In January 2011
the people of Southern Sudan voted
overwhelmingly to secede from the
north and create a new State. With
a long, recent history of violent
conflict and civil war, life in Southern
Sudan is presently characterized by
poverty, a fragile peace, a lack of
infrastructure and basic services,
and nascent governance and rule of
law structures. Southern Sudan is
also faced with the return and reintegration
of internally displaced people along
with returnees from the north and
neighbouring countries. Other challenges
include large numbers of ex-combatants
and the proliferation of small arms
in both rural and urban areas.
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement
signed by both the Government of Southern
Sudan (GoSS) and the Government of
Sudan is due to expire on 9 July 2011.
The pressure is on for both GoSS and
international partners to deliver
on the promise of independence. Converting
hopes and aspirations into actions
and programmes that will facilitate
sustainable post-conflict recovery
has, therefore, proved to be immensely
challenging for the Government of
Southern Sudan (GoSS).
The urgent need to assist in developing
the capacity of government and building
sound governance structures remains
a driving focus for UNDP in Southern
Sudan. Over the last five years, we
have worked with key institutions
at GoSS, state and county level providing
technical assistance, mentoring and
direct financial support.
We are working closely with GoSS to
ensure that come independence, the
new Republic of South Sudan will have
the ability to execute the core functions
of governance, including management
of public resources and functioning
rule of law institutions.
In addition to working with government,
we also support a range of non-state
actors including civil society, NGOs,
the media, and traditional leaders.
A range of programmes designed to
reach to the community level in priority
areas are also in place.
Our specific priorities are as follows:
| UNDP’s
activities worldwide are based
on the premise that governments
have the primary responsibility
for their own development, and
for the establishment of their
own development agenda. |
• Providing support to GoSS
and all ten state governments by embedding
professional staff within government
to boost staff capacity.
• Working with GoSS as leading
development partner by harnessing
support and facilitating the implementation
of core governance functions, and
providing input to the strategic Southern
Sudan Development Plan.
• Improving access to justice
and developing institutional capacity
of rule of law institutions, including
the Ministry of Legal Affairs and
Constitutional Development, the Judiciary,
the Police and Prisons services, the
Southern Sudan Human Rights Commission
and the Southern Sudan Anti-Corruption
Commission.
• Strengthening priority governance
structures including the Office of
the President, the Ministry of Presidential
Affairs and the Ministry of Parliamentary
Affairs.
• Reducing the risk of future
crises and conflicts by enhancing
community security, supportinglivelihoods
and economic development, community
infrastructure, and the reduction
and control of small arms.
• Enabling GoSS to plan, monitor,
evaluate and implement poverty reduction
initiatives through better financial
management and the gathering of robust
and credible socio-economic data.
• Combating HIV/AIDS, malaria
and tuberculosis through community-based
initiatives
Our focus areas and projects
are as follows:
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