Publications

Pact Sudan Launches a New Grant Pool

On 04 March, Pact Sudan through our South Sudan Peace Fund project in partnership with UNDP DDR Unit and Southern Sudan Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Commission (SSDDRC) launched a 300,000USD grant pool for community led projects on social re-integration of Women Associated with Armed Forces (WAAF).This was done at a workshop organized for Community Based Organizations and Civil Society organizations from six counties in Central Equatoria State to discuss the challenges faced by WAAF and how CBOs/CSOs can work with these women to reintegrate them into the community.

In her speech, Pact Sudan’s Country Representative, Judy McCallum, appreciated the role of women in peacebuilding and conflict mitigation.

“Women have been key in peacebuilding in Sudan and therefore we encourage them to be very active in implementing projects that deal directly with them,” she said.

The Deputy Chairperson of DDR, Anne Kima Hoth, thanked the organizers of the workshop and pointed out that it was indeed time for the women to reap from the war in which many of them sacrificed while others perished.
 
A few women were given a session to give testimonies on the challenges they faced during the war.

Participants during a brainstorming session during the workshop in Juba. (Photo-Logo J. Maya)

One Joyce, narrated that during the war, they used to work as informants for the SPLM soldiers but after the war, they were completely forgotten.

“Whenever I see a military car, I feel like crying...it reminds me of the war and the suffering we went through. But after the war, we have been completely forgotten,” she said.

Participants were divided into groups to come up with of activities that could be implemented in order to successfully reintegrate these women into the community. Some of the activities included; tailoring courses, training on modern farming methods, computer courses, hotel management, Lulu oil production, trainings on human rights and the rule of law, guidance and counseling, adult literacy course, among others.

After this workshop, Pact Sudan, UNDP and DDR met and developed a Request for Application template that  will guide interested indigenous organizations when applying for grants. Proposals will be received until April 12, 2010 and joint team from the three organizations will be charged with the selection of the partners that will qualify to receive grants to implement activities for these women. At the moment our Community development Officer, Hellen Foni and Field Coordinator Livia Ndurua, are working with some partners to generate proposals.

Story By: Logo J. Maya/Information Officer