More than 40 traders and local authorities have received leadership training to help them manage and build their businesses in support of the local economy in Tonj.
The Relief, Reintegration and Protection team from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan provided the training to participants from the Ministries of Local Government, Physical Infrastructure and Social Development as well as to young traders, members of the Aguka Women’s Association and other community members.
“The training has been a real eye-opener and could help me set up a health business that will benefit the nation,” said Mary Ucidi, a business-woman from Aguka payam.
The local economy is predominantly driven by subsistence agriculture mixed with the keeping of animals, iron smelting, bee keeping, honey harvesting and the production of ironware. The community also engages in fishing and hunting and grows a wide variety of crops, including vegetables, fruits, sorghum and maize.
Households often have a surplus of produce when they experience a good harvest, but they often have nowhere to sell their goods. Representatives from the Commissioner’s office, Grant Development Committee and Payam office also participated in the training to give them the knowledge and leadership skills required to oversee the effective and efficient operation of the local market.
The Tonj Minister of Rural Development, Water and Cooperative, Weth Ayok Malueth, said the training would be of great benefit to the local community.
“This is the first training of its kind in Tonj in terms of business management and leadership skills,” he said. “There is a lot we can do to grow our businesses and cooperate to build the local economy if the training is adopted.”
Last year, the Aguka community benefited from the construction of a new women’s market with 14 stalls and a new borehole to provide a clean water supply as one of UNMISS’ Quick Impact Projects that support sustainable development, the return of displaced people to their homes in the aftermath of the five-year conflict and to help women find jobs and build businesses.