Officially launched in Yambio on 8 July, two new peacebuilding initiatives are bringing together the Government of South Sudan, UNESCO, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UN Women to expand opportunities for women and young people to become leaders of peace in their communities. The projects are funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), with complementary parallel financing from the African Development Bank (AfDB).
Over the next three years, the initiatives will invest in leadership, skills development, livelihood opportunities, digital empowerment and community dialogue, helping women and young people build resilience, counter misinformation and hate speech, and contribute to peaceful and inclusive communities.
Through one initiative, Derin Salaam: Redefining Youth Spaces and Networks for Peace and Security in South Sudan, UNESCO and IOM will support 6,000 young women and men in Jonglei State, the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) and Western Equatoria State. The project will provide psychosocial support, livelihood opportunities, digital empowerment and peacebuilding activities to strengthen social cohesion and empower young people to become active contributors to peace.
UNESCO is also partnering with UN Women to implement Supporting Women’s Peacebuilding Efforts in Western Equatoria and Western Bahr el Ghazal States, which will directly benefit 2,100 women and girls. The initiative will strengthen women’s leadership in peacebuilding, reinforce community peace structures and expand economic empowerment opportunities, enabling women to play a greater role in conflict prevention and recovery.
Speaking during the launch, Hon. Pia Philip Michael, Undersecretary, National Ministry of Peace Building, said the initiatives demonstrate the Government’s commitment to placing women and young people at the center of the country’s peacebuilding agenda and encouraged beneficiaries to contribute to lasting peace.
By creating platforms for dialogue, strengthening livelihoods and equipping communities with the skills to prevent and resolve conflict, we are investing in the next generation of peacebuilders. Young people who have opportunities, hope and a stake in their communities are far less vulnerable to violence, misinformation and hate speech.
Hon. Pia Philip Michael, Undersecretary, Ministry of Peace Building South Sudan
Speaking on behalf of UNESCO, IOM and UN Women, Ms. Delphine Serumaga, UN Women Country Representative, emphasized that the long-term success of the initiatives depends on strong community ownership and participation.
These are your projects. We encourage communities, traditional and religious leaders, civil society, women and youth, and government institutions to actively engage, share their perspectives and priorities, and contribute their own expertise, leadership and resources to support the long-term success of these initiatives.
Ms. Delphine Serumaga, UN Women Country Representative, South Sudan
H.E. Joseph Marona, Deputy Governor of Western Equatoria State, further reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to working with the United Nations and its partners to ensure the successful implementation of the initiatives and strengthen peace and social cohesion in the target communities.
These initiatives will empower youth to become builders of peace, strengthen their livelihoods and help transform communities through dialogue, resilience and opportunity. The Government of Western Equatoria State is committed to working closely with the United Nations and our partners to ensure these projects deliver tangible benefits for our people.
H.E. Joseph Marona, Deputy Governor of Western Equatoria State
The initiatives represent the second global partnership of their kind between the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) and the African Development Bank (AfDB), reflecting a shared commitment to locally led peacebuilding and sustainable development.
They also support South Sudan’s national peacebuilding priorities, including the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), the National Youth, Peace and Security Strategy (2024–2028), and the Second South Sudan National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (2023–2027).
For UNESCO, the initiatives reinforce the Organization’s commitment to empowering women and young people through education, skills development, digital empowerment and inclusive participation. By strengthening local capacities and supporting community-led solutions, UNESCO continues to contribute to sustainable peace and resilience across South Sudan.
read more: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-iom-un-women-and-government-south-sudan-launch-new-projects-empower-thousands-women-and-youth?hub=701
