The Government of South Sudan, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UNICEF, launched two major peacebuilding projects to reduce community violence and foster resilience in conflict-affected areas.
The initiatives, funded by the UN Peacebuilding Fund and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), are expected to empower local communities, youth, and women to actively participate in peace efforts.
Speaking at the launch event in Juba on Wednesday, Stephen Par Kuol, Minister of Peacebuilding, emphasized the importance of community-centered approaches in achieving sustainable peace.
“This project is very important and timely because it is community-centered. We must go beyond violence reduction and aim to end community violence entirely,” he said. “Our role as leaders is to ensure that our communities are safe and secure.”
The first project, titled “Community Violence Reduction Partnerships with White Nile and Sobat River Communities,” aims to reduce insecurity and instability along the White Nile and Sobat River corridor. Funded at to the tune of USD 4 million, the project will last 36 months and focus on reintegrating youth affected by conflict, increasing livelihoods, and promoting social cohesion through trauma healing and psychosocial support.
The second project, “Peacebuilding and Preventing Violent Extremism in East Africa,” covers South Sudan, Kenya, and Somalia. With a budget of USD 4.8 million, it aims to enhance community resilience and social cohesion, particularly among youth and women. The project is set to be implemented in Eastern Equatoria, Warrap State, and Western Bahr el Ghazal.
Mohamed Abchir, Resident Representative of UNDP South Sudan, highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts to address the root causes of violence.
“These projects reaffirm our collective commitment to addressing the root causes of violence, promoting reconciliation, and ensuring that communities—particularly youth, ex-combatants, and women—have the tools they need to build a peaceful future,” he said.
Abchir added that the projects would also foster democratic participation by creating conditions for peaceful electoral processes and strengthening local mechanisms for conflict prevention and management. He thanked the Peacebuilding Fund and KOICA for their unwavering support.
“We want to thank all our donors and partners for their continued commitment to peace in South Sudan,” he said. “These projects belong to the people of South Sudan, and we must all work together to make them successful.”
Meanwhile, Pia Philip, the undersecretary at the peacebuilding ministry, called for the communities to be involved in the projects.
“This project aims to build resilience among young people, women, and organized forces, while reducing the challenges posed by checkpoints along the White Nile and Sobat River,” he said. “Today marks an important step toward achieving sustainable peace through community engagement.”
The project will also focus on addressing violent extremism by promoting peace education, countering hate speech, and supporting economic empowerment for youth and women.
The Peacebuilding Fund Project will also address conflict drivers through innovative ideas and better tools for managing violence. Local mechanisms for conflict prevention will be strengthened, while youth and women will receive skills training to boost their resilience and participation in peace processes.
The Ministry of Peacebuilding reiterated its commitment to working with civil society organizations and local communities to ensure the success of the projects.
“Juba is not South Sudan. South Sudan is out there, where our people are. We must work with traditional leadership, youth, and women to achieve the objectives of this project,” Minister Par stressed.
The initiatives are expected to provide socio-economic opportunities, trauma healing, and reconciliation support, helping communities become more self-reliant and resilient.
The launch of these projects comes at a critical time for South Sudan as the country continues to face challenges related to community violence and instability.