The prestigious 2024 MCA awards in London bestowed the title of International Project of the Year upon Girls’ Education South Sudan (GESS), outshining other finalists like IBM, Stantec, and KPMG. The recognition symbolizes the impactful contributions made by the GESS program in enhancing girls’ education and supporting marginalized groups across South Sudan over the past decade.
Through a groundbreaking initiative spearheaded by Mott MacDonald, GESS has successfully doubled the enrollment of girls in education in Africa’s youngest nation, addressing the longstanding issue of limited educational opportunities for children in South Sudan.
The program, supported by UK International Development funding, focuses on reducing barriers to education access, increasing enrollment rates, and uplifting educational outcomes for all children, especially girls and marginalized youth. Working closely with local partners, GESS aims to create sustainable change and foster long-term growth in education across the country.
With a remarkable transformation seen in girls’ participation in education, GESS has significantly increased enrollment rates and provided training to thousands of teachers, enhancing the overall quality of education in South Sudan. The profound impact of the program resonates in the success stories of individuals like a girl who, with the help of GESS, pursued higher education and now serves as a role model for the program.