(Juba) – UN Women South Sudan has reaffirmed its partnership with Women Led Organisations (WLOs) across the country, as part of its broader 2023–2026 Strategic Note aimed at advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment.
The meeting was led by Delphine Serumaga, UN Women’s Country Representative in South Sudan, and brought together several WLO partners to evaluate progress and strengthen cooperation.
The discussions took place within the framework of South Sudan’s development cooperation agenda, and they focused on aligning ongoing work with national strategies, including the South Sudan Gender Equality Strategy and Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5), which calls for achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.
According to UN Women, the meeting was designed not only to assess past achievements but also to refocus priorities for the 2025–2026 period.
The agency emphasised the importance of improving coordination in a rapidly changing environment and fostering joint action among stakeholders to tackle emerging challenges and opportunities.
UN Women highlighted that the contribution of WLOs is essential in transforming South Sudan’s social fabric and ensuring inclusive recovery and development.
“Now is the time to reflect, recalibrate, and re-energise our shared mission,” Ms Serumaga said during the engagement. She called on partners to continue their efforts in strengthening local capacities and shaping a more gender-equal society.
The meeting was also seen as a space for sharing experiences and setting common goals, such as expanding access to services, improving women’s leadership and participation, and addressing gender-based violence.
These goals form part of a broader UN Women strategy to support peace, security, and development through community-based solutions and gender-focused programming.
UN Women South Sudan reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with national institutions such as the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, and international actors including the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), UNDP, and other development partners. These partnerships are expected to improve policy coordination and make sure women’s voices are included in key decisions.
The meeting also included representatives from local media and civil society, as well as partners like the Royal Norwegian Embassy, UNFPA, Urban FM 99.5, and the African Women Empowered network. Together, these groups form a critical coalition for achieving inclusive development in South Sudan.
