As I made my way from Juba airport to the World Bank office, I was struck by the gleaming new buildings rising across the cityscape, but what truly lifted my spirit was the vibrant pulse of trade and economic activity unfolding along the way.
I was joining a project support trip of the World Bank team working on the South Sudan Women’s Social and Economic Empowerment Project (SSWSEEP) and returning to Juba for the first time in seven years. The SSWSEEP, funded by the World Bank, implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare (MGCSW) together with UNWOMEN and UNOPS, aims to increase girls’ and women’s access to employment, entrepreneurial and gender-based violence (GBV) services, and to strengthen the government’s capacity to provide these services. The project seeks to respond to the complex needs of women and girls by working with primarily lower-skilled and less bankable women and girls to equip them with socioeconomic skills and jobs, while also supporting more established female entrepreneurs to expand and scale up their businesses.
One of the most inspiring stories I encountered on my visit was that of Nyager Guet. Nyager is the Managing Director and Founder of Rolling Acres Real Estate Ltd, and a beneficiary of the Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Facility (WEOF) under SSWSEEP. She is helping to change the difficult reality of women in South Sudan. A lawyer by training and, until recently, a South Sudanese refugee in Kenya, Nyager returned to South Sudan determined to contribute to the country’s social and economic development.
Nyager Guet, a real Estate entrepreneur and a beneficiary of the SSWSEEP project funded by the World Bank in Juba. Photo: Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare
With the deep conviction that housing is a fundamental need, and one increasingly elusive for South Sudanese families, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and returnees, Nyager established Rolling Acres — a real estate company specializing in property management, real estate marketing, and innovative construction solutions such as container housing. The company caters to mid- to high-income residential and commercial markets, providing safe and affordable housing options in a sector often marked by exploitation and informality. She is also driven to provide affordable housing for the under-served lower- and middle class and has developed an approach to use containers to fill infrastructural gaps where traditional construction has proven to be too expensive.
South Sudan has been rife with conflict, displacement, and economic crisis, and the weak economic foundation has seen women and women-owned businesses focus on immediate survival instead of long-term planning and growth. Lack of basic business and financial management skills, as well as lack of peer-to-peer learning and mentorship opportunities has had negative impacts on women-owned businesses. Access to capital from financial institutions remains a challenge for women as the majority lack financial track records and interest rates are prohibitive. Negligible ownership of land and productive assets, low literacy rates, and limited financial inclusion have kept women concentrated in informal sectors. Insights from surveys on business and enterprises in South Sudan and jobs, recovery, and peacebuilding in 2020 indicates that only 23% of South Sudanese businesses are owned by women.
Despite the challenges of entering a male-dominated sector, Nyager persisted. She started the company with her sister, Nyawich, investing their own resources and over the past six years steadily built it into an emerging real estate enterprise. The WEOF support came at a crucial time, helping formalize systems and consolidate its growing market presence. WEOF implementing partners, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Open Capital Advisors (OCA) have deepened Nyager’s understanding of South Sudan’s real estate landscape, identified strategic market opportunities, and operational gaps.
Thanks to tailored technical support, Rolling Acres improved its focus on key customer segments to target and the appropriate value proposition to attract those new segments. The support is also improving its visibility and digital presence with a new website, enhanced branding, and targeted social media and physical marketing to reach clients both online and offline. The planned adoption of an Enterprise Resource Planning system, with integrated Customer Relationship Management capabilities will stream line rental management, maintenance tracking, payments, and customer service laying the foundation for scale and sustainability. Rolling Acres has already managed dozens of properties, providing returning families with secure homes and affordable commercial spaces for local businesses.
Building on this momentum, Nyager is now turning her focus outward — creating pathways for other women. She plans to empower South Sudanese women as real estate agents through expert training, coaching, and mentorship. With the recent announcement by the Ministry of Land, Housing, and Urban Development opening South Sudan’s real estate market to international investors, Rolling Acres is positioning itself as a leader ready to connect global capital with local opportunity.
Her journey from exile to real estate visionary is not just a personal triumph, it’s a testament to what’s possible when targeted support meets grassroots ambition. When we met the young and dynamic team at her impressive office, Nyager was confident and clear about her vision and path ahead as she told us
“All I needed was a chance. When I chose to come back to my country after being a refugee all my life, I wanted to give back, support people with access homes on reasonable terms and without being exploited. I was aware of entering a male dominated sector, but affordable housing is such a basic need, and I wanted to challenge myself. More than the funding from WEOF, I benefited immensely from the rigorous processes and technical support. This has helped me convert my company into a well-run business which will help not only with profitability but also sustainability as I am now on track to accessing loans from the commercial financial market. I am also working with experts to engage with the relevant government ministries to establish regulatory mechanisms and guidelines for the functioning of the real estate rental sector to ensure that client interests are safeguarded. I plan to create employment opportunities for women, IDPs and those with disabilities through my company, and am also keen to see other women enter this space – I am more than happy to guide and mentor them.” Nyager recounted her tale.
Through its tumultuous decade of independence, South Sudanese women have served as the backbone of sustaining households and providing for their families, leveraging whatever opportunities were available. SSWSEEP seeks to empower these women to access economic opportunities better and at the same time address the risks of gender-based violence, which remains a major constraint.
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