A youth empowerment and employment project to be implemented through the private sector and value chain development was launched in South Sudan’s Gbudue State last week.
The initiative, which is supported by the Netherlands, seeks to empower youth in Bor, Jubek, Rumbek, Torit and Yambio by nurturing their entrepreneurial and market-linked skills and enhancing their employability and productive engagement in economic activities.
The project was announced when a high-level delegation from the Netherlands Kingdom, Sweden, Japan and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) visited the state capital, Yambio.
The purpose was to interact with local partners and beneficiaries of UNDP’s multi-dimensional support to recovery and resilience in Gbudue, according to a statement from the UN agency.
“Women and youth in South Sudan are the agents for transformation and peace. You will always have our support at UNDP when it comes to using entrepreneurship as a means to overcome your struggles, consolidate peace dividends and to contribute to the development of South Sudan,” the UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director, UNDP Crisis Bureau, Asako Okai said at the ceremony.
Ahunna Eziakonwa Onochie, the UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director, UNDP Regional Bureau, said the development of markets support economic opportunities for women and play vital roles in the agricultural value chain, thus reducing food insecurity and poverty.
“With this in mind, rehabilitation of Masia market funded by the Government of Japan and UNDP in 2018 benefitted 88 businesswomen who previously lacked proper, hygienic sheds and stalls for selling vegetables and other farm produce,” said Onochie.
She urged women to utilize the market for the community’s benefit.
“Use this market not only for trade, but also for community-building and raising awareness on issues that stop women from enjoying development such as early marriage and teenage pregnancy,” she said.
Mitsuhiro Toyama, the deputy chief of mission at the Japanese embassy, said their government remains committed to providing support to South Sudan, especially through UNDP.
“We are happy to see the laying of foundation stone for the borehole, and are looking forward to visiting Masia Market again to see smiles in people’s faces when it is completed,” said Toyama.
Meanwhile, the governor of Gbudue, Daniel Badagbu said citizens were peace mediators with homegrown solutions to their problems.
“Now that peace is here in South Sudan, we need to create jobs, especially for the youth. We need to empower the younger generation, and we need to empower the women, and include these groups in decision-making,” said Badagbu.
He said the internally displaced people want to return home, but food insecurity was still their safe return after months of
“Food security is a main issue to enable their return, but soils in Yambio is fertile and natural resources are there,” said the governor.
“What we need to make people feel safe to return is…above all, empowerment, “he stressed.
The delegation also included the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, Alain Noudéhou, UNDP South Sudan Resident Representative, Kamil Kamaluddeen, a representative from Netherlands, among others.