Gender Equality South Sudan Project #70661

Invest in 16 Women Leaders Annually

by Excellence Foundation for South Sudan

Project Report | Aug 31, 2026
Progress Report: Female Student Internship Program

By Emmanuel Bida | Program Manager

Intern Latio Josephine at a City FM Radio Show

During the reporting period, Excellence Foundation for South Sudan continued implementing its Female Student Internship Program (FSIP), a practical leadership-development initiative designed to equip young South Sudanese women with professional experience, skills, mentorship and networking opportunities.

The program was piloted in January 2024 and targets final-year female students and recent graduates from higher learning institutions. Through hands-on involvement in EFSS projects, interns gain practical experience while developing leadership, communication, teamwork, project management and other professional competencies.

Cohort VII

In February 2026, EFSS opened applications for the seventh cohort of FSIP. The three-month hybrid internship began on 9 March 2026, offering three internship positions: Finance and Administration Officer, Communications Officer, and Project Officer.

The cohort provided three (3) participants with opportunities to contribute to real organisational activities, including project planning and implementation, research, financial and project record management, communications, stakeholder engagement, proposal development, event coordination and reporting. Interns also received mentorship and worked closely with the EFSS team.

Building on Previous Cohorts

The seventh cohort builds on the experience of the program's first six cohorts. By the end of 2025, EFSS reported that 15 female students had completed all program requirements across the first five cohorts, while its subsequent cohort brought the total experience of the program to approximately 20 South Sudanese female students across the first five cohorts, with four interns participating in Cohort VI.

Importantly, early follow-up evidence indicates that the program is contributing to participants' transition into professional opportunities, with at least 47% of former interns transitioning into new roles within one to three months after completing the program, while 13% were retained by EFSS as volunteer staff.

Contribution to Women’s Leadership

FSIP is helping address the limited opportunities available to young women entering the professional environment by providing practical work experience at an early stage of their careers. Beyond technical skills, the program seeks to strengthen participants' self-confidence, leadership capacity and sense of civic responsibility, preparing them to become positive change agents and future leaders in South Sudan.

The program's continued implementation demonstrates EFSS's commitment to investing in young women as emerging professionals and leaders. With continued support from GlobalGiving donors, EFSS aims to sustain the program and expand opportunities for more young women to gain the experience, networks and confidence needed to participate meaningfully in South Sudan's social and economic development.

We are grateful to GlobalGiving and its donors for supporting our investment in the next generation of South Sudanese women leaders.

Intern Latio Josephine during a training in Juba

Links:

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May 6, 2026
Intern transitions into a new job at completion

By Emmanuel Bida | Project Manager

Intern Yangi Selina during a community outreach

The Female Student Internship Program (FSIP) at our organisation continues to support and inspire South Sudanese final year students and recent graduates from higher institutions of learning, both within and outside the country.

At the beginning of 2026, we welcomed a new cohort of four female interns into the program. The selection process was rigorous, focusing on academic excellence, community engagement, and leadership potential. Fifty percent of these interns completed all program requirements, showcasing their commitment and adaptability as they took on new roles and professional challenges.

During the internship, participants received hands-on experience in project management, communications, financial management, and administration. These trainings bridged the gap between academic learning and workplace application, giving the interns practical skills necessary for their future careers. The program emphasized not only technical skills but also soft skills like teamwork, time management, and communication, which are essential for thriving in any workplace.

Ajoh Tabitha, who served as a Finance and Administration Intern, expressed her appreciation for the opportunity: "I have learnt the skill of recording and keeping digitalised financial statements. Expansion and increasing of knowledge," she said. Through the internship, Ajoh improved her digital literacy and gained confidence in handling essential financial and administrative tasks.

A highlight of this reporting period is the successful transition of one of our interns into full-time employment immediately after completing the program. This achievement demonstrates the impact of the FSIP in preparing young women for the job market and building pathways to sustainable livelihoods. The structured mentorship, regular feedback sessions, and professional development workshops—including CV writing and interview preparation—were instrumental in this success.

Looking ahead, our organisation remains committed to empowering even more young South Sudanese women. We plan to expand the FSIP, strengthen our alumni network, and build stronger collaborations with higher learning institutions and employers, both locally and internationally. We firmly believe that by investing in the education and practical experience of young women, we can help shape the next generation of skilled, confident, and professional female leaders in South Sudan.

An intern assists a participant during a workshop

Ajoh Tabitha appears in a webinar poster

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Jan 6, 2026
Four more young women leaders to graduate from the sixth cohort of our internship program

By Emmanuel Bida | Program Manager

Cohort 6 Interns Social Media Poster

Executive Summary

The sixth cohort of our Female Student Internship Program (FSIP), the last group for the year 2025, is made up of four young women leaders - two students from the University of Juba, and two others from Makerere Institute for Social Development and Uganda Christian University, respectively. This is the first time we have admitted two interns from South Sudan's biggest public university - The University of Juba.

The new cohort of interns took up Human Resource (HR) Officer, Finance and Administration Officer, Communications Officer and Project Officer internship roles for four months, executing their tasks in a hybrid work mode (both remotely and in-person).

Project Accomplishments

Young women leaders learnt presentation skills and tailoring slide deck content.
Great improvement in computer appreciation, internet and the different applications.

Issues and Concerns

Some of the young women leaders are not tech-savvy and are still catching up with tasks such as proper email use and communications platforms.
Adherence to task deadlines remains an issue for some of them.

Beneficiary Quotes

"I am so happy for the Female Internship Program, it has enabled me to build my career," says Yangi Selina Moses, a Project Officer.

"My computer skills have improved greatly, and I have met new people during the workshops thanks to this opportunity. I am looking forward to learning more and contributing to the success of this organization," says Ajoh Tabitha, a Finance and Administrative Officer.

Piloted in January 2024, the Female Student Internship Program (FSIP) is a three-month initiative to nurture the leadership potential of female South Sudanese final-year students or fresh graduates from higher learning institutions. This highly competitive program provides successful candidates with a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience by working on project activities closely with our team while receiving mentorship, skill development, and networking opportunities.

In 2025 alone, we admitted nineteen (19) students - some fresh graduates and others final year students and twelve (12) students completed all requirements, hence fostering their leadership skills, self-confidence, and a strong sense of civic responsibility, preparing them to become positive change agents and future leaders, contributing to South Sudan’s social, economic, and political development. At least 47% of internees transitioned into new roles between one and three months after completing our program, and 13% have been retained at the organisation as volunteer staff.

Intern Kiden Brenda poses with her certificate

Ajoh Tabitha during World Human Rights in Juba

Links:

Introducing the sixth cohort of our female-only internship

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