The Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative has selected 650 students in South Sudan for 2026, exceeding the total number of beneficiaries from 2016 to 2025.
The DAFI scholarship program in South Sudan has selected 650 new students for 2026, a figure that surpasses the total number of beneficiaries supported over the previous nine years combined. This year's intake includes refugees, returnees, and for the first time, students from host communities. The program, implemented by the Lutheran World Federation in partnership with UNHCR, aims to build human capital and foster peaceful coexistence.
Officials announced the record intake at an onboarding ceremony in Juba on Friday. Kenyi Beneth Emmanuel, Education Project Manager at the Lutheran World Federation, stated that the 2026 cohort of 650 students exceeds the 414 beneficiaries supported between 2016 and 2025. The expansion to include host community students fulfills a longstanding request from the government, acknowledging the similar needs of refugees, returnees, and local populations.
The 2026 scholarship cycle received approximately 1,400 applications, with the selected students to pursue courses up to four years long at recognized South Sudanese institutions. Priority is given to fields like education, social work, and medical studies to enhance employment prospects. UNHCR Protection Officer Tabasum Noor Jamal emphasized that the scholarship is a partnership requiring academic commitment, intended to provide lasting protection and support sustainable solutions for displaced communities.
Why it mattersThe DAFI scholarship program's record intake of 650 students, including those from host communities, will provide educational opportunities and financial support to young people in South Sudan.
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