(JUBA) – The Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare has signed grant agreements with 249 women entrepreneurs in Juba under the South Sudan Women’s Social and Economic Empowerment Project. The project is supported by the World Bank and implemented through the Women Entrepreneurial Opportunity Facility in partnership with UN Women, the International Rescue Committee and Open Capital Advisors.
The signing signals a shift from dependence on humanitarian aid toward business growth and financial self-reliance for women. The initiative focuses on helping women build and expand small and medium sized enterprises.
A total of 245 women under the Seed Lab category received grants ranging from two thousand to four thousand United States Dollars. This is equal to between fourteen million two hundred thousand and twenty eight million four hundred thousand South Sudanese Pounds. These businesses are mostly at early stages and aim to stabilise and grow into reliable income generating enterprises.
Four women received larger grants under the Growth Lab category, ranging between fifteen thousand and fifty thousand United States Dollars. This amount is equal to between one hundred six million five hundred thousand and three hundred fifty five million South Sudanese Pounds. These businesses are already operating and seeking expansion in areas such as production, retail and services.
Grant Value Summary
| Programme Group | Amount in USD | Equivalent in SSP |
|---|---|---|
| Seed Lab | 2,000 to 4,000 | 14,200,000 to 28,400,000 |
| Growth Lab | 15,000 to 50,000 | 106,500,000 to 355,000,000 |
The grant beneficiaries were selected after completing a structured training process. This included an initial Boot Camp focused on business modelling and financial planning, followed by a broader accelerator programme that covered market study, financial management, gender considerations in business and climate risk.
The Undersecretary of the Ministry, Esther Ikere Eluzai, signed the grants on behalf of the government. She said women’s participation in business is important for national growth and stability. She explained that the beneficiaries were selected based on clear business readiness, not on aid dependency. She encouraged the entrepreneurs to use the funds to expand into sustainable enterprises able to compete in the local market.
Jane Tumalu, Chairperson of the Grants and Technical Assistance Committee, said the selection process was demanding and aimed at identifying committed entrepreneurs. She said the funds should be used strictly for business growth.
The International Rescue Committee Country Director, Richard Orengo, said support for women in business benefits communities because women tend to reinvest earnings locally. He said stronger women led businesses can also create employment opportunities.
UN Women Programme Manager for South Sudan, Lansana Wonneh, said receiving the grant is not the end point but the start of a growth process. He said the aim is to see small enterprises expand into larger scale businesses.
The SSWSEEP Project Manager, Timothy Yobuta, said the project is intended to serve as a practical pathway for women and girls to move out of poverty through enterprise.
| Item | Description | Figures in USD | Figures in SSP (at 1 USD = 7,100 SSP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Women Benefiting | Number of entrepreneurs who signed grant agreements | 249 | — |
| Seed Lab Beneficiaries | Early stage women owned businesses | 2,000 to 4,000 each | 14,200,000 to 28,400,000 |
| Number in Seed Lab | Total participants receiving Seed Lab grants | 245 | — |
| Growth Lab Beneficiaries | Advanced women owned businesses seeking expansion | 15,000 to 50,000 each | 106,500,000 to 355,000,000 |
| Number in Growth Lab | Total participants receiving Growth Lab grants | 4 (bringing total Growth Lab beneficiaries to 8) | — |
| Funding Source | Financial support for project | World Bank | — |
| Project Implementers | UN Women, IRC, Open Capital Advisors | — | — |
| Government Authority | Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare | — | — |
| Primary Goal | Business growth, sustainability, and movement away from aid dependency | — | — |
Members of the two beneficiary groups expressed appreciation for the training and selection process. They said the grants will help them improve productivity and expand operations. They also said the experience has built confidence in their ability to grow in the business sector.
The project’s broader goal is to support women to take part in economic decision making and to strengthen women led business activity across South Sudan’s markets.