South Sudan’s young population represents one of the country’s greatest opportunities. Across towns, cities, rural communities and displaced populations, young people are learning, creating, communicating and looking for ways to build better lives. Technology is increasingly becoming part of that search.

A smartphone, computer, solar-powered device or internet connection may appear to be a simple tool, but for a young person, it can provide access to education, information, employment, entrepreneurship and connections beyond their immediate community. Technology cannot solve every problem facing South Sudan, but when combined with education, opportunity and responsible leadership, it can become an important instrument for development.

For Recovery and Access to Commonly Best Optimism – South Sudan (RACBO), supporting young people means recognizing their capacity not only to receive assistance but also to create solutions. Youth programmes that include digital skills, innovation, entrepreneurship and responsible technology use can help young South Sudanese participate more actively in the country’s recovery and development.

The digital divide remains a major challenge.

Many communities still have limited or unreliable access to electricity and the internet. The cost of devices and connectivity can also prevent young people from taking advantage of online opportunities. Rural communities may face even greater barriers.

This means that digital transformation cannot be reduced to simply telling young people to “go online.” They need the infrastructure, equipment, skills and support that make meaningful participation possible.

Electricity is a basic part of this equation. A computer is not useful when there is no reliable way to charge it. An online course becomes difficult to complete when connectivity is unaffordable. A digital business cannot operate effectively without dependable communication.

Renewable energy can therefore contribute to digital inclusion. Solar-powered computer centres, schools, community learning spaces and charging stations can help expand access in areas where conventional electricity infrastructure is limited.

Digital education is another major opportunity.

Young people can use online resources to learn languages, information technology, business management, agriculture, writing, design, programming and many other skills. Digital learning can help people access knowledge that may not be available locally.

However, access to information is not the same as education.

Young people need guidance on how to evaluate sources, identify misinformation, protect personal information and use digital tools responsibly. Digital literacy should therefore include both technical skills and responsible online behaviour.

This is particularly important in a country affected by conflict and social tensions.

False information can spread rapidly through social media. Rumours can create fear, damage reputations and increase tensions between communities. Images or claims taken from other countries or earlier events can sometimes be presented as current information.

Young people need the ability to pause, verify and question information before sharing it.

Responsible technology use is part of responsible citizenship.

Technology can also support peacebuilding. Digital platforms can connect young people from different communities and create opportunities for dialogue. Online campaigns can promote peaceful coexistence, environmental protection, education and public awareness.

But digital peacebuilding must be handled carefully. Online spaces can also be used for hate speech, harassment and incitement. Young people need to understand both the opportunities and responsibilities that come with digital communication.

Entrepreneurship is another area where technology can create opportunities.

A young person with a smartphone and the right skills may be able to market products, communicate with customers, manage social media, provide digital services or access online learning. Some young entrepreneurs can work with clients outside their immediate communities.

Digital work can include graphic design, writing, translation, virtual assistance, web development, online education, data services and other forms of remote work.

For South Sudanese youth, these opportunities can be particularly valuable because they are not always dependent on traditional employment structures. A young person does not necessarily need to wait for a large organization to create a job. With appropriate training and infrastructure, they may be able to build a service or business of their own.

Nevertheless, digital entrepreneurship should not be presented as an easy solution. Young people need reliable internet, payment systems, business knowledge, professional networks and access to markets. They also need protection from online scams and exploitative opportunities.

RACBO can contribute by connecting digital skills training with practical livelihood development. Training programmes can include computer literacy, online safety, digital marketing, entrepreneurship, financial literacy and access to professional opportunities.

Technology can also strengthen agriculture.

Farmers can use mobile phones to access weather information, communicate with buyers, compare prices, receive agricultural advice and coordinate with other producers. Digital tools can help agricultural organizations communicate with farmers more efficiently.

For young people entering agriculture, technology can make farming more attractive and productive. Modern agriculture increasingly involves data, logistics, market information, irrigation technologies and digital financial services.

Healthcare can also benefit.

Digital communication can support health awareness, appointment coordination, professional learning and the distribution of public-health information. In areas where specialist healthcare is difficult to access, digital tools may help connect health workers with additional information and professional networks.

Education remains one of the strongest areas for digital investment.

Teachers can use digital resources to supplement classroom materials. Students can access educational content beyond their textbooks. Schools can develop computer clubs and digital learning programmes. Where internet access is limited, offline digital resources can still provide useful learning opportunities.

The challenge is to ensure that technology strengthens education rather than replacing the human relationships that make education effective.

A computer cannot replace a committed teacher.

A digital platform cannot replace a safe learning environment.

An online course cannot replace the encouragement a young person receives from a mentor.

Technology works best when it supports people.

Women and girls must be included in the digital future.

If digital programmes reach mainly young men, existing inequalities may become stronger. Girls and young women need equal opportunities to learn computer skills, access online education, develop businesses and participate in technology-related fields.

Safe digital spaces are also important. Young women should be able to participate online without harassment, exploitation or intimidation.

RACBO can support inclusive digital programmes by ensuring that training opportunities are accessible to different groups, including young women, persons with disabilities, displaced youth and young people in underserved communities.

Digital inclusion should also consider people with disabilities. Accessible technology, appropriate training and inclusive learning spaces can allow more young people to participate in education and employment.

Technology can strengthen civil society as well.

NGOs can use digital tools to communicate with communities, collect feedback, monitor programmes, share educational materials and improve coordination. Responsible data management is essential, particularly when working with vulnerable populations.

Organizations must protect personal information and avoid collecting data that they do not genuinely need. Digital transformation should never come at the expense of people’s privacy or safety.

The same principle applies to artificial intelligence.

AI tools are becoming increasingly accessible and can support writing, research, translation, education, programming and business activities. South Sudanese youth should have opportunities to understand and use these technologies responsibly.

At the same time, young people need to understand that AI-generated information can be inaccurate and that digital tools require human judgment. Technology should strengthen human capacity rather than discourage critical thinking.

The future of work will require adaptability.

Young people may enter careers that are different from those available to previous generations. Some occupations will increasingly use digital tools, while new forms of work will emerge. Preparing youth therefore requires more than teaching one technical skill. It requires developing the ability to learn, adapt, communicate and solve problems.

This is where mentorship becomes important.

Young people benefit from experienced professionals who can help them understand career options, develop portfolios, communicate professionally and avoid common mistakes. South Sudanese professionals at home and abroad can contribute by mentoring younger people through online and community networks.

The diaspora can also play a useful role in technology transfer. South Sudanese professionals living abroad may have knowledge, networks and technical experience that can support young people in the country.

Technology can help connect these communities.

But technology alone will not transform South Sudan.

Digital tools must be connected to education, electricity, infrastructure, economic opportunity, peace and good governance. A smartphone cannot compensate for a lack of schools. An online platform cannot replace functioning institutions. A digital business cannot thrive indefinitely without reliable connectivity and economic stability.

Technology is a tool. People determine what the tool achieves.

This is why youth development should remain at the centre of digital programmes.

RACBO can help young people move from technology users to technology creators. This can involve coding clubs, digital literacy programmes, entrepreneurship training, innovation challenges, community technology centres and mentorship opportunities.

Young people can develop solutions for local problems. They can create digital tools for education, agriculture, community communication, health awareness, business and environmental protection.

Some solutions may be simple. Others may be highly technical. What matters is that young people are given opportunities to experiment, learn and contribute.

South Sudan’s digital future will not be built only by large technology companies. It will also be built by students learning their first computer skills, teachers adopting digital resources, young entrepreneurs creating businesses and community organizations using technology to reach people more effectively.

Every new skill creates another possibility.

Every connected learner gains access to knowledge.

Every young entrepreneur who learns to use technology productively creates an opportunity.

Every community that gains access to reliable digital information becomes better positioned to make informed decisions.

The transformation South Sudan needs is therefore not simply technological. It is human.

Technology can open doors, but young people must be equipped to walk through them.

The country’s young generation deserves access to knowledge, opportunity and the tools required to participate in a changing world. With responsible investment, inclusive programmes and strong community support, technology can become an important part of South Sudan’s journey toward recovery and development.

For RACBO, investing in youth and technology means investing in the people who will shape the country’s future.

The question is no longer whether technology will affect South Sudan.

It already does.

The more important question is whether South Sudan’s young people will have the skills, access and opportunities to shape that future themselves.

They should.