The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched a new civic engagement center in Western Bahr el Ghazal state capital Wau to be used by civil society.
The Wau Civic Engagement Center will serve as a neutral platform for activists to access information, share meeting space, communicate, and educate the local community, according to a press release. The center also offers free internet to civil society members.
“Communities throughout the country are looking for civil society organizations to represent their concerns and advocate for sustainable peace,” said U.S. Ambassador Mary Catherine Phee, who visited Wau July 28 to inaugurate the new center.
The USAID press release said civil society organizations help citizens by delivering key social services, advocating for community issues, and connecting communities to government.
“However, many civil society organizations lack the resources to maintain permanent office space, access the Internet, or implement long-term programs that will raise community concerns and improve government responsiveness,” the development agency said.
There is a similar Civic Engagement Center in Juba. USAID said it plans to build another in Yambio. The project in Wau was implemented by a consortium that includes Democracy International and the Public International Law and Policy Group.