LocationsUNDP in Partnership with the Office of the Vice President - Gender and Youth Cluster Launch Jobs and Opportunities Fair, 2022
December 12, 2022
Vice President Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior purchasing products from a vendor at the Jobs and Opportunities fair.
South Sudan is seriously challenged by the youth bulge. Youth destitution and lack of empowerment, especially the widespread absence of productive capacities and income generation opportunities are among the principal factors sustaining the ongoing conflict in South Sudan. Many job seekers lack reliable information about where they can find vacancies and what is needed to secure a job. Many are often unaware of their interests and strengths, and how to present these to potential employers.
At the same time, some employers struggle to find the right candidates, while other employers are confronted with too many applicants that do not fit the job requirements. Small companies struggle to find applicants because they don’t have the means to network or know how to advertise their vacancies effectively.
Against this backdrop, as part of the Youth Employment and Empowerment Programme supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Kingdom of Netherlands, UNDP in partnership with the Office of Vice President-Gender and Youth Gender Cluster, Smile Again Africa Development Organization (SAADO), Vocational Skills Development Organization (VOSDO), BizEx and BEATec organized the first ever Job and Opportunities Fair in Juba at the Multi-service Training Center (MTC).
The Job Fair provided a platform for the exchange of information between job seekers and potential employers in one single place, which benefitted both sides by significantly reducing the cost for both job search and recruitment.
Youth seeking employment seat with guidance during the job fair
On August 12, 2022 a total of 1,335 people attended the 2022 Job and Opportunities Fair in Juba. Over half of these were youth eagerly seeking jobs.
There were many activities and opportunities for learning during the fair including information about available jobs, training in business and entrepreneurship skills, CV writing, and career and peer job-search counseling. Over seven hundred (755) job opportunities (from the private sector, NGOs,UN-Agencies) were posted on a notice board for youth and women to explore. The training sessions on CV writing and one-on-one career counseling were delivered to 227 youth to assist them in choosing the right job and putting forward a good application.
For those wanting to start their own business, there was a training session offered to 223 youth covering a range of topics from generating business ideas to how to establish and operate a business in South Sudan.
The 2022 Job and Opportunities Fair was a great success and a model that can be replicated in future projects. “The Job Fair provided a platform for the exchange of information between job seekers and potential employers in one single place, which benefitted both sides by significantly reducing the cost for both job search and recruitment. ”
The 2022 Job and Opportunities Fair was a great success and a model that can be replicated in future projects.
