In South Sudan’s Greater Upper Nile region, communities face ongoing challenges, including economic difficulties caused by conflict, displacement, or climate-related disasters. Nyachiang Biel participated in a liquid soap-making training and launched her own business. She is now securing a brighter future for herself and her family. .
VSF-Suisse with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in partnership with GOAL, CAFOD, Mercy Corps and downstream partners or national NGOs is implementing the “Transforming Household Resilience through Inclusive Economic Development (THRIVE) project”. The overall goals of the project include increased incomes, improved food security, strengthened disaster preparedness and coping strategies as well as women and youth economic empowerment.
Nyachiang Biel and her business
Nyachiang Biel is a 34-year-old woman from Mission village in the Jonglei State South Sudan. She is married and has four girls. Due to conflicts in her region, she faced economic difficulties and since the husband is studying in Ethiopia, she has to manage on her own.
She became a member of the “Goa Ni Mal” Village Savings and Loan Associations group (VSLA) that participated in a women’s empowerment and income-generating activities training program, organized by VSF-Suisse. She was trained in the production of liquid soap, hand wash, and bar soaps.
After the training sessions, Nyachiang was approached by a staff member of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) who requested assistance in mixing chemicals at their compound. She applied her newly acquired skills from the training conducted by VSF-Suisse and secured a paid contract with UNMISS. The income from this engagement enabled her to start her own liquid soap business.
Challenges and way forward
Nyachiang started her business with a starting capital of 150,000 SSP (approximately 920 CHF). Her business flourished and she made a profit of 170,000 SSP (1,045 CHF). However, in the process, she encountered challenges such as high transportation costs since the only reliable means of transportation was using air charged at 12,000 SSP (73 CHF) per kg and she needed at least 5 kg of chemicals per trip. Other challenges were risks of chemical degradation or loss of function due to delays caused by transportation conditions, container types, and exposure to temperature at airports and storage facilities.
Despite those challenges, Nyachiang remains committed and has not failed but seeks support in terms of micro finance/loans, capacity building on packaging, branding, marketing, record keeping or linkages with other business owners in order to upgrade her product quality as well as having a diversity of products such as Dettol and shampoos.
Finally, she expressed gratitude for the support from VSF-Suisse and FCDO, emphasizing that “The THRIVE project has significantly improved my life amid economic hardships caused by conflict allowing me to venture into something new in my community. My business contributes to my family’s livelihood and supports my husband’s university education in Ethiopia as well as my two daughters’ education in Uganda. “
Reat Chuni, Economic and Market System Development Officer
Rose Juru; Program Officer MEAL & Gender