Health & Education

Human development sits at the centre of South Sudan’s future. Access to health care, learning, and basic services shapes how people survive crises, seize opportunities, and pass on skills to the next generation.

Primary health care Maternal & child health School access Human capital

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Young population

A majority of the population is under 25, making investments in health and education critical.

Demographics

Service gaps

Many communities rely on humanitarian actors for basic health and education services.

Access

Potential for change

Even small improvements in coverage and quality can have generational impacts.

Opportunity

Why health and education matter for development

Human development is about what people can do and be. In South Sudan, histories of conflict, displacement, and under-investment have shaped access to clinics, schools, and skills. Yet the foundations for progress are present in communities, professionals, and youth initiatives.

Health

Primary health care is the backbone of service delivery.
Maternal and child health outcomes remain a priority concern.
Many facilities are supported by NGOs and humanitarian partners.
Access is highly uneven between urban and rural areas.

Education

Primary and secondary school enrolment has grown but remains fragile.
Girls often face greater barriers to staying in school.
Teacher shortages, pay, and training affect quality.
Adult literacy and alternative learning pathways are essential.

Health system overview

South Sudan’s health system is a mix of government, faith-based, NGO, and private providers, often operating in difficult environments.

Primary health care

Health centres and posts provide first-line services such as vaccinations, basic treatment, and antenatal care.

Frontline

Referral hospitals

State and teaching hospitals handle more complex cases, though many face capacity and resource constraints.

Referral

Community health workers

Community-based workers connect households to services, especially in remote or flood-affected areas.

Community link

Maternal & newborn health

Skilled birth attendance, emergency obstetric care, and postnatal support are key to reducing mortality.

Priority

Immunisation

Vaccination campaigns are critical, especially where routine services are disrupted by conflict or floods.

Prevention

Mental health & psychosocial support

Conflict, displacement, and trauma create a major need for mental health care and social support.

Often overlooked

Education system overview

Education systems are rebuilding after years of conflict. Classrooms, teachers, and learning materials are gradually expanding, with large variations across states and counties.

Formal education levels

Early childhood education – still emerging and often community-led.
Primary education – focus on basic literacy, numeracy, and foundational skills.
Secondary education – limited coverage, often concentrated in towns.
Higher and technical education – small but growing, including teacher training institutes.

Barriers to learning

School fees and indirect costs (transport, uniforms, materials).
Distances to school and safety concerns, especially for girls.
Shortage of trained and supported teachers.
Impact of conflict, flooding, and displacement on school continuity.

Barriers to accessing services

Households face multiple, overlapping constraints when trying to access health and education services.

Geography & distance

Long distances to clinics or schools, poor roads, and seasonal flooding make access difficult.

Physical access

Cost & affordability

Even where services are nominally free, transport, medicines, or school-related costs can be high.

Financial

Security & displacement

Conflict and localised violence disrupt service provision and community life.

Stability

Gender & social norms

Gender roles, early marriage, and household responsibilities affect who can seek care or stay in school.

Equity

Capacity & quality

Staff shortages, limited equipment, and high workloads can affect the quality of services.

System strength

Information & trust

Information gaps, rumours, and experiences of poor service shape whether people seek care or enrol children.

Perception

Opportunities for progress

Despite the challenges, many initiatives demonstrate that targeted investments can improve outcomes in health, education, and skills.

Community-based health

Strengthening community health worker networks, outreach campaigns, and referral systems.

Integrated community case management (iCCM)
Health promotion and vaccination drives
Linkages to clinics and hospitals

Schools as community hubs

Schools can provide learning, nutrition, protection, and spaces for social cohesion.

School feeding programs
Safe learning spaces
Life skills and civic education

Teacher and health worker support

Training, supervision, and incentives improve motivation and quality.

Continuous professional development
Supportive supervision and mentoring
Housing and hardship allowances in remote areas

Digital health & learning

Where connectivity permits, digital tools can support remote training, teleconsultations, and blended learning.

eLearning platforms for teachers and health workers
Telemedicine pilots linking facilities
Digital literacy programs for youth

Human capital and the next generation

Human capital refers to the knowledge, skills, and health that people accumulate throughout life. In South Sudan, decades of disruption have affected this foundation — but investing in today’s children and youth can change long-term trajectories.

Early childhood development sets the stage for learning.
Adolescent health and education influence future earnings.
Skills and vocational training link education to livelihoods.
Healthier, better-educated populations are more resilient to shocks.

Fragmented but not static

Systems are evolving: new curricula, public health campaigns, and community initiatives often start small, then scale. Tracking these shifts over time helps identify what works.

This platform does not offer rankings or grades; it highlights patterns and entry points for dialogue and action.

Data, caveats & sources

This page summarises public information from humanitarian and development reports, national strategies, and research outputs. Figures and conditions change; always consult up-to-date official sources for precise statistics.