South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Jenifer James
Over 4,000 displaced women and girls in Upper Nile State will receive vital support services through a new humanitarian project launched by UN Women South Sudan in collaboration with the Government of Japan.
The initiative, titled “Enhancing Resilience of Women and Girls in Transit and IDP Sites within Upper Nile State,” is financed by $750,000 from Japan’s Fiscal Year 2024 supplementary budget. The one-year project will be implemented in Malakal and Renk counties, which currently host large populations of internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and refugees, many of whom have fled the ongoing conflict in neighbouring Sudan.
“This initiative is a lifeline for women and girls in desperate conditions,” said UN Women Country Representative Delphine Serumaga. “It’s also a step toward building their leadership and resilience in peace and recovery processes.”
The project will focus on providing gender-responsive protection and support, including services for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), the distribution of dignity kits and non-food items, and livelihood programmes such as greenhouse farming and drip irrigation systems.
At the official launch in Juba, Japanese Ambassador to South Sudan Odagiri Toshio highlighted his country’s ongoing commitment to advancing gender equality in conflict-affected regions.
“We are committed to building a society where women shine,” he said. “In South Sudan, that means standing with women and girls affected by displacement and conflict.”
To ensure local relevance and long-term impact, the programme will be implemented in partnership with two national organisations, including a women-led group, promoting community ownership and culturally appropriate approaches.
Running from March 2025 to March 2026, the project is part of Japan’s broader $7 million contribution to UN Women South Sudan since 2015. This funding has supported peacebuilding, humanitarian efforts, and gender equality programmes across the country.
With over 5.4 million people currently in need of humanitarian aid in South Sudan, UN Women is calling for enhanced collaboration and secure humanitarian access, warning that displaced women and girls remain among the most vulnerable in the ongoing crisis.
