Juliet Clement Bazia could not hide her joy – for a good reason: a new water point and a new vegetable market had gotten the resident of Aguka in Tonj dancing excitedly.

“This is the first time to have an organization come directly to the most affected people. We are happy and grateful to UNMISS,” said Juliet, referring to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, whose support had birthed the borehole and the vegetable market. “We will not forget the help extended to our community by UNMISS in constructing this modern market,” Juliet underscored.

Juliet is a member of the Bongo community from Aguka, located in South Sudan’s Tonj area – the beneficiaries of the new water point and vegetable market.

Partitioned in 14 stalls, the market will serve as a trading point for the produce of the predominantly-farming Bongo community, while the new borehole will provide clean water for a population of more than sixteen thousand people. Close to the borehole is what locals are calling ‘a VIP latrine’ – fitted with sanitation facilities for both men and women.

Both projects are a part of UNMISS Quick Impact Projects, implemented by the Community Initiative for Development Agency (CIDA), at a total cost of about $50,000 US dollars. 

Speaking at the handover, the Tonj information minister, James Ayiek Bath applauded the new projects as ‘a much-needed contribution’ to the isolated Bongo community.

“I know Bongo community feels isolated simply because the government doesn’t come regularly,” said James Ayiek Bath, adding, “that is why UNMISS also came with its quick impact projects to give you water, a market and a latrine. As the community of Bongo, you are paying taxes to the government, and in return it is the duty of the government to give back in terms of security and development – we are depending on each other.”

The UNMISS Head of Field Office in Kuajok, Anastasie Nyirigira, said the project is intended to economically empower women, and to enable women to move with men at the same pace.

“With this market, women will be able to sell their goods and when they come back home, they come back with bread; they come back with money, and they come back with water,” said Ms Nyirigira, concluding, “So, it is a full package and we hope that men from Aguka will support so that the project becomes successful.”

She also encouraged men not to view empowerment of women negatively.

“This is part of economically empowering women. It is not empowering women against men; not encouraging women to compete against men. It is a project that empowers women and encourages them to be able to move forward and to progress along with men,” she noted.

68% of the more than 16,000 Aguka population is involved in subsistence farming, bee keeping honey harvesting and animal keeping. During a good harvest season, households get surplus produce and vegetables but have no place to sell them in order to raise their household incomes.