By Binia Elizabeth

In a major step toward promoting gender equality and economic inclusion, the Ministry of Gender, Child, and Social Welfare officially launched the Women Entrepreneurs Boot Camp in Juba on Monday.

The initiative is part of the Women Entrepreneurial Opportunity Facility (WEOF), under the broader South Sudan Women’s Social and Economic Empowerment Project (SSWSEEP).

The boot camp targets over 1,000 women entrepreneurs selected from a highly competitive pool of more than 3,400 applicants who responded to a nationwide call in March this year.

 A total of 1,182 women have been chosen for the intensive program, which is being conducted in two cohorts; 600 participants in the first group and 582 in the second.

Training sessions are being held across three venues in Juba. These include Orange Corner, Central Equatoria Women’s Union, and Accasia. The program is expected to run up to August 18, 2025.

Speaking at the launch, Joseph Loro German, the Director General for Finance and Administration in the Ministry of Gender, praised the selected participants and urged them to take full advantage of the opportunity.

“You are the change makers and builders of South Sudan’s future,” Mr. Loro said. “We are committed to creating an enabling environment for women entrepreneurs. Maximize this training opportunity and embrace collaboration.”

Following the training, the women will pitch their business ideas before a technical selection committee.

A total of 900 entrepreneurs will be awarded Seed Lab grants ranging between USD2,000 and USD4,000, depending on the feasibility and innovation of their proposals. The grants are intended to help scale early-stage businesses and foster long-term sustainability.

Timothy Yobuta, Program Manager at the Ministry, highlighted the program’s long-term planning and its dedication to transparency.

“This boot camp reaffirms our commitment to inclusive economic development. We have put in place mechanisms for feedback and redress to make sure support goes to the women who need it most,” he said.

Development partners have also expressed strong support for the initiative.

UN Women’s Project Manager, Lansana Wonneh, described the boot camp as a transformative opportunity.

“This program will not only change your businesses,” he told participants.

 “it will support your children’s education and strengthen your decision-making power at home. We envision women as equal partners in family and national development.”

Meanwhile, Richard Orengo, Country Director of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), also commended the project’s potential to create a ripple effect of social and economic benefits across communities in South Sudan

The Women Entrepreneurs Boot Camp is a flagship component of the SSWSEEP, which seeks to increase women’s participation in South Sudan’s economy through training, funding, and capacity-building.

As the boot camp kicks off, it marks a promising chapter for thousands of South Sudanese women striving to lead in business and uplift their communities.