The Ministry of Gender, Child, and Social Welfare has received a much-needed boost in its ability to serve the community, thanks to the three four-wheel-drive Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles procured by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).
On Wednesday, June 12, 2024, the ministry received the vehicles to support the South Sudan Women’s Social and Economic Empowerment Project (SSWSEEP).
Ms. Buruktawit Metiku Woldegiorgis handing over the vehicle keys to Mr. Joseph Loro German.
At an official handover ceremony at the ministry’s Project Management Unit (PMU) in Juba Na Bari on Wednesday, the government received the vehicles.
The vehicles will enhance the government’s capacity to deliver essential services to women and girls.
Speaking on behalf of the Undersecretary at the handover ceremony, Mr. Joseph Loro German, the Director General for Finance and Administration at the Ministry of Gender, Child, and Social Welfare, hailed UNOPS for procuring the vehicles on behalf of the ministry, saying that the vehicles will ease the mobility of the women’s empowerment project staff.
“In fact, by delivering these cars, you are facilitating our project,” he said. “They are critical success factors in the project’s implementation.”
Previously, the Ministry faced challenges in reaching communities and delivering essential services to women and girls. These new vehicles will significantly improve transportation, allowing for faster interventions.
Timothy Yobuta, the SSWSEEP project manager, said, “Today marks a very important milestone in our efforts to empower women and girls in this country.” As part of the project implementation, these vehicles will assist us in this endeavor by easing transportation, either of personnel or materials.”
The project manager expressed his excitement about the faster and easier reach of beneficiaries compared to a few months ago, stating that the quality of the vehicles ensures their optimal performance for the project activities.
Mr. Christo John, UNOPS Deputy Project Manager said that the vehicles are comprehensively insured for a year.
Both the ministry and UNOPS inspected the vehicles to check the condition and the documentation of the vehicles. The verification exercise confirmed that the vechicles to be in good condition and complete papers.
Speaking on behalf of the country manager at the handover, Ms. Buruktawit Metiku Woldegiorgis, UNOPS’ Support Service Manager, said she was excited to be part of the handover, saying that she is now sure that the ministry will be able to access more people.
“Today marks a significant milestone for UNOPS as we collaborate with various ministries and government bodies, enabling us to support the ministry in achieving its objectives,” said Metiku.
The Ministry of Gender, Child, and Social Welfare, with support from the World Bank, is implementing the “South Sudan Women’s Social and Economic Empowerment Project.”
The project’s duration is four years (2022-2026), and the goal is to increase girls’, women’s, entrepreneurial, and GBV services, as well as strengthen the government’s capacity to provide these services.
The project targets 48,000 direct beneficiaries, 30,000 women, 6,000 adolescent girls, and 12,000 men and boys through community outreach.
All 10 South Sudanese states, as well as the two administrative areas of Ruweng and Pibor, are implementing the project.
The goal is to increase girls’ and women’s access to livelihood, entrepreneurial, and GBV services, as well as strengthen the government’s capacity to provide these services.