A youth-led nonprofit organization on Wednesday urged South Sudan’s transitional government to pass four long-pending policy documents aimed at addressing major challenges facing young people in the country.
In South Sudan, women make up about 52% of the population, while young people under the age of 25 account for approximately 63%, according to a 2021 population estimate survey.
Florence Agiba, executive director of Markaz Al Salam, said the proposed bills — including the Youth Enterprise Development Fund Bill, the Women Development Enterprise Fund Bill, the Student Support Welfare Bill and the National Development Policy Bill — are critical to supporting the nation’s youth.
“If these policies are not enacted, it will be difficult to address the challenges young people face,” Agiba said during a workshop organized by the youth-led NGO in the capital, Juba.
She said the youth enterprise and women development bills are currently with the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, while the development policy awaits parliamentary discussion. The measures were proposed under the 2018 peace agreement, which provides for dedicated funding to help women and youth access business capital.
Agiba called on the cabinet to resume regular sessions to advance the legislation and urged lawmakers to prioritize the policies.
“For years, South Sudan’s youth have had no working documents to support them. This is a shame,” she said. “It’s time the country focuses on empowering its young people.”
The organization’s advocacy campaign is supported by Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA).
Machuor Marial Wul, deputy chairperson of the Student Support Fund, said the student welfare bill is before parliament. Once passed, it would establish a permanent body to oversee financial assistance for struggling university students.
“We are targeting five public universities initially,” he said.
Deng Mathiang Ngong, deputy chairperson of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly’s youth and sports committee, said two of the bills are already before parliament and could progress quickly now that legislative sessions have resumed after a recess.
He attributed previous delays to budget debates and the extended recess but said the specialized committee would now prioritize the legislation.
Markaz Al Salam, founded in 2024, is a nonprofit focused on peacebuilding and economic development through advocacy, education and health programs in South Sudan.