Cecelia Anei watched her home collapse and her family forced to run when fighting tore through Malakal village, the capital of Upper Nile State in South Sudan in 2023. Her life was quickly thrown into chaos and like millions, lost everything due to the conflict.
Later that year, Anei, 28, received an interest-free loan of $27,000 from the Youth Enterprise Development and Capacity Building (YEDCB) project, financed by the African Development Bank Group and implemented by UNDP. From there, her situation began to improve.
With the funds, Anei returned home to Malakal, moved to a Protection of Civilian site, and revived her vegetable selling business in 2024. She now employs two workers, and has so far repaid 38% of the loan, remaining on track to clear the balance on time.
Cecelia Anei smiles in front of her vegetable stand, a business she started with an interest-free loan received from the Bank's YEDCB project in South Sudan.
"The business has enabled me to accumulate savings which I am now using to rebuild a home for my family," Anei said. She added: "This project has supported many displaced women. It has restored our confidence, enabling us to return home and rebuild our lives.
Cecelia's story is not isolated. In a country where youth make up 72% of the population, the YEDCB project is unlocking real market opportunities for South Sudanese youth and women, paving the way for them to compete globally.
"The interest-free loan enabled us to source raw products and process them to international standards for global sales," said Godwin Juma, Sales and Marketing Officer of Hagana Agro-processing Company Limited, which produces honey, peanut butter and sesame products. "Before, we only sold the raw products. Now we're part of value chains and are shaping new markets.
Thanks to YEDCB, Hagana has been able to support farmers in South Sudan's honey, sesame, and peanut value chains by combining ethical beekeeping, sustainable farming and expert training.
"The YEDCB project is creating pathways to opportunity by strengthening institutions through training and investing in ICT equipment to improve public services; fostering private-sector engagement through enabling business linkages and market access which connects youth-owned enterprises with buyers and supply chains," said Mohamed Abchir, UNDP's South Sudan Resident Representative.
In Juba, the capital city, the YEDCB project has propelled the Betty Events Women Group Village Savings and Credit Cooperative Society from a modest start-up to a full-fledged business. The cooperative, comprising 40 entrepreneurs, began in 2019 as small enterprise selling a few snacks. Now it purchases products in bulk, has hired 23 workers, and expanded into honey, shea butter, natural oils, and okra powder that is sold locally, regionally, and internationally.
Betty Poni, (far R), sells processed agricultural products at a local market on behalf of her cooperative society. The start-up used an interest-free loan to improve product packaging, leading to a substantial sales increase that has benefitted families of the cooperative members. Receiving an interest-free loan of roughly $38,500 accelerated the society's growth. The complementary trainings strengthened their processing, packaging, branding and financial management skills, boosting sales and profits.
"We have been able to improve our packaging and labeling and have increased sales to now be able to comfortably pay school fees and healthcare for our children and families, provide other basic needs and still save for the future," said an elated Betty Poni, the group's chairlady.
The group aims to supply its products to supermarkets across the country, while inspiring other young entrepreneurs to develop business skills and actively participate in the local economy.
To date, $110 million has been disbursed across states within the country, with 1,247 youth and women-led micro and small enterprises accessing interest-free loans.
Monica Agum Daniel Awet Akot, Undersecretary of Youth and Sports of South Sudan, hails the partnership with the Bank, saying it reflects the commitment to empowering its youth and women by encouraging policies and initiatives that foster innovation, entrepreneurship and skills development.
Outgoing African Development Bank Country Manager for South Sudan, Themba Bhebhe noted that the YEDCB project, which aligns with the Jobs for Youth initiative, equips South Sudan's youth with the skills, finance, and assistance to build sustainable businesses and create employment.
"The Bank envisages further scaling up assistance to similar women and youth-led groups in 2026, to strengthen the financial ecosystem serving these groups in order consolidate the gains of the YEDCB project," he said.
