JUBA — Plan International, an international development organization, has launched a new five-year strategy plan to empower children, youth, and women in key areas, including education, protection from violence, leadership, and economic empowerment in South Sudan.
The five-year strategy (2025-2030) aims to empower 5 million people, including 2 million women, 1.6 million children, and 1.4 million girls.
Speaking during the launch of the project in Juba on Wednesday, Hussein Abdebagi, the Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, stated that the new strategy has identified four key areas of intervention to support government efforts, including providing safe, inclusive, and quality learning opportunities for children.
“This strategy comes at a critical time when our country is focused on sustainable recovery, development, and resilience, especially in the areas of child welfare, gender equality, and food security,” said Abdebagi.
“Plan International should continue to focus its interventions in the targeted states. It is paramount that the government support this strategy to prioritize children, youth, and particularly girls and young women, including those affected by conflict, displacement, and poverty,” he added.
For his part, Paul Lusato, the country director for Plan International South Sudan, stated that the critical areas of focus over the next five years will include scaling up humanitarian efforts, quality education, and protection from violence.
“We are currently facing unprecedented challenges, including funding cuts and political and economic instability. Despite this, our strategy is forward-looking, agile, and centered on critical areas such as quality education, protection, and youth leadership,” Lusato said.
Lusato acknowledged the funding constraints and global political and economic instability, reaffirming their commitment to adaptability, innovation, and bold actions to navigate complexities while remaining steadfast in their mission.
“We must be more cost-efficient, maximize outcomes, and ensure the impact we achieve from our dwindling resources. We must also be radically transparent and accountable in everything we do,” he emphasized.
Angela W. Muriithi, the sub-regional director for Plan International in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Horn of Africa, stated the strategy plan prioritizes education, protection from violence, and economic empowerment for youth and women.
“This new country strategy from Plan International is more than just a document; it’s a commitment—a promise to place the rights, voices, and aspirations of children, girls, and young people at the heart of everything we do,” Muriithi said.
“We are reaffirming, together with all of you, our collective vision for a South Sudan where children, adolescent girls, and youth, especially young women, are not merely beneficiaries but active agents of transformative change, shaping their lives for the betterment of their communities and their countries,” she added.
Stephen Kueth, the chairperson for the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC), stated that the new country strategy for 2025-2030 will ensure that South Sudan becomes strong, resilient, and independent in terms of programming.
“This event is not just a ceremony to launch a government; it is a collective statement of hope, purpose, and solidarity with the people of South Sudan, especially our children, girls, and youths who continue to endure challenges,” said Kueth.
“We call upon our immediate friends, donors, and humanitarian partners to continue extending resources to South Sudan, because every child deserves a chance, and every woman and girl deserves to live with dignity and hope,” he added.
Kachuol Mabil, Undersecretary for the Ministry of General Education and Instruction, said that the strategy plan places girls’ education, child protection, youth leadership, and humanitarian response at its core programs.
“As a government, we pledge to continue working with you and other partners to create policies that protect children, invest in education, and open doors for partnerships that bring lasting change,” said Mabil.
Plan International South Sudan’s new five-year strategy for 2025-2030 prioritizes youth engagement, ending child marriage, and girls’ education despite the ripple effects of crises, including shifts in global funding.
