In a significant move towards advancing gender equality and empowering women, the World Bank has approved a grant of $70 million to South Sudan. The funding aims to bolster the social and economic empowerment of women through the South Sudan Women’s Social and Economic Empowerment Project (SSWSEEP). Firas Raad, the World Bank Country Manager for South Sudan, announced the grant, emphasizing its focus on supporting female entrepreneurs, assisting survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), and promoting inclusive development.
The primary objective of the project is to aid female entrepreneurs in formalising and expanding their business activities. By providing grants, training, and technical assistance, the initiative seeks to enhance the livelihoods of women and encourage economic growth. Additionally, the project aims to address the pressing issue of gender-based violence by facilitating survivors’ access to crucial services and support for their recovery and rehabilitation.
Raad emphasised the holistic approach adopted by the SSWSEEP, with a specific focus on women and youth. The initiative aims to reduce fragility, foster peacebuilding, and promote inclusive development. By strengthening the public sector’s capacity to engage actively in women’s empowerment, the project aims to ensure long-term benefits for future generations of South Sudanese women and girls.
Speaking at a press conference in Juba, Raad highlighted the critical support required for survivors of gender-based violence to overcome the physical and psychological trauma they have endured. The project will expand their access to vital health services and psychosocial support, while simultaneously working on preventing GBV.
The SSWSEEP comprises four integral components to holistically address the challenges hindering the growth and development of women in South Sudan. These components include community-based socioeconomic empowerment of women, establishing a women’s entrepreneurial opportunity facility, providing services for survivors of GBV, and supporting institutional strengthening and project management.
Aya Benjamin Warile, the Minister for Gender, Child, and Social Welfare, acknowledged the historical contributions of women in supporting their families and communities through entrepreneurial activities. However, she also recognized the existing barriers that have constrained their progress, such as prevailing social norms, institutional hurdles, and limited access to education, training, business services, and financing.
Warile expressed her optimism regarding the transformative impact of empowering women, not only for their individual lives but also for the overall prosperity and peace of South Sudan. She emphasized that improved financial security would lead to enhancements in other aspects of women’s lives, enabling easier access to healthcare services, education for their children, and increased participation in leadership roles within their communities. By becoming agents of change, empowered women can contribute significantly to societal progress.
The World Bank’s substantial investment in South Sudan’s women’s social and economic empowerment project is a step forward in fostering gender equality, peacebuilding, and sustainable development. As the project takes shape, it holds the potential to create a brighter and more inclusive future for South Sudanese women and girls, empowering them to realize their full potential and contribute to the nation’s growth.
