LocationsThrough Youth Skills Development
Building a Sustainable Future in South Sudan
July 15, 2026
A SEED4Youth electrical installation trainee during a practical class in one of the training sessions at Yambio Multipurpose VTC.
UNDP/Maureen Omwanda
Every year on 15 July, the world celebrates World Youth Skills Day, recognizing the critical role that skills development plays in preparing young people for employment, entrepreneurship, and sustainable livelihoods. In South Sudan, where youth make up the majority of the population, they continue to face significant political, economic, and social challenges that threaten development gains. Young people are disproportionately affected by high unemployment due to limited labour market opportunities, skills mismatches, and inadequate legal and institutional frameworks for youth employment. At the same time, private sector growth remains constrained by political instability, limited access to finance, poor infrastructure, and low investor confidence, reducing its capacity to create jobs.
In response to these challenges, vocational training and skills development have become a key pathway for improving youth employability and entrepreneurship. They deliver programmes to equip youth and women with practical, technical, and life skills that enhance their participation in the labour market.
Initiatives such as the Skills, Employment and Empowerment for the Development of Youth (SEED4Youth) Project and Youth Empowerment and Employment through Agricultural and Value Chain Development Project (YEEP) jointly implemented by UNDP and the Government of South Sudan, with funding from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, empower young women and men aged 18–35 years with market-relevant vocational, technical, entrepreneurship, and life skills to improve their employability and resilience. The training lasts for three months, followed by a three-month industrial attachment. Upon completion of the industrial attachment, the trainees graduate and receive start-up kits to encourage them to establish their own businesses.
A Journey from Uncertainty to Opportunity
Zachariah at the workshop, where he is employed, working on a customer order at his workshop in Malakal POC
UNDP/Maureen Omwanda
When conflict erupted in Malakal in 2013, Zachariah Apara, 30 years, lost his father and became the sole breadwinner for his family of nine. Living in the Malakal Protection of Civilians (PoC) site, he survived on casual jobs until he enrolled in a free three-month Carpentry and Joinery training programme. After completing the training. He was placed for an industrial attachment, and upon completing it, he was absorbed into the carpentry shop, where he is now employed. He is handling many orders as customers have recognized the quality of his work, leading to numerous referrals from existing clients.
“Losing my father in the 2013 conflict and being jobless, I was the sole breadwinner for a family of nine. Through the free carpentry training I received, I secured employment, and with numerous customer orders, I have become the hope my family needed.” Says Zachariah Apara
For 31-year-old Mary Ojiya, visual impairment did not stop her from pursuing her dreams. After completing high school, financial constraints forced her to remain at home for nearly three years, with university seemingly out of reach. In 2023, she enrolled in a free SEED4Youth catering course alongside five other people with disability, supported by a dedicated trainer. Upon graduation, she received an oven as a start-up kit and launched a small baking business producing cakes and bread. Although health challenges later forced her to pause the business, Mary refused to give up. She now earns a living selling grains while saving towards her dream of one day attending university.
Mary at her shop in Juba selling grains. She has been living with disability since birth.
UNDP/Maureen Omwanda
“People with disabilities are often overlooked. I am thankful to UNDP and the Kingdom of the Netherlands for believing in me when no one else did. The support gave me the skills and hope to rebuild my life. I earn up to 150,000 SSP a day, allowing me to pay for my medical bills, save for my business, and my school fees as I plan to pursue my dream of studying journalism at university,” says Mary Ojiya
Tabitha James, 28, working on a vehicle. She is an intern at a reputable firm in Juba after completing her
UNDP/Maureen Omwanda
In a country where gender biases continue to limit opportunities for many women, 28-year-old Tabitha James is breaking barriers and challenging stereotypes. She successfully pursued training in auto mechanics, a field traditionally dominated by men. Out of 39 trainees in her class, Tabitha was one of only two female students. Before joining the programme, she relied on selling food to earn a living but struggled to make ends meet. She is gaining practical experience through an internship at a reputable establishment in Juba, where she hopes to secure employment and continue building her career in the automotive sector.
Josephine Utuwa Mustafa, the Human Resources and Administrative Officer at the organization where Tabitha is doing her industrial attachment, confirms that the SEED4Youth trainees have made valuable contributions by bringing fresh perspectives, enthusiasm, and a strong willingness to learn. She notes that what stood out most during their internship was their adaptability, eagerness to take on new challenges, and proactive attitude. According to Josephine, the internship programme has proven highly effective in equipping young people with essential workplace skills and competencies.
The SEED4Youth trainees do not just learn; they add a lot of value. Given the opportunity, we would gladly absorb them into our workforce. Their professionalism, adaptability, and initiative have made a lasting impact on our team.” Josephine Utuwa Mustafa, the Human Resources and Administrative Officer
Building Brighter Futures Through Partnership
South Sudan’s government has prioritized job creation, youth empowerment, skills development, and private sector growth as key responses to high unemployment, especially among young people who make up more than 70 percent of the country’s population. Guided by frameworks such as the National Development Strategy (2021–2024), the government is investing in vocational training and skills development, entrepreneurship promotion, agricultural transformation, and employment support programmes through institutions including the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
According to Aida Gwonza, Deputy Director of Training at the Juba Multi-Service Training Centre, the youth training projects have proven to be highly impactful and continue to gain popularity among young people. She noted that the centre now trains more than 1,000 youth annually across different trades. She also highlighted a significant increase in women's participation, with women now accounting for 20% of trainees and excelling in traditionally male-dominated fields. According to Gwonza, the programme is delivering tangible results, with a majority of graduates either securing employment or establishing their own businesses.
Arend van Vuren, Former 1st Secretary Development Cooperation & Humanitarian Affairs posing for a group photo with SEED4YOUTH graduation in Rumbek
UNDP/2026
“I once attended a SEED4Youth graduation in Rumbek and visited one of the beneficiaries who owned a bakery. At first, I wondered why someone trained in solar installation would choose to run a bakery. Then he went up to the roof of his bakery and pointed out the solar panels he had installed himself, which powered his business. This is one of the many practical examples I will carry with me.” Arend van Vuren, Former 1st Secretary, Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Skills development extends beyond employment; young people become innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders within their communities. As businesses grow, they create jobs, stimulate private sector growth, and contribute to broader economic recovery. UNDP- led initiatives have been very impactful. So far, 32,875 youth have received skills training, with over 20,000 now making an income through employment or entrepreneurship, while employing other youth and women.
On this World Youth Skills Day, the experiences of beneficiaries across South Sudan demonstrate that when young people are equipped with the right skills, mentorship, and opportunities, they can overcome barriers and transform their lives. Through strategic partnerships with the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Government of South Sudan, UNDP reaffirms its commitment to expanding access to quality skills training and ensuring that no young person is left behind.
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