Juba Meeting Advances Data and Land Management

(JUBA) – South Sudan’s Minister of Finance and Planning, Bak Barnaba Chol, has met a delegation from the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development to discuss cooperation on training and technical support aimed at strengthening national development planning.

The meeting took place in Juba on Thursday last week and focused on ways to build skills in resource mapping, land management, and the use of satellite data across government institutions.

Officials said the talks are part of wider efforts to improve technical capacity in member states and support sustainable development.

The Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development, known as RCMRD, is an intergovernmental organisation established in 1975 in Nairobi under the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the African Union.

The centre provides technical assistance through training, research, and innovation in satellite technology, natural resource management, and land administration.

The delegation was led by Patrick Mwalula Mucheleka, Secretary General of RCMRD and Permanent Secretary in Zambia’s Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.

He said the organisation remains committed to supporting South Sudan, noting that two South Sudanese nationals are currently undergoing specialised training in Kenya.

The Director General of the National Bureau of Statistics, Augustino Ting Mayai, said South Sudan continues to benefit from RCMRD through access to technical services and capacity building programmes.

He added that these services are important for improving data collection, planning, and policy making.

South Sudan joined RCMRD in 2015 and is among 20 member countries from Eastern and Southern Africa.

During the meeting, Minister Bak reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening skills development and institutional capacity.

He said improved technical expertise is essential for economic transformation, effective resource management, and long term national development.

The Ministry of Finance and Planning said it will continue working with regional partners to improve public sector performance and support evidence based decision making.