GESCI supported the African Union’s Pan African Institute for Education Development -(AU -IPED) in delivering a three-day Education Management Information Systems (EMIS) consultation and capacity strengthening mission in South Sudan, under the GPE-KIX Africa 19 Hub, with funding support from IDRC and UNESCO IICBA.

The mission brought together technical officials from the Ministry of General Education and Instruction across planning, ICT, statistics, and policy departments to assess the current state of EMIS and co-develop solutions for system strengthening.

This activity focused on technical consultations, providing a comprehensive overview of South Sudan’s EMIS landscape, including progress made in data collection and the persistent challenges of fragmented systems, limited technical capacity, and data quality gaps.

Participants emphasized the urgent need for sustainable financing, stronger institutional ownership, and improved data use for planning and decision-making.

There were field visits to schools in Juba to better understand how EMIS functions at the point of service delivery.

The visits highlighted strong demand for education but also revealed significant system pressures—including overcrowded classrooms, shortages of qualified teachers, and limited infrastructure. Data collection at school level remains largely manual, contributing to delays and gaps in national reporting systems.

Despite these challenges, the commitment of teachers and communities stood out as a key strength, underscoring the resilience of the education system.

The mission concluded with the presentation and validation of a costed national EMIS action plan, outlining priority investments in:

• Capacity building and technical skills

• Data quality and system integration

• ICT infrastructure

• Governance and policy frameworks

• Decentralized implementation at state level

The action plan provides a structured pathway for strengthening education data systems, improving coordination among partners, and enabling evidence-based education planning in South Sudan.

The mission's outputs will inform ongoing collaboration among the Ministry, AU IPED, and partners under the GPE-KIX Africa 19 Hub. The next phase will focus on finalizing the technical report, validating the action plan, and mobilizing resources for implementation.

This engagement reinforces the critical role of partnerships in advancing robust, data-driven education systems across Africa, ensuring that no learner is left behind.