In Aweil, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, women in uniform gather at a local school where UNESCO and its partners are supporting literacy and numeracy lessons for women serving in South Sudan’s security sector. As the term draws to a close and final exams approach, the atmosphere is nonetheless vibrant, with learners singing and dancing in the school yard as they welcome visitors.
Launched in 2025, the project spans three locations – Northern Bahr el Ghazal (Aweil), Central Equatoria (Juba), and Upper Nile (Malakal). It focuses on strengthening foundational skills to promote women’s participation in the security sector, including access to leadership pathways, in line with the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
With the literacy rate for women in South Sudan at around 29%, women in uniform have highlighted long-standing gaps in their literacy and numeracy skills, which have limited both their day-to-day work and opportunities for advancement. Addressing these barriers is central to the project’s goal of strengthening women’s foundational skills and supporting their progression into leadership roles.
Ensuring women have foundational skills to participate and lead is helping to advance the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in South Sudan
The initiative is part of a joint program on women’s leadership in the security sector, implemented by UNESCO, UNDP, and UN Women, with support from the UN Peacebuilding Fund. Women from the police, prison services, wildlife services, armed forces and other institutions are attending these classes multiple times per week, alongside their professional duties. The training emphasizes practical literacy, numeracy, and ICT skills linked to their roles, as well as to their day-to-day lives in their families and communities.
Sergeant Karima Abdallah Mohammed investigates a wide range of cases, including cases of sexual violence, in Arabic. She recognizes, however, that some survivors speak English and sees enhancing her own language skills as critical to improving women’s access to justice.
I’m a sergeant and I investigate cases of sexual violence, mostly in Arabic. Learning to read and write in English will help me support women who speak English and help them to access justice.
Sergeant Karima Abdallah Mohammed, South Sudan Police Service
Cecilia Alfonso Henry, a Lance Corporal with the South Sudan Wildlife Services, explains that learning came later in her life due to her not being permitted to access education growing up. She points out that limited education has been a major barrier to women’s promotion within Wildlife Services.
It’s not easy for women to get promotions in the Wildlife Services. We face many challenges, and many of us are not educated. But education is starting for us now. We want these classes to continue.
READ MORE: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-supporting-women-south-sudans-security-sector-build-their-skills-leadership-and-peacebuilding
