The world’s youngest nation, South Sudan, in 2011 following an historic referendum. But just two years later, violence broke out, resulting in a countrywide political and security crisis that displaced almost 500,000 people within the first month of the conflict.
The peace agreement remains fragile: South Sudan still faces serious governance challenges and conflict, with civilians bearing the brunt of the consequences.
There are reports of killings, abductions, conflict?related sexual violence, arbitrary arrests and detention of opponents, journalists and activists, along with rising hate speech.
Working with the and other partners, a peacebuilding initiative was launched to strengthen the role of women in uniform in local peace efforts by equipping them with essential literacy, numeracy, and technology skills.
Photo above: Literacy and tech skills training for South Sudanese women security personnel. Credit: UNESCO Photo below: Lieutenant Colonel Eliza Adut and other female security officers. Credit: UNESCO
Lieutenant Colonel Eliza AdutWe women, we are really suffering. This is why we want to learn – to fight for our rights.”
From literacy to leadership
In South Sudan, women remain underrepresented and often excluded from leadership roles in the security sector.
The three-year -supported literacy initiative helped over 800 women gain the confidence and skills to serve effectively and seek promotion into specialized security roles.
The initiative helped to ensure that women in uniform were not left behind, especially those who have had limited access to learning throughout their lives.
Photo below: Literacy and tech skills training for South Sudanese women security personnel. Credit: UNESCO
Strengthening responses to gender-based violence
Impunity for perpetrators, coupled with a history of sustained violence and instability, has fueled widespread conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence in South Sudan.
Improving literacy among security personnel helps women in uniform—some of whom have suffered gender-based violence themselves—document and investigate cases more effectively, amplify survivors’ voices, and strengthen trust between communities and the security sector. It creates conditions for accountability, protection, and more inclusive, responsive institutions.
Salva Tong Akot, facilitator and school headteacherThose women whom you are seeing - are women who were struggling during the time of war. Now the war has ended, and now is the time to empower them with knowledge and skills.”
Building skills, rebuilding futures
Improved literacy, numeracy and technological skills enabled participants to engage more effectively in their work, support others, and contribute to more inclusive and trusted institutions in South Sudan.
Emerging from years of conflict, these women are gaining the skills that will help them to shape a new future, showing that even after hardship, hope can flourish, and lives can be rebuilt.
Our partners in peacebuilding in South Sudan
For 20 years, the UN Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund has empowered people to rebuild their communities and countries in the aftermath of conflict and crisis, working with them to build the resilience needed to prevent the recurrence of violence and secure lasting peace.
The literacy and tech skills training peacebuilding initiative was led by , the and , with technical support from the and local partners.
UN Peacebuilding initiatives are made possible by the generous contributions of Member States and the indispensable support of implementing partners, including UN agencies and local organizations.