Empower Youth Africa (EYA), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has launched the “Sustainable resettlement and integration of IDPs in Kor-Malang, Western Bahr El Ghazal State” project.
The inception meeting, gathered key stakeholders, including state ministry representatives, local authorities, traditional leaders, civil society organizations, and community members from both displaced and host communities.
The one-month project, running from August 1 to August 31, 2025, aims to support 500 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and vulnerable host community members in Kor-Malang.
Through entrepreneurship mentorship based on the International Labour Organization’s Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) methodology, the project will enhance existing income-generating activity (IGA) groups, strengthen Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), and implement targeted peace-building initiatives.
Mr. Deng Teng Achien, EYA’s field project coordinator, led the meeting, emphasizing the project’s goal of tackling pressing economic and social challenges faced by IDPs and host communities.
Participants, including Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) representative Ms. Randa Lawrence and UNPD representative Ms. Lucia Ramijo Abaker, discussed strategies for enhancing savings capacity, expanding access to agricultural loans, and facilitating structured peace dialogues.
Ms. Randa Lawrence expressed gratitude to EYA and UNDP for their support, highlighting the urgent need for economic empowerment for vulnerable groups, particularly lactating mothers and the elderly.
She stressed that addressing economic hardships and security concerns, including awareness of peaceful coexistence and risks such as gender-based violence, is crucial for ensuring safety in the settlement.
“This initiative is not just about improving incomes; it’s about building trust, promoting dignity, and ensuring peaceful coexistence among displaced and host communities,” she stated.
The meeting concluded with commitments to regular coordination and monitoring, the nomination of focal persons for each group, and clear implementation timelines.
Expected outcomes include improved business and financial management skills, with 80% of participants gaining access to cultivation and harvesting loans, and strengthened inter-communal relationships through collaborative economic activities and community-driven conflict resolution mechanisms.
This project reflects EYA’s commitment to empowering vulnerable communities and fostering resilience through sustainable livelihoods and social cohesion.
