South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The Minister of Finance and Planning, Marial Dongrin Ater, revealed that the South Sudanese government plans to invest in education and health to accelerate development across the country.
“Our national development strategy prioritises investment in health care, education, gender equality, and job creation as foundational pillars for achieving sustainable population outcomes and economic growth,” Ater said on Friday at the Transitional Legislative Assembly during the commemoration of World Population Day 2025.
“To achieve development, we must expand access to quality education, vocational training, strengthen our health care system, and create robust economic opportunities for young people and women,” he added.
Ater noted that 70 percent of South Sudan’s population is under the age of 30, emphasising that harnessing the potential of young people across the country requires deliberate, coordinated, and sustained action.
“The Ministry of Finance and Planning, in collaboration with the relevant ministries represented here today, is committed to developing integrated policies aimed at leveraging this demographic potential,” he said.
Sarah Masale, the Country Representative for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in South Sudan, highlighted the need to empower young people through comprehensive sexuality education and informed decision-making throughout their lives.
“Women and young people face barriers in exercising autonomy; they must be supported to achieve economic independence through secure jobs and access to decent living conditions and housing,” Masale stated.
Anita Kiki Gbeho, the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator, affirmed the United Nations’ commitment to assist South Sudanese.
“We are prepared to support approximately 1 million people affected by flooding this year. Disease outbreaks exacerbate our challenges, and localised insecurity increases the demand for assistance against a backdrop of ongoing crises,” Gbeho explained.
“We also recognise the important legislative agenda currently under discussion, including the national youth development policy. These frameworks have the potential to significantly enhance power, dignity, and opportunities for the next generation,” she added.
World Population Day 2025, celebrated annually on July 11, is organised by the United Nations Population Fund in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, under the theme: empowering young people to create the families they desire in a fair and hopeful world.
