The Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of South Sudan, Hon. Mary Nawai Martin, held a cordial and introductory meeting with Mr. Innocent, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country Representative for South Sudan, at her office in Juba.

Hon. Nawai expressed deep appreciation for UNFPA’s ongoing partnership and support to the Government and people of South Sudan. She reaffirmed her Ministry’s commitment to enhancing cooperation with UNFPA, with a special focus on youth empowerment initiatives that foster meaningful participation of young people at both national and sub-national levels.

During the meeting, Mr. Innocent outlined UNFPA’s key areas of collaboration, including youth engagement, sexual and reproductive health, girls’ education, advocacy against early and forced marriage, and the prevention of gender-based violence (GBV). He reaffirmed UNFPA’s commitment to continue supporting the Ministry and pledged to mobilise additional UN agencies and development partners in alignment with the Government’s top priorities.

Also present at the meeting was the Director General of Youth from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, who emphasised the importance of strategic partnerships in empowering South Sudan’s young population to become active agents of positive change.

This engagement marks a renewed effort to strengthen cooperation between the Ministry and UNFPA in advancing the rights, health, and leadership of young people across South Sudan.