February 2, 2022 — Speaking during a panel discussion on Women Enterprise Development Fund, organized by Centre for Inclusive Governance Peace and Justice (CIGPJ) in Juba on Monday, Mr. Morris Madut, a Juba University Economics lecturer, called for a policy framework to guide establishment of women fund.
According to Mr. Madut, over 60% of small and medium businesses in South Sudan are owned by women and if given a chance, women can excell.
“Nearly 63% of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Sudan are run by women. We should break barriers that hold back women in society and women should position themselves for available opportunities that may arise” he said.
As stipulated in the September 2018 peace agreement, the transitional government shall establish the fund for provision of subsidized credit for women based enterprise development and capacity building for women entrepreneurs.
The Agreement further stipulates that the government shall identify local, national, sectoral or private sector associations with the view to improving their productivity or efficiency through capacity enhancement and easing access to financing.
Madut, however, said financial management skills are important to women.
“There is need to invest in financial management skills to enhance the way funds provided to the various women entrepreneurs will be handled,” he stressed.
Jackline Nasiwa, the Executive Director for ICGPJ emphasized the need to create awareness among civil society actors and responsible institutions on importance of establishing a Women Enterprise Development Fund in South Sudan.
“We need to raise awareness among communities in South Sudan on the importance of the Women Enterprise Development Fund,” she told the panelists.
An estimated up to $100m has been earmarked for the women enterprise fund.
Yolanda Awel Deng, a national lawmaker, said research showed 75% of women in South Sudan contributes to family incomes prior to Covid-19 outbreak.
“The economy of economy was struggling before the pandemic because of the conflict, but then worsened after the coronavirus outbreak,” she explained.
Awel said decades of conflicts have contributed to integration traumas in form of post-traumatic stress disorders, emotional disconnect and early dementias and as such Awel recommends that the government should enact mental health policies and provide necessary supports.
“Government should support a mental health policy that is locally geared and implemented towards a society with a destroyed social fabric,” she stressed.
Lack of infrastructure, multiple taxes, insecurity and low business skills, among others were cited as key factors likely to hamper operation of the women fund.
In South Sudan, increasing insecurity and a deteriorating economic situation continues to force people, mainly the women and children, out of their homes.
