South Sudan Budget Push: The Economic Cluster approved an SSP 11.335 trillion budget for 2026/27, with agriculture flagged as a key driver for food security, jobs, and rural livelihoods, before it moves to the Council of Ministers and then the legislature. Oil & Maritime Readiness: As maritime operations ramp up ahead of full production, LAPSSET conducted oil spill training in Lamu to strengthen prevention, preparedness and response for first and last-mile shipment risks. Oil Transparency Call: Civil society activist Edmond Yakani welcomed higher crude output reaching 174,000 barrels per day, but urged the government to also disclose the revenue earned from the increase. Roads, Trade & Refugee Livelihoods: Traders in Maaji II (Adjumani) want urgent rehabilitation of the Maaji–Adjumani road after heavy rains made it nearly impassable, raising transport costs and disrupting access to goods and services. Gender & Care Economy: South Sudan’s Gender Ministry and UN Women launched an assessment of unpaid care work, linking it to women’s reduced education and employment opportunities and broader gender inequality. Public Health & Mobility: Canada suspended processing of about 36,000 permanent residence applications tied to Ebola-related measures affecting DRC, Uganda and South Sudan, pausing travel for affected applicants until late August 2026. Local Governance Recognition: Upper Nile Governor Lt. Gen. James Koang Chuol unveiled an honour list to recognize community contributors, stressing leadership should be measured by service and impact. Industry & Skills Signal: A global push for skills in land-based sectors highlights how workforce gaps can threaten food security and future production capacity.