Background
The signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005 marked a critical juncture for Sudan. It represented an opportunity for the people of Southern Sudan to finally experience peace and development. The prolonged conflict left the Southern Sudan Public Sector with serious constraints in availability of personnel in virtually all sectors. This is mainly because a significant number of civil servants are former soldiers who lack the education, skills and competencies necessary for public service. In addition, leadership and supervision is inadequate, making it very difficult to get reasonable levels of productivity from the existing public service structures.

Objectives
This initiative will support the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) to place 200 civil servants from IGAD Member States on secondment with GoSS to mentor and coach the Southern Sudanese civil servants. This placement is for an initial period of two years. The seconded civil servants will be “twinned” with Southern Sudanese Civil Servants to ensure the direct transfer of skills and on-the-job training. These seconded civil servants will serve as a form of rapid capacity enhancement support to strengthen the institutional capacity of GoSS institutions to deliver services.

Snapshots of the project's major achievements
• Consultations with Ministry of Labour and Public Service with participating ministries and institutions to identify critical areas of human resource needs that will be supported by IGAD Regional Initiative Project.
• A comprehensive roster of 200 potential civil servants has been developed, complete with relevant job descriptions.
• UNDP facilitated 4 Ministerial visits to Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia to seek support for the project. Formal commitment is now pledged to the Government of Southern Sudan by the three participating Governments.
• A 3 day workshop was held with all state Ministers of Labour and Public Service and their respective Directors General and chaired by the GOSS Vice President. The workshop was held to brief the state Ministers on the purpose of the IGAD Project.
• Orientation programme for the visiting civil servants developed by GOSS Ministry of Labor and Public Service in consultation with the three participating IGAD Member States.
• UNDP supported the introduction and familiarization trip made to Kenya and Ethiopia by senior GoSS Ministry of Labour and Public Service officials to the Kenyan School of Governance and the Ethiopia Civil Service College, two civil servants training institutions.