Youth Demographics and Rising Pressure
With over seventy percent of South Sudanese under thirty, demographic momentum outpaces opportunity. Chronic unemployment, interrupted schooling and conflict have created a generation hungry for change yet anxious about stalled prospects, civil-society leaders noted during a packed Juba forum.
National Youth Policy Awaits Parliamentary Nod
Markaz Al Salam executive director Florence Agiba reminded officials that drafted texts alone cannot employ youths. She urged parliament to move the National Youth Development Policy to a decisive vote and convert it from “mere words” into funded programmes that deliver skills and stability.
Stalled Bills Under Justice Review
Alongside the policy, the Youth Development Enterprise Fund Bill sits at the Ministry of Justice. Advocates say the microfinance window could stimulate start-ups, apprenticeships and rural ventures, easing pressure on limited public-sector jobs and channelling youthful energy toward private innovation.
Government and Union Perspectives
Deputy youth union chair Motwakil Awol Mamour framed the bills as tools for peace-building, insisting that legislative inertia erodes social cohesion. Minister for Youth and Sports Mary Nawai responded by urging education, unity and female entrepreneurship, warning young women against dependency on “moneyed men”.
Donor Backing and Next Steps
Development partners such as Norwegian People’s Aid pledged technical support and monitoring. Programme officer Kenyi Emmanuel said donors “look forward to the next stage”, pointing to additional drafts like the Student Support Fund that could reinforce academic retention and workforce readiness.
Forum attendees voiced cautious optimism that sustained advocacy will translate youthful numbers into an economic dividend. Yet speakers agreed that timelines matter; each month of delay risks deepening frustration among a generation that increasingly looks to migration or militia for alternative futures.