Growing Livelihoods, Restoring Hope: How a Plants Sales Bazaar is Empowering Women, Youth, and Climate Resilience in South Sudan

Juba, South Sudan, 5 June 2026

World Environment Day 2026 Plant Sale Bazaar at Scenius Hub

What if planting a tree could help a family rebuild after floods, create income for a young entrepreneur, empower a woman-owned business, and contribute to climate action at the same time?

This vision came to life on World Environment Day 2026 when Eden Foundation South Sudan, in partnership with Stanbic Bank South Sudan, Scenius Hub, and Save the Nile, hosted a vibrant Plants Sales Bazaar that brought together women-led nurseries, youth innovators, environmental advocates, development partners, and members of the public.

More than a marketplace, the event demonstrated how environmental action can become a powerful tool for economic empowerment, community resilience, and sustainable development.

Visitors explored a diverse collection of fruit trees, shade trees, ornamental plants, and indoor plants while engaging in interactive environmental awareness activities, games, and discussions on sustainability and climate action. Throughout the day, conversations extended beyond tree planting to the broader role that green enterprises can play in creating jobs, restoring livelihoods, and strengthening communities affected by climate change.

Turning Climate Solutions into Economic Opportunities

Across South Sudan, women and young people continue to face significant barriers to employment and access to markets. At the same time, climate-related shocks such as flooding are placing increasing pressure on already vulnerable households.

The Plants Sales Bazaar addressed both challenges by connecting women-owned nurseries directly with customers and potential business partners. For many participants, the event provided a rare opportunity to showcase their products, generate income, build networks, and gain visibility for their businesses.

By creating a platform where environmental products have real market value, the initiative highlighted the growing potential of the green economy in South Sudan. Every plant sold represented more than a transaction. It represented income for a family, support for a local entrepreneur, and an investment in a greener future.

Supporting Livelihood Restoration in Flood-Affected Communities

In many parts of South Sudan, floods have disrupted livelihoods, damaged farms, and reduced economic opportunities for thousands of families. Recovery requires more than humanitarian assistance; it requires sustainable pathways toward self-reliance.

Tree nurseries and environmental enterprises offer one such pathway.

Through Eden Foundation's ongoing work with vulnerable communities, we have witnessed how nursery development can provide practical and sustainable income opportunities while contributing to ecosystem restoration and climate resilience. The bazaar served as a powerful example of how climate adaptation and livelihood restoration can be pursued together.

By investing in community-led environmental enterprises, partners can help create long-term solutions that strengthen household incomes, restore degraded environments, and reduce vulnerability to future climate shocks.

Investing in Women and Youth as Drivers of Change

Women and young people are not simply beneficiaries of climate action. They are leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs shaping South Sudan's sustainable future.

The Plants Sales Bazaar intentionally centered women-owned businesses and youth-led initiatives, providing a platform where their ideas, products, and leadership could be recognized and supported.

The event reinforced a simple but important message: when women and young people are given access to opportunities, markets, and resources, entire communities benefit.

Their participation reflected the growing demand for inclusive green economic opportunities that promote dignity, independence, and long-term resilience.

Building Partnerships for Lasting Impact

The success of the Plants Sales Bazaar demonstrates what is possible when civil society, the private sector, and communities work together toward a common goal.

The collaboration between Eden Foundation South Sudan, Stanbic Bank South Sudan, Scenius Hub, and Save the Nile created an enabling environment where environmental conservation, economic empowerment, and community development could intersect in meaningful ways.

Yet the need remains significant.

Across South Sudan, there is tremendous potential to expand green livelihood programs, support women-led enterprises, establish community nurseries, restore degraded landscapes, and equip young people with skills and opportunities within the emerging green economy.

These are not short-term interventions. They are investments in resilient communities, sustainable livelihoods, and climate-smart development.

An Invitation to Partner for Impact

At Eden Foundation South Sudan, we believe that environmental sustainability and economic development must go hand in hand.

The Plants Sales Bazaar is one example of how locally driven solutions can create measurable impact for people and the planet. With greater investment and strategic partnerships, similar initiatives can be scaled to reach more communities, particularly women, youth, and flood-affected households across South Sudan.

We invite development partners, donors, corporate organizations, foundations, and individuals to join us in expanding opportunities that empower communities, strengthen climate resilience, and accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

Together, we can grow more than trees.

We can grow livelihoods, resilience, opportunity, and hope.