The Sustainable Markets and Agribusiness Competitiveness Plus (SMAC+) Project is a four-year agricultural and economic development initiative in South Sudan, implemented by Caritas Switzerland together with local and strategic partners. The project runs from 15 November 2025 to 14 November 2029 and focuses on Central and Eastern Equatoria States. It is co-funded by the European Union (EU) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

South Sudan’s economy and livelihoods depend heavily on agriculture, but farmers and agribusinesses face challenges including low productivity, weak market systems, limited access to appropriate inputs and services, climate-related risks, and difficulties connecting producers to profitable markets. SMAC+ seeks to address these challenges by strengthening agricultural production, improving market systems, promoting private-sector engagement, and creating opportunities for inclusive and climate-resilient economic growth.

The project targets smallholder farmers, agribusinesses, women, youth, farmer organizations, cooperatives, SMEs, and vulnerable and displaced populations. It focuses on agricultural value chains including maize, sorghum, groundnuts, sesame, honey, and horticulture. Through a Market Systems Development (MSD) approach, SMAC+ works with private-sector actors, producer organizations, government institutions, cooperatives, and other market actors to address the underlying constraints that prevent agricultural markets from functioning effectively.

Overall objective

The overall aim of SMAC+ is to increase the productive capacity, productivity, income generation, and climate adaptation of smallholder farmers and agribusinesses while strengthening agricultural market systems, private-sector engagement, and enabling policies. Ultimately, the project seeks to contribute to greater food security, sustainable livelihoods, and stronger community resilience to economic and environmental shocks.

Key areas of focus

Agricultural production and productivity, Agribusiness and income generation, Market access and value-chain development, Climate-smart and resilient agriculture, Private-sector development, Women and youth economic inclusion, Natural resource management, Peacebuilding and community resilience, Strengthening cooperatives and producer organizations and Improving market information and enabling policies

In short, SMAC+ is designed to move farmers from low-productivity subsistence farming toward more productive, commercially oriented, climate-resilient and sustainable agricultural businesses, while strengthening the market systems that connect farmers with inputs, services, buyers and consumers.