March 20, 2025 (Juba, South Sudan): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has conducted National Consultation meeting on the Implementation of IGAD Qualification Framework and Development of National Qualification in the Republic of South Sudan, to promote regional integration, enhance mobility, and ensure that qualifications earned in one country are recognised and valued throughout the region.
The objective of three days meeting, in Juba, South Sudan, is to create a common understanding among the ministries of education, national stakeholders, and development partners engaged in the development of the education sector and improving the quality of education.
In her opening remarks, Dr Victoria Anib, Head of Social Development Unit, IGAD, highlighted that the IGAD Qualifications Framework is a pivotal initiative that has the potential to transform the educational landscape not only in South Sudan but throughout the IGAD region.
Dr Victoria emphasised that by adopting this framework, south Sudan is taking a bold step toward aligning its standards with international best practices, and in doing so, the country is empowering its citizens with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in a globalized world, “This framework will serve as a vital tool for improving educational quality, increasing employability, and providing a brighter future for our youth,” she added.
In his opening remarks, Hon. Gabriel Changson Chang, Minister, Higher Education Science and Technology, South Sudan reminded that in 2024, the South Sudan Policy forms activities namely, National Qualification Framework Steering Committee, (to develop National qualification framework), including, committees of the National Research, Quality assurance and student support fund to improve the quality of education in the country. “Thanks IGAD for supporting South Sudan and we ask IGAD to continue supporting south Sudan and promise to implement the recommendation and create authority to implement National Qualification frame work,” the minister noted.
Janet Akala, Associate Education Officer, United Nation Higher Commission for Refugees, Representation Office explained that Since the outbreak of conflict in Sudan over 900,895 individuals have crossed into South Sudan as of 31stDecember 2024. The majority, 701,996 are South Sudanese returnees, 197,000 are refugees and asylum seekers, and 1,899 are third-country nationals.
The officer described that South Sudan is currently home to some 548,036 refugees and asylum seekers located in over 29 different locations across the country. “I wish to express my sincere appreciation to our generous donors for their continued financial and technical support; to IGAD for facilitating this very important national dialogue. We Reaffirm that UNHCR remains committed to facilitating actors to support the development of the South Sudan National Qualifications Framework,” she stated.
Dr Kebede Kassa Tsegaye, Senior Program Coordinator of Education, Sceience Technology and Innovation, IGAD, said that when adopting the IGADQF, the IGAD ministers in charge of education urged IGAD to speed up the implementation of the IGADQF at regional and national levels ,this include preparing policy documents, manuals and guidelines at regional level and conducting a series of national consultations to help Member States to develop their National Qualifications. “So far IGAD has conducted two national consultations in Ethiopia in July 2024 and Udanda in August 2024,” Dr. Kebede mentioned.
Participants of the National Consultation are drawn from the two ministries of education, relevant sectoral ministries, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representatives of women, youth and refugees (especially teachers), UNESCO, UNHCR and the IGAD Secretariat.
Budget for the various activities is wfunded from the IGAD – GIZ (Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit) /SIMPI Financing Agreement.
Subsequently, the National Consultation meeting concluded successfully and generated recommendations to all stakeholders and the way forward on developing the National Qualification Frameworks in south Sudan.
The IGAD Regional Qualifications Framework (IGADQF) is one of the five key deliverables of the Djibouti Declaration, the implementation of which is tasked to IGAD to lead. After years of advocacy, broad-based consultation, experts’ input, partnerships building, the IGADQF has been adopted in May 2024 in Entebbe, Uganda.
