Shoko Noda, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and also the Crisis Bureau Director for the United Nations Development Program - Courtesy

UNDP is committed to working with the government of South Sudan in building the capacities of the youth through critical development support, the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General has said.

Shoko Noda who is also the Crisis Bureau Director for the United Nations Development Program says, the initiative will help tap the youth’s potential by harnessing their capabilities to become independent.

Noda made the remarks while addressing the media on Friday, March 1, 2024, following her visit to South Sudan.

The United Nations Assistant Secretary-General visited South Sudan to witness the deepening crisis, especially the large-scale displacement due to the Sudan conflict.

Noda reiterates the UN’s commitment to supporting the youth to build, start their lives, and obtain food by themselves rather than being more dependent on external support.

She says the same support equally goes to the host community in the refugee areas to enable them to receive asylum seekers as they get integrated and become part of the communities.

“Engagement with the host community is extremely important because, in the end, we like to see them integrated, received, and be part of the overall communities,” Noda told media on Friday in Juba.

“Our support goes to both. If we are talking about IDPs and so on, our support goes to both. What I have said about the youth population is just the youth population in general,” she said.

“In Malakal, we have noticed my representative noticed that there were no, for example, taxis, the private sector or business is not there. People do not feel safe enough to have normal life back.

“We are supporting youth to build, start their lives, food by themselves rather than being more dependent on support being given externally”.

During her visit, Noda engaged with senior officials including Vice President of the Gender and Youth Cluster, Rebecca Nyandeng, and Albino Atak, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management.

She also met UN Special Representative Nicholas Haysom alongside key UN partners and donors.

UNDP is working in all South Sudanese States at the national level to strengthen institutions responsible for building a safer, more peaceful, and prosperous society.

At the local levels, UNDP is working with local authorities to provide the essential foundations for building resilience including strengthening access to justice, essential services delivery, and peacebuilding.