Gov’t launches situation analysis of children report

JUBA — South Sudan government on Tuesday launched the Situation Analysis of Children Report in Juba highlighting the urgent need to sharpen investments in basic services to alleviate child poverty.

The analysis will provide policymakers with crucial data and recommendations that will inform better planning for national health and development goals, particularly those related to children and women and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The report provides key insights to promote and implement equity-sensitive policies, programmes and budget allocations.

It will guide the humanitarian and development actors in the country to build effective child-friendly programmes that respond to the needs of the most vulnerable.

“The Situation Analysis report analyses the child rights gaps that must be addressed and shed light on the specific sectors and policies that need to be strengthened and funded to ensure an equitable South Sudan for all its children. The report stresses the importance of increased national budget allocations for key social sectors such as education and health,” said Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Planning (MoFP), Mr. Ocum Genes Karlo.

The Situation Analysis report gives an extensive overview of the status of the rights of children in South Sudan.

It highlights that one child out of ten does not reach their fifth birthday, 2.8 million children are out of school, and over half of all girls are married before they turn 18.

It also includes a list of 16 concrete recommendations to make South Sudan more child-friendly. 

“This is a defining moment for South Sudan. We have just completed our first decade of independence. This report will help us take the stock of where we are. It will galvanize policymakers in our country to prioritize the voices of children, women, persons with disabilities, and other key groups, in actions at every level towards building a more child and gender-friendly South Sudan,” said Under-Secretary, Ministry of Gender, Child & Social Welfare (MoGCSW) Ms. Ester Ikere Eluzai.

“It is very important that while UNICEF plans for the next country programme for South Sudan as part of the upcoming UN Sustainable Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) to support the National Development Strategy, we prioritize the crucial recommendations from this analysis to contribute to the sustainable changes the children in this country urgently need,” said Benjamin Kilonzo, acting UNICEF Representative in South Sudan.

The Situation Analysis report was launched at an event organized at UNICEF.

The event was chaired by a UNICEF Child Reporter and was graced by the participation of the Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Planning and the Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare.