“We are therefore calling upon all eligible business owners, companies and organizations to apply for this funding opportunity under the Investing in diversified economy-led growth model,” it reads in part.

Meanwhile, the Ministry’s Department of Communication and Media distances itself from the advert, saying it is the work of “unscrupulous scammers.”

“This is to inform the general public and social media users in particular to be cautious of unscrupulous scammers using the name of the Honorable Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Bak Barnaba Chol to scam unsuspecting Facebook subscribers.”

“It should be noted that all formal communications from the Ministry of Finance and Planning are either published on the official website (www.mofp.gov.ss) or posted here on this official Facebook Page,” the ministry clarified.

– The agreement –

The finance ministry did indeed sign the 12.3-million-dollar Tripartite Funding and Implementation Agreement with AfDB and UNSECO in December 2023.

But the grant was meant to support the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and value chain projects in three identified Ministries, instead of the Small and Midsized Interprise (SMES) purported by the scammers.

The Minister of Finance and Planning, Hon. Dr. Bak Barnaba Chol signed on behalf of the government and AfDB country Manager Mr. Themba Bhebhe signed on behalf of the Africa Development Bank while Dr. Tap Raj Pant signed on behalf of UNESCO.

The tripartite agreed projects were expected to commence early this year, effecting capacity building, manpower development and exchange of technological know-how among the people of South Sudan in various part of the country.

There are at least three Facebook pages with the name Ministry of Finance and Planning, one of which is verified.

Meanwhile, the verified page named South Sudan’s Ministry of Finance & Planning is currently dormant.

The official page goes by the name Ministry of Finance and Planning – South Sudan, has 8,100 followers and a logo of the ministry as its profile picture.

The finance minister himself has two Facebook accounts to his name, but it is not clear if he owns any of them.