April 2022
The Ministry of Higher Education Science and Technology (MoHEST) had its draft South Sudan Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Policy validated and endorsed by relevant stakeholders. This policy is expected to run from 2022 to 2032.
The STI policy’s technical review was largely supported by UNESCO, whose country Director together with South Sudan’s MoHEST Minister led the validation workshop on 7th September 2021. Following this technical review, key stakeholders provided recommendations, and suggestions were also provided by participants such as FAO, UNHCR, UNFPA, World Bank and selected public and private sector STI institutions.
The South Sudan National Higher Education Policy Framework 2021-2025 has been validated by the relevant stakeholders. The Ministry of Higher Education, Sciences and Technology (MoHEST) validated the Higher Education Policy Framework which targets improving three key areas: education, training, and research.
The new policy framework also aims at improving the accessibility, quality, and inclusivity of education in South Sudan in a bid to promote both innovation and sustainable development in the country.
Gabriel Changson Chang, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, emphasized that the new policy is key in catapulting South Sudan’s development through increasing its people’s capacities especially through the incorporation of ICT in higher education to create a thriving research environment.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has provided technical and financial support for the review and implementation of this policy framework and will continue to support South Sudan in achieving Target 4.3 of SDG 4 which aims, by 2030, “to ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university”.
South Sudan’s Ministry of Environment has planned to launch a new environmental policy for the management and restoration of the Sudd wetlands and other wetlands in the country. This policy will be the first of its kind in South Sudan and is greatly needed with the Sudd being Africa’s largest wetland, and one of the largest freshwater ecosystems in the world.
This new policy is particularly relevant for the Sudd wetlands which are in increasing danger of oil pollution due to increased exploration, and the proliferation of water flora such as water hyacinth and water lilies which make navigation difficult.
The new policy was announced on World Wetland’s day (2 Feb, 2022) by South Sudan's Minister of Environment, Josephine Napwon, who emphasized the importance of the wetlands ecosystem in the fight against climate change. She also stressed on the need to raise awareness on the same in order to mitigate wetlands rapid loss and encourage efforts towards their conservation and restoration.
The Sudd wetlands are crucial for the preservation of various endangered species and support the livelihood of up to 1 million people who inhabit the Sudd wetlands region. The implementation of this new policy will therefore be transformative for not only the local communities and species dependent on the Sudd, but also in the global fight against climate change, making it nationally and globally pertinent.
South Sudan Inclusive Education Policy Implementation Strategy document was reviewed by relevant education stakeholders. The review was organized by the Light of the World Organization in partnership with the Ministry of General Education and Instructions, and the most prominent changes made were specifying the role of the government and its partners in providing inclusive education in South Sudan.
The strategy document is keen to “promote positive attitudes towards inclusive education, improve service delivery by building capacity and setting standards, whilst monitoring progress towards ensuring equal opportunities for the most marginalized learners.”
While South Sudan already adopted the Inclusive Education policy framework in 2020, the strategy document is more specific and time bound, prioritizing the most urgent steps towards improving the inclusivity and capacity of the basic education system over the next five years. The strategy will therefore act as a guide for the Implementation of the Inclusive Education Policy.
Ben Pogo- Director for Inclusive Education, Ministry of General Education and Instruction iterated, “"The document will guide inclusive education policy implementation, harmonize work of partners and avoid duplication and/or contradictions”.
One of the main partners of the strategy development process is Save the Children and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and it will assist in the review of the implantation after the stipulated five years.