During the event on Tuesday, Gloria Nyoka Joseph, Executive Director of the South Sudan National Bureau of Standards (SSNBS), commended the program for bringing together pioneers to drive economic growth in the country.
Nyoka highlighted the Bureau’s role in ensuring quality and safety throughout the production and processing processes, emphasizing the importance of standards for achieving these goals.
She congratulated the winners and encouraged them to use the funds to achieve their organizational mandates and goals, stressing the Bureau’s commitment to providing standards and certification for South Sudan products to meet global market standards.
Nyoka expressed gratitude to development partners for their support in achieving sustainable development in the country, underscoring the importance of certification for South Sudanese products to access international markets.
Winners of the challenge received grant funding ranging from $20,000 to $40,000, as well as mentorship, business acceleration, and opportunities for strategic partnerships.
Dr. John Ogoto Kanisio, Undersecretary for Agriculture at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, emphasized the importance of building sustainable food systems for South Sudan’s food security, economic sovereignty, and climate resilience.
He highlighted the Ministry’s commitment to empowering young entrepreneurs and transforming the country’s food systems with the support of partners.
The top two winners, Africa Cornerstone General Trading and Dream Farm Agribusiness Cooperative, led by women, were praised for their commitment to environmental sustainability.
The IGNITE Food Systems Challenge, organized by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) through the IGNITE Innovation Hub and partners AfriLabs and Seed Grow South Sudan in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, aims to address local food systems challenges and promote innovative solutions.
Previous winners, such as Hagana Agro Processing Company, have successfully grown their businesses and expanded into regional markets, demonstrating the impact of the challenge on entrepreneurship in South Sudan.
