Ballots, Barriers, and Inclusion: Assessing Electoral Preparedness and Women’s Political Participation in South Sudan

Abstract

Women’s participation in politics is widely regarded as a key indicator of democratic advancement and inclusive governance, particularly in post-conflict settings. In South Sudan, the Transitional Constitution and the 35% gender quota mandated by the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) establish a legal framework for women’s inclusion. However, substantial practical barriers persist. Women’s political engagement remains constrained by entrenched social norms, economic marginalisation, limited opportunities within political parties, and pervasive insecurity. This study assesses women’s electoral preparedness in South Sudan by integrating quantitative and qualitative data from the 2024–2025 National Transformational Leadership Institute (NTLI) national survey, which included 726 respondents from all ten states and three administrative areas, along with findings from focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The methodology employed a mixed-methods approach, enabling triangulation of survey results with qualitative insights to provide a comprehensive understanding of women’s readiness for electoral participation. The findings reveal that while a significant proportion of women express interest in politics (31% report strong interest), only a minority feel fully equipped to vote or stand as candidates. Key barriers include inadequate civic education, particularly among rural and first-time voters; ongoing insecurity; financial obstacles; insufficient support from political parties; and the slow pace of electoral reforms. Notably, only 37.4% of women are members of political parties compared to 47.5% of men, and 41% of women said they would run for office if given the opportunity, yet few have access to campaign resources or networks. Furthermore, 83% of women intend to vote in the upcoming elections, up from 51% in 2010, but many lack knowledge of their rights and electoral procedures. The study shows that women’s electoral preparedness depends not only on individual interest but also on enabling political conditions, effective legal frameworks, and perceptions of safety. The report recommends targeted interventions: enhancing voter and civic education (especially for rural and first-time women voters), rigorous enforcement of the 35% gender quota at all political levels, implementation of robust security measures to protect women’s participation, increased opportunities and leadership roles for women within political parties, and provision of financial support to women candidates. These recommendations are grounded in specific evidence from the NTLI study, including the finding that 74% of women report access to election information, but significant gaps persist in rural areas and among women with lower levels of education.