Informing humanitarians worldwide 24/7 — a service provided by UN OCHA

South Sudan

Local authorities and peace partners hold job fair in Torit

By Okello James

A two-day job fair aimed at creating a platform for employers to interact with job-seekers and guide them through the application process has been launched in Torit.

“The training taught me how to write a strong curriculum vitae, which I did not know how to do before,” said Samuel Oriho, a recent graduate.

The fair was the first of its kind held in Torit and is part of a broader resilience and recovery programme spearheaded by local authorities. The aim is to empower citizens to take charge of their future.

At the fair, representatives from several national and international organizations, institutions, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), and other UN agencies enlightened job seekers on how to best present themselves to potential employers. Visiting beneficiaries also learnt about exciting new job opportunities, especially in the private sector.

“The skills we gained here are invaluable,” said Paska Iromo, a seamstress in training at Torit Vocational School. “I want to encourage other women who did not attend the fair to do so next time, so they can explore career possibilities.”

The resilience and recovery programme is focused on livelihood projects that support youth and women in particular, to make these frequently disadvantaged groups active pillars of their communities.

“Youth should take advantage of such opportunities,” said Bashir Aligelle, an UNMISS representative. “My advice to them is to concentrate on looking for jobs and developing their skills to contribute to the development of their communities and move away from conflict.”

The event was made possible by the joint efforts of peace partners from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and also supported by funding from the government of the Kingdom of Netherlands.

The recovery and resilience programme is also being implemented in Juba, Bor, Rumbek and Yambio.