KCB Foundation has launched its KCB Scholars Programme in South Sudan, awarding scholarships to 50 third-year medical students at the University of Juba. The move is part of efforts to expand access to higher education and contribute to the development of the country’s health workforce.

The inaugural cohort comprises 30 male and 20 female students who will receive support to enable them to complete their medical training and advance towards professional careers in the health sector.

Speaking during the launch at the University of Juba, KCB Foundation Managing Director Mendi Njonjo noted: “South Sudan needs a strong, skilled and committed health workforce. These scholarships will therefore go a long way in enabling young South Sudanese men and women to acquire skills that their country urgently needs.”

The rollout comes at a time when South Sudan continues to face significant challenges in access to education. According to UNESCO, the country’s gross enrolment ratio in tertiary education is approximately 2.5 per cent, among the lowest in the world, meaning that fewer than three out of every 100 young people of university age are enrolled in higher education.

The country has only seven public and private universities serving a population of more than 12 million people, with limited infrastructure, funding and academic capacity constraining access to university education. These challenges have contributed to a critical shortage of skilled professionals, particularly in sectors such as healthcare, engineering and education, underscoring the importance of targeted scholarship programmes that enable talented students to complete their studies.

The KCB Scholars Programme was established in Kenya in 2007 and has since supported thousands of bright but financially disadvantaged learners. According to KCB Foundation, the programme has awarded more than 7,000 secondary scholarships and more than 600 tertiary scholarships, recording a 99 per cent secondary school completion rate and an 84 per cent transition rate to university and college.

“The Government of South Sudan appreciates the partnership with KCB Foundation in supporting our young people to access higher education. Investing in education is investing in the future of our country, and initiatives such as this provide young South Sudanese with the skills and knowledge they need to contribute to national development,” said the Undersecretary in the Ministry of General Education and Instruction, Hon. Omot Okony Olok Guon.

South Sudan has approximately 7.6 skilled health workers for every 10,000 people, significantly below the World Health Organization-recommended threshold of 45.5 health workers per 10,000 people required to achieve universal health coverage, according to a 2025 analysis published by the South Sudan Medical Journal.

As part of its commitment to the country, KCB Foundation will continue to pursue partnerships that expand access to education, skills development and economic opportunities across the region, with a focus on interventions that contribute to sustainable livelihoods and long-term community impact.