Wetlands are under threat globally, declining at a rate three times higher than natural forests. This is
reason for concern because healthy wetlands offer a variety of essential services to humans and are
critical ecosystems in the fight against climate change.1 Yet, the governance of wetlands often falls
through the cracks of water governance approaches and institutions in charge of managing rivers,
lakes or aquifers.2 Emblematic of this is the Sudd Wetlands [Sudd] in South Sudan. Little is known
about the environmental and social dynamics in the Sudd. Yet, initiatives and plans for water
development projects which would affect the ecological stability of the Sudd, are increasing
throughout the region. Recently, the South Sudanese government announced plans to proceed with
river dredging to control unprecedented floods – a move that triggered fierce debates in the war–torn
nation.

This analysis seeks to create awareness around the sensitivity of the dredging debate in relation to
water management projects in the Sudd Wetland, people’s mixed livelihoods, natural resource
management and seasonal flooding. Based on this, a number of conflict sensitivity considerations for
aid actors working in South Sudan are outlined.