(Rumbek) – A total of 159 youth led micro and small enterprises (MSEs), comprising 795 members — 401 men and 394 women — have been selected for the second phase of the Youth Enterprise Development and Capacity Building (YEDCB) Project in Lakes State.
The selected groups will undergo a two week intensive training in Business Development Services (BDS). The sessions will be held across five counties: Rumbek Centre, Rumbek East, Cueibet, Wulu and Yirol West. The training is aimed at improving the business and financial management skills of participants, to help them grow their ventures and increase their economic impact.
Each enterprise will also be provided with interest free loans to support business expansion, job creation, and economic development in their communities. The loans are expected to strengthen local economies and reduce youth unemployment in Lakes State, which has long struggled with limited access to financial services.
The YEDCB Project, backed by the African Development Bank Group, is being rolled out across five states in South Sudan. It focuses on supporting youth and women entrepreneurs by providing access to training and affordable finance.
“This project is a lifeline for many young entrepreneurs and women who have been struggling to access capital and knowledge to run their businesses,” said a project coordinator based in Rumbek. “We are empowering them to become economic drivers in their communities.”
The training will include practical sessions on financial literacy, record keeping, market access, customer relations and sustainable business practices.
Many of the participants selected operate informal or early stage businesses and are expected to use the new knowledge and funding to formalise their ventures and expand operations.
Though the loan amounts were not disclosed, beneficiaries are not required to pay interest, which helps make the funds more accessible.
On South Sudan’s parallel market, even a small business loan of SSP 700,000 (about $100) is out of reach for many youth entrepreneurs without such support initiatives.
Since its launch, the YEDCB Project has focused on encouraging inclusive growth and strengthening the private sector by supporting grassroots innovation. It has received positive feedback from community leaders, who view the initiative as a step towards long term stability and economic empowerment.