Minister of Finance and Planning Dier Tong Ngor speaks at the South Sudan Oil and Power Conference in Juba. | Photo: Lou Nelson/Eye Radio

The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning proposed the establishment of a neutral funding scheme for civil society organizations to enhance transparency and accountability in the country on Thursday.

Speaking during the South Sudan Oil and Power Conference in Juba, Dier Tong Ngor said funding the activities of civil society organizations will enhance independent and accountable institutions.

“Vigorous civil society is critical for achieving and maintaining the high standard of accountability,” said Tong.

He added that the government must support the civil society groups in the country to dispel what he termed as conditional funding from some donors.

“We need to encourage our civil society to play their role, but we need to find a way of financing our civil society in a transparent manner rather than us leaving them with nothing.”

“Therefore, when they are financed (by donors), others definitely place conditions and attachment with that so in many countries. I think there is a way whereby we can put funds that can be used for our civil societies to do their work.”

It is not clear whether the minister intends to put the proposal together as a bill to be discussed by the cabinet.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Petroleum suggested the need for empowerment of women in the oil and energy sector to enable them compete with their counter parts around the World.

Puot Kang Chol said women in other oil-producing countries are proactive which is contrary to the situation in South Sudan.

“I think it is time to come up with an scheme that aim to empower our women. We face a challenge honorable Ministers, every time we travel we find ourselves with a lot of men.”

“But when you arrive there, you will be faced with a challenge where you find many women (from other countries) and they begin to ask you; are there no women in South Sudan?”

“We cannot survived without women of course and if we cannot, then it mean we will never take this country very far without equal footing with our women.”