The Government of South Sudan, in partnership with UN Women and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), has launched a new peacebuilding initiative to strengthen the role of women and young people in promoting peace and social cohesion in Western Equatoria and Western Bahr el Ghazal states.
The three-year project called “Supporting Women’s Peacebuilding Efforts in Western Equatoria and Western Bahr el Ghazal States” was officially launched on 8 July in Yambio. It is funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), with additional financing from the African Development Bank (AfDB).
According to the partners, the initiative will directly benefit 2,100 women and girls by strengthening women’s leadership in peacebuilding, reinforcing community peace structures, and expanding economic empowerment opportunities.
Joseph Marona, Deputy Governor of Western Equatoria State, said investing in young people is essential to building lasting peace and development.
“Peace is the foundation of development. When we invest in our young people, we are investing in the future of our state and our nation,” Marona said.
He said the project would empower young people to become peacebuilders, improve their livelihoods and strengthen communities through dialogue and resilience, adding that the state government would work closely with the United Nations and development partners to ensure the initiative benefits local communities.
Pia Philip Michael, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Peacebuilding, said the government is committed to placing women and young people at the centre of the country’s peacebuilding agenda.
“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,” Michael said.
He urged beneficiaries to make full use of the opportunity, saying sustainable peace can only be achieved through collective responsibility and active community participation.
For her part, Delphine Serumaga, UN Women Country Representative in South Sudan, said the initiative seeks to empower women and young people to take a leading role in resolving conflicts and fostering peace in their communities.
“These are your projects,” Serumaga said. “We encourage communities, traditional and religious leaders, civil society, women and youth, and government institutions to actively engage and contribute their ideas, leadership, and resources to ensure the long-term success of these initiatives.”
She said the goal is to leave behind stronger and more resilient communities by the end of the project.
According to the organisers, the initiative supports the implementation of the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and South Sudan’s second National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (2024–2028).
The project also aims to strengthen inclusive governance, promote social cohesion and support sustainable peace in conflict-affected communities.
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