Strong, positive social bonds, both within and between communities, are a foundation for building peace. Ensuring that aid programmes do not erode these bonds is fundamental to conflict sensitive programming. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on South Sudan’s social networks is yet unknown. Drawing on research conducted by Mercy Corps and Tufts University in Unity State, this paper explores the role of social networks in South Sudan and how they could be impacted by both COVID-19 and agencies’ response to the pandemic. It argues that by better  understanding how these networks function in South Sudan, agencies can help to ensure that their programmes are sensitive to the implications of their breaking down, and design COVID-19  response interventions in a way that minimizes disruption to them.