(JUBA CITY) – Women entrepreneurs in South Sudan continue to face a complex mix of cultural barriers, structural bias, and limited access to finance, preventing many from growing their businesses.
These challenges were discussed at a one-day event in Juba themed “Dismantling Structural Barriers to Enhance Women’s Participation in Trade and Investment”. Policymakers, legal professionals, human rights advocates, and civil society representatives attended.
Lisa Nelson, General Manager of Dream Farms Agribusiness, urged women to be creative in sourcing capital, suggesting the use of personal assets, such as gold, as start-up capital. She said financial formalities are the primary obstacle for women-owned businesses, as many do not properly register or document their operations, making bank loans difficult to obtain.
“Access to capital is the biggest issue,” Nelson explained. “Banks require documentation and collateral, but most women start small businesses from home without these. Even registering a business name costs around $700 (5,000,000 SSP), money that many prefer to use as working capital.”
Nelson recommended that women unable to afford full company registration consider forming cooperatives with peers. Cooperatives are cheaper and still offer some access to financing.
Advocate Dier Benen Chol highlighted deep-rooted societal barriers. She said cultural norms often view women as weak, limiting them to small-scale businesses with minimal capital. Women face expectations to remain at home and avoid interaction with men, restricting growth potential.
Deputy Chairperson for Gender and Social Welfare in the Central Equatoria State Transitional Legislative Assembly, Betty Pony Christopher, stated that women face both historical and structural challenges. She said longstanding traditions restrict women to household roles, while even educated women often encounter resistance from men in business.
“South Sudan has good policies on paper, but the main problem is implementation,” Betty said. She called for urgent government action, including stronger legislation such as the Gender Bill and Women’s Empowerment Bill, and support for women affected by the recent Customs Market fire.
Medina Charity, owner of Medina’s Kitchen, spoke on daily pressures facing women entrepreneurs. She said many women juggle small businesses with family responsibilities, facing mental stress, lack of financial literacy, and higher costs for female-specific products, sometimes referred to as the “pink tax”.
Charity added that insecurity limits women from operating at night, affecting businesses that receive late shipments. More than half of women cross-border traders report harassment from police and border officials, while women in markets often experience exploitation during product transportation.
Ayot Jennifer, Social Inclusion Manager at GEPA South Sudan, said unfavourable trade and investment policies worsen the situation. Bureaucracy, poor implementation, and excessive taxation by city and licensing councils reduce profits and prevent reinvestment.
Jennifer stressed that empowering women at the grassroots level is essential to meaningful economic inclusion. Advocate Chol encouraged women to join unions, chambers of commerce, and associations to voice concerns, push for reforms, and advocate for effective laws.
| Key Barriers | Details |
|---|---|
| Access to Capital | Banks require documentation and collateral; high registration costs ($700 / 5,000,000 SSP) |
| Cultural Norms | Women expected to remain at home; limited interaction with men; social perception of weakness |
| Administrative Barriers | Bureaucracy, excessive taxation, and poor implementation of support programs |
| Security Risks | Insecurity at night, harassment in markets and borders, limits business hours |
| Policy Gaps | Strong laws exist but require enforcement; Gender and Women’s Empowerment Bills pending |
The event indicated that women’s participation in trade and investment requires not only legal reforms but also cultural change, financial support, and safer business environments.
