The 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement ended a brutal civil war between North and South Sudan which left the country's infrastructure in tatters and some 1.5 million people dead. Sudan's first multiparty elections since 1986 were concluded and a referendum took place in Southern Sudan in January 2011 on whether the region should remain a part of Sudan or become independent. The South gained its independence in July 2011 and is now referred to as the Republic of South Sudan. It is hoped that the separation will be the first step to a more permanent peace for both countries.
Civil society must be supported so that it is capable of influencing policies and practices to the benefit of the poor and marginalised. In addition strong accountable governance structures are required to respond to the immediate needs of the population ensuring a just and sustainable peace.
Ongoing projects
ACORD has been working in South Sudan for over thirty years. ACORD's overall objective in Southern Sudan is to enable the peoples of Southern Sudan exercise their rights and responsibilities to arrive at just peace and good governance, enjoying improved livelihoods in an inclusive society, capitalising on their social activism. To this end ACORD is implementing the following programmes.
>> Livelihoods and Food Security: ACORD is improving food security and livelihoods for pastoralists and fisherfolk in Tereteka through building the production capacity of farmers associations and providing essential inputs. Provision of water in rural areas, seeds and tools, fishery equipment and training of community animal health workers are the main activities. ACORD is also engaged in the National Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper process, bringing community concerns to the forefront.
>> HIV and AIDS: ACORD is building capacity at community level for better understanding of the causes and consequences of the pandemic. Influencing policy makers, tribal and religious leaders to combat HIV & AIDS by changing negative traditional practices. Training sessions, workshops, meetings, radio and TV programmes and annual events against AIDS and female genital mutilation (FGM) are among the methodologies used to raise awareness and support advocacy campaigns.
>> Peace Building: ACORD is engaged in participatory planning exercises, conflict analysis, mapping, transformation, prevention, and gender-focused analytical framework.
>> Civil Society Capacity Building: ACORD is supporting associations and groups that have a common agenda (e.g. peace and human rights, internally displaced persons, development, people living with HIV, credit and saving groups, FGM abolition). ACORD's has supported these organisations to become legal entities ensuring recognition of these associations by the public and state authorities.
Where we work
ACORD is present in Mundri and Tali Payam rebuilding infrastructure, improving water access and reinforcing food security. Our agro-pastoral livelihoods programme is running in Juba and Terakeka counties.
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Communities in South Sudan tell their stories
" Jikany and Lou Nuer Communities (Eastern Upper Nile State) continue to need security and economic support from government and non-state actors. These regions have been negatively affected socio-economically by the war activities more than any other areas. The communities from this area suffered from war-induced economic depletion that will take another half century to remedy. Ethiopian access which used to facilitate lives for these communities is no longer what it used to be. The cattle that these communities depended on were depleted as mandatory "taayin" (payment for security) for SPLA Soldiers during the struggle. If these communities were our gate-ways to the activities leading to our current relative peace, we must not neglect them. We must collectively help change their silent predicament". This is a statement from Rondyang in Southern Sudan.
Our partners in South Sudan
ACORD receives valuable support from the European Commission, the Belgian Government, CCFD-Terre Solidaire and HEKS.
Photos, videos and publications
Cycles of Violence. Gender Relations and Armed Conflict. What is the impact of war on gender relations, and can gender relations contribute to conflict? Presents the findings of
ACORD's research carried out in five communities living in the shadow of
violent conflict in Sudan, Angola, Mali, Uganda and Somalia.
english
Photos of ACORD's work in South Sudan can be sent upon request by writing to communications@acordinternational.org
How you can support communities in South Sudan
Financial donations and in-kind support to ACORD's South Sudan Area Programme go a long way to improving livelihoods and building an inclusive and peaceful society in South Sudan. Commitments and ownership by communities themselves to sustain their own facilities ensures that our programmes have a lasting impact on their livelihoods and their development.
For more information on our work in South Sudan please sign up to our newsletter, visit your nearest ACORD office or call us.
Stephen Wani, Area Programme Manager for ACORD in South Sudan.
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