Generating Sustainable Livelihoods and Leadership for Peace in South Sudan: Lessons from the Ground – Project Brief 1

The Centre for Conflict Resolution (CCR), Cape Town, South Africa, is implementing a five-year project (2016–2021) on "Generating Sustainable Livelihoods and Leadership for Peace in South Sudan" as part of a consortium of three organisations, also including the Agency for Cooperation and Research in Development (ACORD) and DanChurchAid (DCA). The long-term goal of the project is to address the political and socio-economic root causes of armed conflict and instability in South Sudan. Four major inter-related causes of conflict and instability are being addressed through the project: food insecurity, youth disengagement, tensions and mistrust, and lack of effective conflict resolution mechanisms. The project seeks to empower local community leaders, civil society, and peacebuilding actors to contribute directly and sustainably to a culture of peace and respect for human rights in five states: Ikotos, Jonglei, Jubek, Kapoeta, and Terekeka. This is the first in a series of five policy briefs that seek to promote wider and better understanding of the challenges faced by local communities in the project target locations, and to disseminate the lessons learned, while encouraging bench-marking of best practices. Based on consultations with beneficiaries as well as the experiences of, and lessons learned from, activities undertaken by CCR, ACORD, and DCA between September 2016 and March 2018, the brief offers concrete recommendations aimed at increasing the impact of training and awareness-raising activities by development partners, addressing community-level conflicts more effectively; strengthening local leadership structures and youth participation in decision-making; and increasing support for the work of local peace committees.