South Sudan, Swisspeace: Renewable Energy and Peace Education in South Sudan (REPOS)


swisspeace will review the curriculum of Institute of Peace, Development and Security Studies (IPDSS) of the University of Juba (UoJ). The curriculum will promote good governance, peacebuilding and  conflict  transformation  and  quality  teaching. Access  to  electricity will  be  promoted  by  training students of the faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) with the skills of installing and maintaining photovoltaic system, which also offers them employment opportunities.   

Paese/Regione Tema Periodo Budget
Sudan del Sud
Istruzione
Education facilities and training
Formazione professionale avanzata
Istruzione terziaria
01.02.2025 - 31.01.2027
CHF  175’000
Contesto The University of Juba (UoJ) is faced with the problem of outdated curriculum and the  lack of reliable access to electricity. Current teaching at the IPDSS  is  largely  based  on  curriculum  developed since  1997,  under  the Khartoum-based Sudanese government.  Lack  of  funds  and  limited  access  to relevant publications have undermined updating the curriculum. Despite South Sudan’s long history of armed  conflict,  conflict  transformation  and  peacebuilding do not constitute key course topics in IPDSS and UoJ in general. The World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Programme (ESMAP)1 survey found that as low as 6 percent of South  Sudanese  have  access  to  electricity.  The Juba Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (JEDCO) operates a functional distribution grid on the back of a public-private partnership2 limited only in parts of Juba, excluding its outskirts. The survey suggested that  educational  institutions  face  the worst  access rate  (7.4%),  followed  by  government  and  NGO offices  (16.5%)  and  health  facilities  (69.5%).  For expanding access to electricity, training students of the UoJ in off-grid solar power generation is seen as a viable and clean alternative to diesel generators.   
Obiettivi University of Juba becomes a more effective institution of higher education with  quality education, contributing to good governance, peace and resilience and creating employment  opportunities, including in the renewable energy sector. 
Gruppi target

Targets students of University of Juba from:  

  • Institute of Peace, Development and Security Studies. 
  • College of Engineering and the College of Applied and Industrial Sciences.  
  • Staff of UoJ 
Effetti a medio termine
  • The IPDSS is strengthened to engage and support  the  government,  civil  society organizations, international donors, and aid agencies and to accompany them during the current fragile transition period. 
  • The STEM and Vocational Centre offers two advanced training modules  covering knowledge and skills required to install and maintain the types of off-grid PV  systems available, thereby linking the supply and demand sides. 
Risultati

Risultati principali attesi:  

  • 27 IPDSS staff (22 male / 5 female), 217 current students (187 male / 30 female) and 220 future students couched on curriculum review. 
  • 60 peace researchers, practitioners and policymakers targeted for community of practice support. 
  • 100 students, 50 per year trained on installing and maintaining PV systems: 
  • Two advanced ToT training modules developed and delivered. 


Risultati fasi precedenti:  

The project will build on the pilot (E-) Powering South Sudan Higher Education  (EPOS) project (2019-2021) thus:  

  •  A tracer study on 274 alumni was done. 
  •  IPDSS coached on the curriculum review. 
  • A pilot course on peacebuilding and conflict transformation was delivered in Juba. 
  • A training lab for knowledge transfer on photovoltaic (PV) was established. 
  • A practice oriented course module was developed and piloted with twelve  faculty members and later rolled to 70 students. 


Direzione/Ufficio responsabile DSC
Partner del progetto Partner contrattuale
Instituzione universitaria e di ricerca svizzera
  • Fondazione svizzera per la pace


Coordinamento con altri progetti e attori Ministry of Education, Catholic University, Sudd Institute, Ebony Center for Strategic Studies, Rift Valley Institute, UN agencies and NGOs. 
Budget Fase in corso Budget Svizzera CHF    175’000 Budget svizzero attualmente già speso CHF    70’000 Budget inclusi partner del progetto CHF    234’560 Progetto totale dalla prima fase Budget Svizzera CHF   0 Budget inclusi partner del progetto CHF   175’000
Fasi del progetto Fase 1 01.02.2025 - 31.01.2027   (Fase in corso)