Twenty-one years of civil war have left an entire generation of youth in South Sudan without access to education. The Joint Programme's goal was to provide skills development and livelihood opportunities to 2,500 young men and women aged 15 to 30 years, with a focus on developing labour markets and increasing vocational and life skills training.

Since achieving independence in July 2011, South Sudan has been subject to instability due to continued armed fighting, pressures on grazing and water resources and struggles over land rights. This Joint Programme's aim was to promote peace building and effective conflict management in the border areas between Sudan and South Sudan by strengthening capacity in national peacebuilding institutions and increasing security and peace dividends for communities in the target areas.