Following its independence in 2011, the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) was activated in South Sudan to provide security communications, internet connectivity, user support and training, coordination and information management services to the expanding humanitarian community. Over the years, the world’s newest country has continued to struggle, suffering from numerous conflicts, natural disasters, food crises and disease. The ETC remained active in the country throughout these crises, ensuring the humanitarian community have the communications tools they need to support their life-saving operations.

Over the last two years the World Food Programme (WFP), as global and local lead of the ETC, worked in close collaboration with partners to establish a reliable, low-cost and long-term solution to meet the internet connectivity needs of humanitarian actors in remote and hard to reach locations. HISP - the Humanitarian Internet Support Project – was implemented in Aweil, Malakal, Mingkaman, Bor and Bentiu, operating on a cost-sharing model. Now, the security telecommunications services are also being cost-shared.

With these solutions and a solid ICT Working Group in place, after five years, ETC South Sudan was officially demobilised on 31 March, 2017. 

The South Sudan ICT Working Group will continue to meet regularly to discuss humanitarian ICT in the country, supporting coordinated response readiness activities. 

The ETC thanks all partners for their contributions to the operation in South Sudan:

ETC SOUTH SUDAN: FAQs