Kajo-Keji Commissioner Calls on Development Partners to Expand Service Delivery

(Kajo-Keji / Mere) – The Commissioner of Kajo-Keji County, Wani Jackson Mule, has on Monday the 16th/June/2025 called on the county’s mobile humanitarian development partner-ACROSS-International to expand its project activities to all five Payams of the county, consider establishing an office space, and support the Kajo-Keji Union of Persons with Disabilities (KKUPWD). Mule also urged relevant government ministries to provide technical guidance to partners implementing projects in Kajo-Keji and other conflict-affected areas of Central Equatoria State. ACROSS-International, with funding from Christian Blind Mission (CBM), is implementing a Multi-sectoral, disability-inclusive resilience-building project targeting IDPs, refugees, returnees, and host communities in Kajo-Keji, Morobo, Lainya, Yei, and Juba Counties of Central Equatoria State with the aim to strengthen disability inclusion and community resilience. Presenting the project overview, Mr. Lowudu Wilson, Project Officer at the ACROSS Field Office in Kajo-Keji, highlighted key focus areas including WASH, peacebuilding, food security, and livelihood support—with special attention to persons with disabilities noting challenges such as insecurity and poor road access affecting implementation timelines. Speaking on behalf of CBM’s Monitoring and Validation Team, Mr. Francis Odor affirmed the project is on track and commended the County Administration’s collaboration and ownership, which have contributed significantly to its success. He urged ACROSS as the implementing agency to accelerate the distribution of assistive devices to improve mobility for persons with disabilities across the county. ACROSS Project Manager, Mr. William Atak Deng, emphasized that at least 20% of project participants are persons with disabilities calling for their inclusion in decision-making at all levels. For his part, Peter Batali an official from the State Ministry of Child, Gender, and Social Welfare raised concerns that the project does not adequately address gender-based violence, a key issue in post-conflict recovery. Meanwhile Keji Mary Marle, representing the County’s Director of Relief and Rehabilitation, reported that over 59,000 households—totaling 160,385 individuals—have been registered since 2021. She cited the lack of mobility aids and office space as ongoing challenges, and acknowledged ACROSS’s role in promoting voluntary refugees return.

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Commissioner and partners during a joint meeting in Kajo-Keji County headquarters (Photo by Isaac Wori Duku)