Mission Statement
“EMPOWERING SOUTH SUDAN THROUGH HUMANITARIAN SERVICE, EDUCATION, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.”
The WANI IGGA FOUNDATION (WIF) is uniquely positioned to serve as a pivotal agent of change and a strategic partner in the development of the Republic of South Sudan. Its stated mission—focused on humanitarian work, human rights, youth and girls’ rights, vocational training, health, education, and agricultural reformation—demonstrates a holistic and deeply relevant approach to the nation’s most pressing challenges.
The Wani Igga Foundation Officially registered with the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) on July 18, 2025, Operating under South Sudan’s NGO Act of 2016 with Legal status as a National Non-Governmental Organization under Full compliance with humanitarian regulations
Under the foundational pillars of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and South Sudan’s emerging national development frameworks, including the conceptual “South Sudan Green and Industrial Revolution 2030” and the South Sudan Development Plan (SSDP) 2026-2036. The foundation’s success hinges on its ability to leverage its unique position, which is rooted in its founder’s significant political and economic background.
Dr. James Wani Igga’s history as a national figure provides an unparalleled opportunity to navigate the complex political and bureaucratic landscape, foster high-level partnerships, and advocate for systemic reforms. By moving beyond traditional aid delivery to a model of integrated, resilience-building development, the foundation can become a localized engine for national and continental aspirations.
The Foundation’s Mandate and Vision
This comprehensive vision addresses not only the immediate humanitarian needs but also the underlying structural issues that perpetuate cycles of poverty and conflict in the country.
The founder’s prominent public service career provides the foundation with a distinctive strategic advantage. Dr. Igga has held some of the highest political and economic offices in the Republic of South Sudan, including Second Vice President, Speaker of the National Legislative Assembly, and chair of the unity government’s economic cluster.
As a seasoned politician and the current secretary-general of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), a position he assumed on February 10, 2025 , Dr. Igga’s standing grants the foundation a level of political access and legitimacy that is rare for a newly established non-governmental organization. This relationship with the political establishment can facilitate engagement with national policymakers and open doors for partnerships with government ministries and state-level authorities. At the same time, the foundation’s close association with a key political figure and the ruling party presents a potential challenge. To maintain its neutrality and ensure access to all populations, including those in opposition-held areas, the foundation must clearly delineate its philanthropic and humanitarian work from its founder’s political activities. This dual identity requires the foundation to operate with the utmost transparency and to strictly adhere to humanitarian principles to build trust among all segments of society.
The Wani IGGA FOUNDATION enters a complex and fragile operating environment marked by a severe humanitarian crisis. As of 2025, the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan targeted 5.4 million people, while a staggering 7.7 million faced high levels of food insecurity. The crisis is not monolithic; it is a confluence of factors including ongoing conflict, climate- related disasters, and economic hardship. Armed clashes, intercommunal violence, and the influx of nearly 850,000 returnees and refugees from neighboring Sudan have strained already scarce resources and services. Furthermore, recurrent floods, which have displaced hundreds of thousands, have devastated farms, livestock, and essential services like health and education, exacerbating food insecurity.
This challenging environment is compounded by significant systemic obstacles to humanitarian work. Aid delivery is often hindered by violence against aid workers, bureaucratic impediments, and the proliferation of illegal checkpoints. The government’s regulatory framework for non-governmental organizations can be complex, administratively draining, and used for “predatory rent-seeking activities” such as demands for fees or the confiscation of assets. The nation’s economy remains fragile and highly dependent on oil, which accounts for over 90 percent of government revenue.
This overreliance on a single commodity makes the country vulnerable to external shocks, such as the conflict in Sudan, which has disrupted oil transit routes. The prevailing political and security situation is at a “turning point,” with repeated violations of the Revitalized Peace Agreement threatening to reverse all gains and plunge the country back into widespread conflict. The foundation must operate with an understanding that its mission cannot be purely reactive. Its work must be framed within a long-term, resilience- building paradigm that addresses the interconnected root causes of these crises, from conflict to climate-induced resource competition.
Analytical Alignment: Thematic Contributions to Development Agendas
The Wani IGGA FOUNDATION’s core areas of work are not isolated initiatives but are deeply interconnected and directly address the goals of both the African Union Agenda 2063 and South Sudan’s national development agenda. The following table provides a high-level overview of this strategic alignment.
| WANI IGGA FOUNDATION Thematic Area | Alignment with African Union Agenda 2063 | Alignment with South Sudan’s National Vision |
| Humanitarian Assistance & Peacebuilding | Aspiration 4: A peaceful and secure Africa; consolidation of democratic gains and good governance. | Supports peace consolidation outlined in the SSDP 2026-2036; reduces inter-communal violence by mitigating resource scarcity. |
| Human Rights, Youth & Girls’ Empowerment | Aspiration 6: A people-driven Africa relying on its women and youth; goals of full gender equality and the elimination of violence against women and girls. | Directly contributes to SSDP’s goals for social justice and empowerment; addresses high rates of child marriage and gender-based violence. |
| Vocational Training | Aspiration 1: A prosperous Africa; goals for job creation and a skills revolution for youth. | Key to the “Industrial Revolution” pillar; addresses youth unemployment and supports SDG targets for full employment and decent work (Target 8.5). |
| Agricultural Reformation | Aspiration 1: Modern agriculture for increased productivity and production; environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient economies. | Key to the “Green Revolution” pillar; aligns with SDG targets for sustainable food production (Target 2.4) and initiatives like the GRACE project. |
| Health & Education | Aspiration 1: High standard of living and quality of life; well- educated and healthy citizens; development of human capital. | Foundational to human capital development; supports SDG targets for health (Target 3.3) and education (Target 4.7). |
3.1 Humanitarian Assistance & Peacebuilding
The foundation’s commitment to providing humanitarian assistance and promoting peacebuilding is crucial in a context where conflict is a primary driver of the humanitarian crisis. The provision of impartial aid is not merely a temporary fix; it is a critical instrument for building social cohesion and de-escalating tensions.
Many conflicts in South Sudan, particularly intercommunal rivalries, are fueled by competition over scarce resources like grazing land and water, which are exacerbated by climate change. By addressing immediate humanitarian needs, the foundation can reduce these flashpoints and create an environment where peace and development can take root.
The foundation’s peacebuilding mandate can be operationalized by integrating peace education into all of its programs, a strategy that aligns with Agenda 2063’s call to nurture a “culture of peace and tolerance” in Africa’s children and youth. This approach transforms aid recipients into active participants in peace processes, laying the groundwork for a more stable future.
Human Rights, Youth & Girls’ Empowerment
The WIF’s focus on human rights, particularly the empowerment of women and girls, is a central strategy for achieving broader developmental goals. The research indicates that women in South Sudan face widespread inequality and are highly vulnerable to gender-based violence, child marriage, and economic marginalization. The conflict has reinforced patriarchal norms, and legal systems often fail to hold offenders accountable.
By prioritizing the rights and empowerment of women and girls, the foundation directly contributes to the African Union’s goal of “full gender equality in all spheres of life”. Economic empowerment, through vocational training and agricultural initiatives, can significantly reduce the vulnerability of women and girls to poverty and violence.
For instance, providing training in skills like tailoring and food processing can lead to self- employment, which grants women greater financial independence and a stronger voice within their households and communities. This is not merely a social intervention but a fundamental economic one that unlocks the potential of a large portion of the population and creates a more equitable and stable society.
Vocational Training and Economic Diversification
Vocational training is the engine of the “Industrial Revolution” pillar of South Sudan’s national vision. The foundation’s aim to provide job opportunities and capacity-building is directly relevant to the nation’s high youth unemployment rate and its goal of diversifying the economy away from its heavy reliance on oil.
Successful models, such as the UNDP-supported SEED4Youth program, have demonstrated that providing market-aligned skills can lead to self-sufficiency and job creation. The WIF can emulate this holistic approach by not only offering training in diverse trades—from construction and automotive technology to computer skills and tailoring—but also by providing comprehensive support services, including career counseling, job placement assistance, and linkages to finance.
This multifaceted intervention ensures that graduates are not just trained but are equipped with the tools and resources necessary to thrive as entrepreneurs or skilled laborers, directly contributing to the SSDP’s targets for full employment and sustainable industrialization.
Agricultural Reformation and Green Growth
South Sudan’s agricultural sector, which provides the main livelihood for 80 percent of households, is primarily subsistence-based and highly vulnerable to climate shocks and a lack of infrastructure. The foundation’s focus on agricultural reformation is a direct response to this challenge and is central to the “Green” component of the national development vision. By focusing its efforts on key value chains, such as sorghum, groundnuts, honey, and horticulture, as identified by the GRACE project , the foundation can align with a broader national strategy and attract targeted support from international partners.
Agricultural reformation can move beyond traditional farming by incorporating climate- resilient practices, which are essential for adaptation to recurring floods and droughts. Furthermore, the foundation can integrate modern technology and renewable energy sources, such as solar power, to support activities like irrigation and food processing. This transformation of the agricultural sector from a subsistence practice into a modern, productive industry is a critical step toward achieving national food security and reducing the country’s dependence on costly food imports.
Advancing Health and Education for Human Capital Development
The foundation’s commitment to health and education addresses the most fundamental aspects of human capital development, which Agenda 2063 identifies as Africa’s “most precious resource”. South Sudan faces some of the world’s worst health indicators, with a high child mortality rate and poor access to services, and its education system is severely under-resourced.
The foundation can strategically fill critical gaps by implementing community-based health and education programs, similar to successful initiatives supported by UNICEF and the WHO. By focusing on areas such as community health worker training, immunization
campaigns, and the establishment of community-based schools, the foundation can directly contribute to improving public health and education outcomes.
The foundation can also leverage its political relationships to advocate for the implementation and enforcement of existing national policies, such as the new early childhood education policy developed with UNICEF’s support, to ensure that its efforts are integrated into and sustained by the national system.
Synergies, Opportunities, and a Path Forward
The Wani IGGA FOUNDATION’s strategic advantage lies in the powerful synergies between its thematic areas. A holistic approach to development ensures that progress in one area reinforces and amplifies outcomes in another.
For example, successful agricultural reformation directly enhances food security and reduces poverty, which in turn improves public health and nutrition outcomes, particularly for children. The vocational training and girls’ empowerment initiatives are mutually reinforcing; by providing marketable skills to young women, the foundation increases their economic independence, reduces their vulnerability to violence and exploitation, and empowers them to become active participants in the economic and social life of their communities.
The foundation’s work in peacebuilding is a prerequisite for all other development activities; a stable environment allows for the sustained implementation of health, education, and economic programs that would otherwise be disrupted by conflict. This integrated model creates a virtuous cycle of development, where each project contributes to a comprehensive, long-term vision of a more prosperous, peaceful, and equitable South Sudan.
Recommendations for Strategic Action
The Wani IGGA FOUNDATION must navigate a complex and challenging operating environment. The following table outlines key challenges and presents actionable recommendations for a strategic path forward.
| Key Challenge for NGOs in South Sudan | Strategic Recommendation for the Foundation |
| Political Instability & Security Risks | Leverage founder’s influence for high-level advocacy for peace and security, while maintaining strict non-partisanship in program delivery to ensure access and trust in all communities. |
| Regulatory & Bureaucratic Hurdles | Prioritize full legal registration and compliance with the South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (SSRRC). Leverage the founder’s influence to advocate for streamlining regulations and protecting humanitarian workers and assets. |
| Fragile Economy & Funding Reliance | Develop a transparent, evidence-based monitoring and evaluation framework to demonstrate impact and attract long-term, multi-year funding from international donors. Seek a diverse portfolio of funding sources to reduce reliance on any single partner. |
| Lack of Specific Project Information | Design and pilot a small number of well-defined, measurable projects that align with national priorities and can serve as a proof of concept for future scale-up. |
The Wani IGGA FOUNDATION holds a unique and promising position in South Sudan’s development landscape. Its founder’s political capital and its holistic, multi-thematic mandate provide a powerful platform to address the nation’s most complex challenges.
By strategically aligning its work with the foundational principles of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and South Sudan’s national development frameworks, the foundation can transcend its role as a simple service provider and become a pivotal partner in the country’s long-term transformation.
The evidence suggests that a successful path forward requires a transparent, evidence-based, and integrated approach that leverages strategic partnerships and actively contributes to systemic change. By pursuing this course, the foundation can not only deliver critical assistance and empower communities but also leave a lasting legacy that is directly in line with its founder’s vision for a more prosperous, peaceful, and productive South Sudan.