By Philip Buda Ladu
The National Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr. Joseph Geng Akech has tabled a National Youth Development Plan 2024 to the transitional national legislative assembly for deliberation and approval.
While presenting the ministry’s policy during assembly sitting No.50/2024 on Monday, Dr. Geng thanked the parliament leadership, specially the Specialized Committee on Youth and Sports for prioritizing the deliberation of this crucial national policy, the Youth Development Policy.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports carries a huge responsibility to initiate programs for youth empowerment and to achieve this ambition, the Ministry is expected to initiate policies that create opportunities for the youth and young people.
As such, the Ministry of Youth and Sports drafted the national Youth Development Policy first done in 2013.
In his explanatory note to parliament, Geng said the Policy had been prepared with inputs from wide range of stakeholders including; national youth policy review taskforce comprising of youth leaders, line ministries, development partners and civil society organizations.
Before it’s tabling at the parliament the Policy was subsequently presented to the Council of Ministers for approval and passed the august House for deliberation.
However in its wisdom, the House deemed necessary for the Policy to be returned to the Ministry of Youth and Sports for review in relation to the split of the then Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports under whose original mandate the Policy was prepared.
The birth of the Ministry of Youth and Sports followed the signing of the Revitalised Peace Agreement.
Minister Geng noted that upon assuming office, he led the review and caused the revised national Youth Development Policy to be presented to the Council of Ministers.
Therefore the cabinet deliberated upon and approved the Policy with minor amendments in a resolution No. 40/2024 in a meeting held on 31% May 2024.
The Cabinet further directed the Minister of Youth and Sports to present the Policy to the Transitional National Legislative Assembly.
Policy objectives and rationale
Various studies suggest that youth comprise an estimated 72 per cent of the South Sudan population estimate. This calls for a strategic, ambitious, yet thoughtful youth empowerment programs to be initiated and implemented.
The goal therefore, is to empower youth to contribute to the attainment of a peaceful and prosperous South Sudan where all young men and women fully develop their potential to participate in economic and social activities.
Underpinning this goal are the following specific objectives: Empower youth to take part and contribute to the development and sustenance of peace, security and protection from any kind of conflict, gender discrimination, abuse, violence and exploitation;
Develop youth to acquire knowledge, vocational skills (including ICT), entrepreneurship, and innovation;
Enhance youth participation to contribute to community and national development thereby building a sense of commitment to national development initiatives; and Promote youth participation, civic engagement and initiatives that nurture culture, arts, sports and recreational skills.
Key features and programs under the Policy
The Minister explained that the Policy is an integrated, holistic and coordinated framework for development of young men and women. The Policy-defines a youth as any person between the ages of 15 and 35 years.
According to Geng the policy will establish youth programs to be implemented in coordination with development partners.
“In conclusion Rt. Hon. Speaker and honorable members of the august House, this is an overview of the national Youth and Development Policy which I now respectfully submit to you for deliberation” Geng submitted to the policy to the house.
After its tabling, the first deputy speaker Rt. Hon. Nathaniel Oyet Pierino referred the policy the specialized committees for Youth and Sports and that of Legislation and Justice to scrutinize the document and report to the house within 14 days.