Eleven ventures in South Sudan have been awarded a total of USD 544,000 in this year’s WFP IGNITE Food Systems Innovation Challenge and an opportunity to contribute towards transforming the country’s food system.
Speaking during the event on Tuesday, The Executive Director of the South Sudan National Bureau of Standards (SSNBS), Gloria Nyoka Joseph said it was a good program that is bringing all our inter-pioneers to recognize this change on how to strengthen economy in this country.
“The Bureau of Standards is grateful to be part of nurturing the inter-pioneers in South Sudan. Our support come in terms of making sure quality and safety is achieved through all the process of production and processing”. Nyoka said
Nyoka emphasized that the Bureau of Standards provides the standards that makes the quality and food safety achievable.
“It has been not an easy road for you to reach here, but I’m sure you have learned from others like Hagana when they are talking about the winning is not the end of the thing, but it is the beginning of the biggest milestone” she said.
“I would like to say congratulations and make sure that the funds that you are receiving is going to go also to achieve your mandates and the goals that you have set for your different organizations” Nyoka added.
She underlined the Bureau of Standards comes in for the provision of the standard to make sure that the standardization and certification is taking place.
Nyoka further highlighted that all the products that are processed or produced has to be certified and to have quality marks.
“We are looking forward to work with you together, hands in hands, to make sure that products from South Sudan is not only for the local market in South Sudan, but it is crossing the borders to the region and globally” she said.
She emphasized the important for SSBS to making sure they were doing certification to South Sudan products adding thathaving a quality mark for our products is like having a passport to cross to another country.
She stated that quality mark means the passport for South Sudan products to cross the border from South Sudan to the other countries.
“We appreciate all our development partners for your efforts, that you are really working hard with the government of South Sudan to make sure that we are achieving our different goals in making sustainable development in this country” she explained.
She reaffirmed the Bureau of Standard’s commitment to provide the standards and to provide also conformity assessment, which includes testing and confirming that localproducts have the quality and the safety of itself.
“This is one of the mandates of the Bureau because our role is to make sure that we are also enhancing the economy of South Sudan. Once more, congratulations to the winners” she stated.
Winners receive grant funding ranging from USD 20,000 to USD 40,000, alongside access to expert mentorship, business acceleration, and the chance to establish strategic partnerships.
Undersecretary for Agriculture at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. John Ogoto Kanisio affirmed building sustainable food systems is the cornerstone of South Sudan’s path to food security, economic sovereignty, and climate resilience.
“By investing in young, innovative entrepreneurs, we are not only creating jobs, but we are also unlocking rural potential, driving inclusive agribusiness growth, and cultivating a new generation of leaders who will position South Sudan competitively in regional and global markets.
Ogoto emphasized the Ministry is fully committed to this vision, and called on all partners to join in empowering youth to lead the transformation of the country’s food systems.
The top two winners are Africa Cornerstone General Trading and Dream Farm Agribusiness Cooperative which were all women-led had demonstrated remarkable commitment to environmental sustainability.
The challenge is a brainchild of the IGNITE Innovation Hub of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and implemented through its partners AfriLabs and Seed Grow South Sudan in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
IGNITE Food Systems Challenge seeks to find and promote locally driven solutions to food systems challenges.
Past winners include Hagana Agro Processing Company, which has since grown into a household brand in South Sudan and competes favourably in regional markets.