that can continue to fill the reservoir even when rainfall becomes scarce during the dry season, UNMISS said.

It remains unclear whether these reservoirs will ultimately help reduce livestock-related violence, but their impact will go beyond simply providing water.

In a community long divided by competition over scarce resources, this project has brought together farmers and herders to exploit shared resources and fostered new hope that Rego can once again be a place the community calls home.