South Sudan continues to make significant advancements for the youth and women through vocational training that equips them with skills to increase their employability in the labour market and upskills them to pursue entrepreneurship. Youth and women training under the SEED4Youth program, supported by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Ministry of Labour graduated from Wau, Malakal, Rumbek, and Juba vocational training centers. These milestones reflect the achievements in developing youth employability, gender equality, and private-sector engagement in the country through embracing vocational training that may not covered in formal education curriculums.  UNICEF estimates that more than 70% of children in South Sudan are out of school, with girlsaffected the most. Seed4Youth predominantly targets underprivileged youth and women in South Sudan with or without formal education and between 18-35 years to help bridge this gap. Since the inception of this initiative, more than 4000 youth have successfully completed skills training and graduated. From the graduation statistics, more than 55% of the graduates are women showcasing the ground-breaking effects of this initiative. 

Seed 4 Youth project adopts both community-based and institution-based training. The expected outcomes are enhanced employability of youth and women, access to finance, employment creation, and increased private sector engagement in agricultural and climate-smart value chains. These objectives are consistent with sustainable development goals for poverty reduction, gender equality, and the development of economic diversification. The project provides multifaceted intervention measures that include vocational training, career counseling, and the creation of micro, small, and medium-sized (MSEs). By providing tailored support and resources, the project helps in training the youth and women with skills and tools that will allow them to thrive in their respective fields. 

In addition, the project provides additional targeted support to its beneficiaries to make them all rounded. These include career counseling, job placements, access to digital trade and linkages to finance. This ensures the Youth and Women are economically self-sufficient which will in turn not only enhance livelihoods but also strengthen the broader socio-economic development and stability of South Sudan. 

There is a total of 22 vocational trades that youth benefit from. These include automotive mechanics, masonry, electrical and solar installation, driving, building and construction, hairdressing, carpentry, and joinery. Catering services, Hotel management, hairdressing, tailoring, and restaurant management are also included in the training curriculum. The community-based skill trades such as fish processing, vegetable production, milk processing, poultry rearing, and beekeeping tackle Agricultural Value chains and climate-smart techniques.

In Western Bar eh Ghazal, Wau Vocational Training center, held a colourful graduation for 126 students. These included 90 males and 36 females. The Malakal Vocational Training Centre played host to the first-ever graduation ceremony in 9 years in Upper Nile State, where 340 graduates-252 females and 88 males-received their certificates after concluding the institution-based training. This included ten youth with special needs, illustrating the commitment of the SEED4Youth Program to inclusivity. In Central Equatoria State, the Juba Multi-Purpose Training Centre marked a successful graduation of 750 graduates (404 females and 346 males). In addition, 137 trainees- including 50 males and 87 females-finished their training and graduated at the Rumbek Vocational Training Centre in Lakes State. Plans are currently underway to organize the graduation of 700 students who concluded their skills training in Yambio.