LocationsUNDP supports five Public Universities to enhance research capacity in the country
October 22, 2025
Vice Chancellors, Professors, Doctors (PHD) and undergraduate presenters
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB) has collaborated to strengthen the capacity of five public universities in South Sudan towards quality context-based research. This initiative was developed in response to the gaps identified in the academia’s contribution in decision-making spheres within the country.
The project implemented within the five universities of Dr. John Garang Memorial University of Science and Technology, Upper Nile University, University of Bahr El Ghazel, Rumbek University of Science and Technology and the University of Juba was implemented through the departments of economics supporting undergraduate and postgraduate students.
The three-step program begins with proposal development, empirical analysis and ends with the publication of a final research paper for at least two outstanding papers from each university. Students awarded this opportunity were afforded resources in terms of finance, academic supervisors (7 national academicians and 3 international academicians) and tools such as ICT equipment (Each university received 20 desktops and one projector) donated to the departments to strengthen their capacity to conduct quality research and enhance the learning experience of students.
On 7th October 2025, the first batch of undergraduate students from the Universities of Dr. John Garang Memorial University of Science and Technology and Upper Nile University presented and defended their research proposals at the University of Juba, with an audience of Vice Chancellors, Professors, Lecturers and fellow economic students.
Ms. Joyce Makuei Chol, Economist at UNDP, Asst. Prof. Yien Bol Mayuak, Upper Nile University, Prof. Abraham Kuol Nyuon (Ph.D.), University of Juba, Prof. Abraham Matoc Dhal, Vice Chancellor Dr. John Garang Memorial University of Science and Technology, Dr. Mohammed Hussien (Ph.D.), University of Juba, Dr. Ligane Sene (Ph.D.), Economic Advisor for UNDP South Sudan and Eritrea and Hoth Chany, Senior National Country Economist (AfDB) were the accomplished panelists who critiqued each presentation in an attempt to improve the overall research.
Prof. Robert Mayom Deng, Vice Chancellor, University of Juba speaking at the opening of the event encouraged the research students to remain relevant and work hard for the best outcome of their research while Dr. Ligane said, “we want economists who can handle real economic matters and can become contributors to policies that will work for the country.’’
One of the presenters from Dr. John Garang Memorial University of Science and Technology, Arual Elizabeth, a student of the department of business administration, who presented on, the Effects of Microfinance Institutions on the Economic Growth of South Sudan, said, that her participation in conducting her research exposed her to experiences and insight on the challenges small and medium enterprises face daily such as access to loans.
Jacob Machec, a student from the University of Upper Nile who presented on the Impact of Taxation on Economic Growth in South Sudan, said he appreciated how the grants supported him to conduct the research while his field of study granted him access to information on how the tax collection works in South Sudan and valued the opportunity to work with established national and international academicians.
This was the first batch of presentations from two universities, three more universities are expected to present as well, where after the most accomplished papers will be published.
About the Project
UNDP is building on its past and current program implementations to partner with the African Development Bank to provide support to several institutions for improving: (i) data and statistical systems, (ii) parliamentary capacity for oversight, and (iii) public investment programs under the Institutional Support Project For Strengthening Economic Governance in South Sudan (STEG SS) financed by the African Development Bank.
The Ministry of Finance and Planning launched the Revised National Development Strategy aligned with R-ARCSS and national and international commitments like the SDGs to cover 2021 to 2024 and beyond. The Revised National Development Strategy identifies the triple nexus, medium to long-term holistic financing strategies, deepening democratic governance, transitioning to a green economy, economic diversification, population settlement, human development, and macroeconomic management as emerging issues that will inform plans.
The research support program intends to generate insights that improve policy formulation, developing research programs that are tailored to South Sudan’s context to generate knowledge products and skills that can impact and drive South Sudan's development plan positively. This collaboration builds research capacities in the country as the students and academics benefitted from this collaborative research with international academic support