The International Trade Centre (ITC) provided training for women entrepreneurs on processing and preserving fruits and vegetables, as well as preparing and packaging jams, tomato ketchup, and chilies.
The first cohort of 55 women entrepreneurs, including farmers and food vendors, received training on simple, appropriate, and affordable methods for processing and preserving fresh produce, as well as preparing and packaging jams, ketchups, and chilies. They also learned entrepreneurial skills such as taxation, branding, recordkeeping, and marketing.
At the end of the training, the women demonstrated their new skills by processing habanero peppers into chilli oil, and making tomato sauce and paste using local ingredients. Five women also learned how to use electrical equipment such as a blender to prepare the products. Through these practical exercises, these entrepreneurs are now better equipped to become food manufacturers.
The training sessions organized under the ITC South Sudan Jobs Creation and Trade Development project gained immense visibility across Juba. Many of the women met with a representative of the Juba City Council to discuss ways of harmonizing tax collection to encourage food producers and traders to grow their businesses.
One of the trainees, Abuk Deng, expressed her delight at the improvement in her skills and knowledge in food processing. She can now expand her business and increase her sales to better support her family.
‘My knowledge and skills in food processing have improved after this training. Now, I will be able to process more and at a low cost and take care of my children’s needs,’ she said. ‘I would like to thank ITC and the European Union for supporting us women entrepreneurs. I hope this knowledge can be extended to more women at the grassroots-level.’
The training was conducted in collaboration with the Government of South Sudan, and with funding from the European Union. The International Trade Centre (ITC) conducted the five-day training from 13-17 November 2023.
About the Project
The International Trade Centre’s South Sudan Jobs Creation and Trade Development project aims to increase the competitiveness of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and employment opportunities for the South Sudanese population engaged in the fruit and vegetable subsector.
The European Union-funded project contributes to addressing the value addition, competitiveness, job creation and trade development challenges of South Sudan. Specifically, the interventions of the project are expected to improve productive capacities and compliance to standards for MSMEs, increase market linkages for MSMEs and enhance employability and entrepreneurship capacity for the South Sudanese labour force, focusing on youth and women.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Trade Centre.