Announcement: Launch of Women Entrepreneurial Opportunity Facility Project in South Sudan
South Sudan Women’s Social and Economic Empowerment Project (SSWSEEP), is an initiative designed to provide support to women-owned businesses, provide services for survivors of Gender-based Violence, and strengthen the institutional environment for women’s empowerment. As part of SSWSEEP, the International Rescue Committee, and Open Capital, in collaboration with South Sudan’s Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare and UN Women, recently launched the Women Entrepreneurial Opportunity Facility (WEOF). This initiative empowers South Sudanese women entrepreneurs in Juba by providing training, tailored business development support, and financing to drive business growth. The program is structured around three key pillars: Seed Lab, Growth Lab, and WEOF Connect.
Due to high interest and requests for more time, we have extended the deadline to March 31, 2025 (previously set for March 18, 2025)
Seed Lab
The Seed Lab supports emerging micro and small women-owned businesses in South Sudan through two key interventions:
Bootcamp: A 5-day training on basic business skills and financial literacy, with daily sessions lasting 2-3 hours. Participants will develop pitch memos and compete for a spot in the Accelerator. Participants are not eligible for business grants.
Accelerator: A 3-month in-depth training for selected businesses from the Bootcamp, covering 10 dedicated sessions with weekly sessions of 2-3 hours. Participants will be eligible for catalytic grants of USD 2,000 – 4,000.
To be eligible for the Seed Lab, your business must meet the following criteria:
Annual revenue: USD 2,000 - 99,000
Location: Juba
Business owner nationality: South Sudanese
Business owner age: 18-60 years
Business ownership: Women-owned
Business team size: At least 2 employees/workers
Business existence: Minimum 12 months of operations
Businesses that meet the above criteria will also be required to submit the following documents during the initial application process:
Brief business profile
Certificate of business registration or trading license issued by the Local Government
Bank Account Statements or financial records/mobile money transaction evidence
Tax payment receipt from the Local Government/revenue authority
List of employees and their details
A copy of the business owners’ South Sudan National Identification Card
How to apply for Seed Lab:
1. Physical submission: Pick, fill, and submit physical forms for FREE at the following locations:
a. Central Equatoria State Chamber of Commerce
b. Central Equatoria State Women Union Central Equatoria
c. State Ministry of Gender, Child & Social Welfare
2. Email submission: Download the application form here, fill it out, and submit it to weof@rescue.org
Application deadline extended to March 31, 2025
Growth Lab
The Growth Lab supports medium and large women-owned businesses in South Sudan through three key interventions:
Tailored business development support: designed to address the unique needs of your business, such as supporting your long-term growth plans, sales and marketing function, financial management, or investment readiness
One-on-one coaching: provided to your senior management team by experienced business consultants, helping you think through some of your most critical business decisions
Catalytic grants: targeted to address your immediate short- to medium-term financing needs
To be eligible for the Growth Lab, your business must meet the following criteria:
Revenue: Annual revenues over USD 100,000 in your last financial year (i.e. 2024 or the last 12 months of operations)
Location: Located anywhere in Juba
Business owner nationality: South Sudanese
Business ownership: Women-owned
Business owner age: 18-60 years
Employees number: At least 5 employees or workers
Business duration: At least 1 year of operations
Businesses that meet the criteria above will also be required to submit the following documents during the initial application process:
Brief business profile
Certificate of Incorporation from the South Sudan Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs
Membership Certificate from the South Sudan Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture
Operation License from the Ministry of Trade and Industry
Retained business and financial records, including past bank statements for the last 6 months and at least one year of financial statements or management accounts
Tax identification number
Tax clearance certificates
List of business staff (including Name, Job Title, Gender, Mobile Number, Employment status i.e. full or part-time)
South Sudanese National ID
How to apply for Growth Lab:
1. Physical submission: Pick, fill, and submit physical forms for FREE at the following locations:
a. Central Equatoria State Chamber of Commerce
b. Central Equatoria State Women Union Central Equatoria
c. State Ministry of Gender, Child & Social Welfare
2. Email submission: Download the application form here, fill, and submit it to weof@opencapital.com
3. Online submission: Fill out this application form
Application deadline extended to March 31, 2025
WEOF Connect
WEOF Connect is a cross-cutting platform and community to enable women entrepreneurs to build networks, share learnings, and sign up for diverse training, e.g., how to navigate South Sudan’s business regulatory environment. It will also serve as a hub for ecosystem engagement, bringing together industry experts, representative associations, policymakers, and investors to share insights and address market-wide challenges facing businesses in South Sudan. Access and participation will be available to Seed and Growth Lab participants, alumni, and other high-potential South Sudanese WSMEs.
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For any questions or further information about the program, please contact the program implementers:
Open Capital at weof@opencapital.com
IRC South Sudan at weof@rescue.org or call +211 928 006 920 / +211 911 191 658
