Enhancing the sustainability of food systems confronts a key challenge of food insecurity in South Sudan (target 2.1) and in combination with national priorities relates to sustainable growth, can spur the development of local economies (target 11.1). While South Sudan has significant potential to develop resilient food systems, food insecurity persists, exacerbated by social and economic fragmentation, where local economies are disconnected from each other due to infrastructure and conflict. For instance about 75% of the land area is suitable for agriculture while approximately one-half of the total 64.7 million hectares of land is suitable for cultivation, which points to the potential.

Improvements in food production systems requires combination of investment through local, national and international partnerships that build resilience (target 17.3).   ​

Advancing sustainable food systems cannot be disconnected from progress in peacebuilding, in particular violence reduction (target 16.1). The Partnership for Recovery and Resilience is a driver of integrated progress in this respect, fostering partnerships across regional and central government.​

Decent work for all is a foundational priority of the government of South Sudan, and directly related to is ambition to build just and peaceful societies.  Critical in this respect is advancing decent work for all men and women, young people and people with disabilities – equally critical as a investment to stabilize and build from peace dividends. Decent work was amplified across stakeholder groups engaged in national dialogue and consultations carried forward into the South Sudan National Development Strategy. ​

The policy combination for creating jobs is closely connected with transforming education (Target 4.1, Target 8.2) building in part from the Diagnostic Trade Integration Study Update, trade (Target 17.11) and re-shaping the role of government at all levels (Target 16.6). While there are ongoing reforms prescribed in Chapter IV of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), their domestication in the states and counties (11.1) will further advance job creation. ​

The above policy combinations have demonstrated most impact when approached through a local lens, address geographies and specific needs and vulnerabilities with hyperlocal tailoring. That is where unlocking progress to build social cohesion (Target 10.2) and facilitating movement through resilient infrastructure (Target 9.1) will yield significant gains.​

In South Sudan, there is a strong connection between conflict and climate. Conflict reflects lingering disputes over land, livestock and water, and these tensions are expected to worsen with the climate crisis. Pastoralist communities move their cattle in search pasture and water. They often come into conflict with communities that are mainly crop farmers.​

Government and partners can strengthen the resilience and adaptive capacity to climate related hazards and natural disasters (target 13.1) at the local level by leveraging current priority investments in integrated water resource management (target 6.5) and directly aligned with South Sudan's priority to advance just and peaceful societies through civilian disarmament (target 16.1).​

The gendered experience of conflict and climate in South Sudan requires differentiated strategies that address the movement of pastoralist men with livestock and the experience of women often struggling with the effects of the drought on households. ​​

The thrust of South Sudan’s development blueprint is to consolidate peace, stabilize the economy and return to a path of sustainable development. This prioritization reflects South Sudan's focus on peace, justice and effective governance to catalyse the achievement of multiple SDGs.​

The development blueprint considers local public services of a transformative nature including disarmament, access to justice before the law, public finance management and e-governance. No data is available citizens’ experience with public services. Innovative ways to collect data, and directly combine with health (Target 3.8) and education (Target 4.1) mutually reinforce progress to build effective public services for all.​

To unlock progress, capabilities development has been identified as a key driver (Target 17.9). ​