This study, commissioned by Tearfund, aims to assess the progress, challenges, and opportunities in advancing the WPS agenda in South Sudan, providing evidence-based recommendations for policy and programmatic interventions. Specifically, it sought to assess progress across the four pillars of prevention, participation, protection, and relief and recovery, identify the roles of key actors including government institutions, CSOs, FBOs, and international organisations, examine challenges hindering women’s participation in peacebuilding, and document best practices and lessons to inform future strategies.
Key findings
Efforts to advance the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda in South Sudan have been driven by government institutions, civil society organisations (CSOs), international and local NGOs, faith-based organisations (FBOs), and community-based structures. These stakeholders have played a vital role in policy advocacy, peacebuilding, gender-based violence (GBV) prevention, and economic empowerment, contributing to women’s participation in decision-making and post-conflict recovery.
Conclusions
The implementation of the WPS agenda in South Sudan has provided valuable insights into effective strategies, persistent challenges, and key priorities for future interventions. While women’s participation in governance, peacebuilding, and economic empowerment has expanded, their full inclusion remains hindered by cultural resistance, economic barriers, and weak policy enforcement.
Key best practices have emerged, including women-led peace mediation efforts, gender-sensitive conflict prevention strategies, economic empowerment programmes, and faith-based advocacy. Local women’s groups have played a pivotal role in grassroots peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and community stabilisation, ensuring reconciliation efforts are inclusive and sustainable. The integration of livelihood initiatives, vocational training, and microfinance has strengthened women’s financial independence, contributing to household resilience and reducing vulnerability to GBV.
However, gaps remain in institutional coordination, funding allocation, and policy enforcement. The need for stronger accountability mechanisms, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and sustainable financial support has been identified as critical to maximising the WPS agenda’s impact.
Tearfund is well-positioned to leverage its faith-based networks and community-driven approach to address these challenges by scaling up best practices, enhancing local leadership, and promoting gender-sensitive policies.
Priority areas for intervention based on primary and secondary data include Juba, Twic East, Bor, Malakal, Renk, Wau, Terekeka, Aweil, and Torit, where Tearfund can focus on leadership development, GBV prevention, economic empowerment, and faith-based peacebuilding initiatives. Partnerships with government institutions, INGOs, and donors will be essential in mobilising resources and ensuring programme sustainability.
Moving forward, achieving sustainable peace and gender equality will require a holistic and well-coordinated approach, ensuring that women’s voices are not only included but actively shape decision-making.
