From Fragmented Data to Decision-Ready EMIS

This policy brief examines the need to strengthen South Sudan’s Education Management Information System (EMIS) as a foundation for evidence-based planning, budgeting, accountability, and education reform. Drawing on findings from the 2026 EMIS Strengthening Mission in Juba, the brief identifies key challenges, including fragmented education data systems, manual and uneven school-level data practices, weak data quality assurance, limited institutional coordination, and sustainability gaps in financing and capacity. It proposes a phased, Ministry-led policy direction focused on mapping and integrating education data systems, improving school-level data collection, institutionalising data quality assurance, strengthening partner coordination, and promoting the use of data for decision-making. The brief positions EMIS strengthening as both a national priority for South Sudan and a contribution to continental and global education commitments under the AU EMIS Norms and Standards, CESA 2026–2035, Agenda 2063, and SDG 4.