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Country Indexes
outcome XM-DAC-41146-SSD_D_1.1
Women and men in South Sudan, particularly youth and vulnerable groups, benefit from and participate in more transparent, accountable, and inclusive governance that protects and promotes human rights, enables the consolidation of peace, establishes the rule of law and ensures access to justice for all
In 2024, South Sudan made notable strides in advancing transparent, accountable, and inclusive governance, benefiting women, youth, and vulnerable groups. The peacebuilding process, including the permanent constitution-making, elections, judicial reform, legal reform, and the implementation of transitional justice mechanisms, continued to foster an enabling environment for protecting women and girls while consolidating peace and strengthening the rule of law. Key milestones include the enactment of the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing Act (CTRH), 2024 and the Compensation and Reparation Authority Act (CRA), 2024. These laws institutionalize gender equality by mandating women's leadership and participation in transitional justice processes and prioritizing survivor-centered approaches. UN Women played a pivotal role in reviewing these bills, ensuring the integration of gender equality principles and the voices of survivors in the legislative framework. The launch of the South Sudan Women’s Charter in 2024, marked another significant achievement. Crafted under the leadership of the Ministry of Gender, Child, and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Ministry of Peace Building, and supported by UN Women and funding partners, the Charter provides a comprehensive roadmap for advancing women’s priorities in the Permanent Constitution-Making Process. It encapsulates twelve critical themes, including political participation, protection against Gender-Based Violence, and access to justice, empowering women and girls to advocate for their rights through the Reconstituted National Constitutional Review Commission (R-NCRC). Additionally, the extension of the transitional period until February 2027 offers an opportunity to address pending tasks and strengthen governance structures, further embedding inclusive participation and gender equality into South Sudan’s legal and institutional frameworks. These efforts collectively contribute to establishing a governance system that upholds human rights, consolidates peace, and ensures justice and equality for all. Furthermore, as a result of UN Women efforts, women’s involvement in peacebuilding increased by 13%, significantly enhancing the sustainability of peace processes in the targeted areas, including Jonglei, Pibor, and Malakal. In addition, UN Women addressed intercommunal conflicts in these locations . Dialogue-based approaches and local mediation efforts led to measurable reductions in violent incidents, with cultural events enhancing communal relationships. For example, in Pibor, increased unity among age-set groups fostered non-violent conflict resolution and community-driven development, demonstrating the efficacy of inclusive local governance. A notable achievement in Malakal was the establishment of county peace committees that integrated traditional justice mechanisms with formal legal systems, ensuring culturally sensitive and sustainable conflict resolution. These efforts enhanced community trust, supporting the reintegration of displaced persons and ex-combatants, particularly in Upper Nile and Jonglei States.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-SSD_D_1.2
Women and men in South Sudan, particularly youth and vulnerable groups, benefit from and contribute to more sustainable and inclusive economic development, with increased economic diversification, improved climate change adaptation and greater resilience to economic shocks
Women, men, and youth in South Sudan, particularly from internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities, are now experiencing improved livelihoods and enhanced economic resilience through inclusive and sustainable economic development initiatives. In 2024, through start-up grants provided by UN Women, 900 members of Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) (660 women and 240 men) are now benefit from diversified incomes and strengthened economic security. This progress is demonstrated by a remarkable 202.31% increase in their collective savings, rising from $1,714 to $5,183. This growth underscores their enhanced financial independence and improved ability to adapt to economic shocks. Subsequently, as a result of the establishment of 50 small businesses, 123 individuals (81 women and 42 men) now have access to employment opportunities further leading to transformative changes in their lives and amplifying economic benefits within the community. Additionally, women have reported increased financial autonomy and a greater ability to provide consistent support for their households. Furthermore, IDPs and host community members employed through these businesses now have valuable skills in business operations and management, equipping them with the tools needed for future self-reliance and sustainable economic participation. As a direct result of UN Women’s strategic efforts, 300 micro and small enterprises (MSEs) have been established in South Sudan, engaging 1,500 individuals, including 450 women and 1,050 youth under 35 years old. This initiative has significantly enhanced employment opportunities, improved market access, and increased income generation for women and youth. Furthermore, through a pivotal collaboration between UN Women and Stanbic Bank, 234 of these MSEs now have access to interest-free loans totalling approximately USD 534,981, unlocking critical financial resources to sustain and grow their businesses.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-SSD_D_1.3
Children, women and men in South Sudan, particularly youth and vulnerable groups, enjoy improved coverage of inclusive, responsive, quality social services and social protection
In 2024, as part of UN Women efforts to enhance inclusive, responsive, and quality social services and social protection for women and girls in South Sudan , 29 women and girls, including those living with and affected by HIV, now benefit form economic empowerment and leadership capacities. Through the collaboration with the National Empowered Positive United (NEWPU), these beneficiaries received tailored start-up kits, such as sewing machines, and participated in targeted entrepreneurship training to enhance their skills, financial literacy, and business acumen. As a result, participants have reported increased confidence in managing income-generating activities, contributing to their economic independence and social inclusion.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-SSD_D_1.4
Women, youth plus vulnerable groups are empowered to demand and exercise their political, economic, social, environmental and cultural rights
Significant progress has been made in empowering women, youth, and vulnerable groups to demand and exercise their rights in South Sudan. Advocacy and strategic capacity building effort, spear-headed by UN Women, led to increased appointments of women in leadership positions, from 22% to 26% representation at the national level, including a Vice-President, Undersecretaries, and a Speaker of Parliament. UN Women supported the Women Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) to develop and launch its Strategic Plan (2023-2027), which provides a roadmap for promoting women’s participation in decision-making, advocating for gender-responsive policies, and addressing systemic barriers to inclusion. This plan institutionalizes gender-responsive law-making and strengthens oversight roles, fostering an enabling environment for free and fair elections. Notably, UN Women’s advocacy, in collaboration with the National Press Club, influenced the appointment of Hon. Fadia Chol as a young female Member of Parliament and Chairperson for the Specialized Committee on Agriculture and Forestry in Upper Nile State. Her appointment is an inspiring milestone, encouraging more young women to engage in political processes and shaping a more inclusive governance framework in South Sudan. These efforts collectively contribute to advancing women’s political leadership in South Sudan. The annual 2024 16 days of activism was an opportunity for the Country office to increase awareness on women and girls' protective rights and disseminate information on available GBV services.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-SSD_D_1.5
The UN system in South Sudan is effective in gender mainstreaming and the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment
In 2024, UN Women continued to lead efforts to advance gender equality through its UN system coordination mandate in South Sudan. The Gender Theme Group (GTG) enhanced its functionality, with leadership provided by senior staff (50% of its members at middle and senior levels (P3, P4, NOC, and above) and the development of an annual work plan. Capacity-building efforts were expanded, with UNCT members’ enhanced skills on gender mainstreaming, gender marker application, and scorecard implementation, fostering improved collaboration and accountability. As a result, the UNCT South Sudan demonstrated significant progress in advancing gender equality through the implementation of the SWAP Scorecard recommendations. The submission of the first annual progress report highlighted key improvements, including the incorporation of comprehensive gender analysis in the Common Country Assessment (CCA), which now ensures gender considerations are integrated across all components. Leadership commitment was reinforced through the development and review of a robust framework for achieving gender parity, which outlines clear targets, monitoring mechanisms, and actionable steps for recruitment, retention, and creating an enabling environment. Furthermore, the number of indicators rated as "missing" dropped from four in 2021 to one in 2024, highlighting substantial progress in addressing gaps. Indicators rated as "approaches minimum requirement" reduced from five to four, while those rated as "meets minimum requirement" increased from five to six. Furthermore, indicators rated as "exceeds minimum requirement" doubled from one to two, signalling a strengthened commitment to and achievement of higher standards for gender equality within the UNCT.Showing 1 - 5 of 10