December 2022
We support community-led programs to build resilience and peace.
 This ceremony in Bor on October 31 handed over management of the Bor internally displaced persons (IDP) camp to the Camp Management Committee, which is composed of IDPs living in the camp, and to South Sudan's Relief and Rehabilitation Commission. Photo: ACTED
Bor IDP Community Representatives, Local Authorities Now Manage IDP Site
Since November 2022, representatives of the internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Bor and local authorities are managing this former Protection of Civilians site, following a formal handover of responsibilities on October 31. Over the past year, USAID and its partner ACTED have trained IDP community members and local authorities to take over management of Bor camp, which included the community electing representatives to a
Camp Management Committee. With USAID support, ACTED worked with the community representatives and provided them equipment to carry out their duties, including two motorbikes, two computers, and office equipment. The Camp Management Committee and local authorities are now responsible for maintaining the camp’s infrastructure and management, advocating for residents' needs, and coordinating with humanitarian organizations and the government to resolve challenges. Handing over camp management to IDP representatives is rare, in South Sudan and worldwide, and represents a significant milestone in empowering IDPs. Established as a Protection of Civilians site in 2014 following the eruption of South Sudan's civil war, humanitarian organizations managed Bor Camp until October 2022, providing services to the current population of nearly 2,700 IDPs. Camps supported by international humanitarian aid are not a long-term sustainable solution for IDPs. Following an emergency response, USAID aims to support community self-reliance, as this handover has done.
 This peace dialogue in April in Liloth County facilitated by Kabarze Women for Peace Initiative with support from USAID has helped decrease violence by youth. Photo: USAID Shejeh Salam Activity
Liloth County Peace Dialogue Results in Return of Abducted Children, Weapons
USAID's Shejeh Salam activity supported the Kabarze Women for Peace Initiative to address conflict and lack of accountability in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area's Liloth County. It helped the community reach several resolutions in April that have reduced violence in the area. Some young men from the county were living in nearby forests and attacking neighboring communities, killing and abducting people and raiding cattle, despite disapproval of their home community members. After the dialogue, their age set members and community leaders spoke with the young men and urged them to return home and cease these harmful activities. Most returned to their communities, and violence in the area has decreased. As a result of the dialogue, 11 children who had been abducted were handed over to Greater Pibor Administrative Area authorities on November 26, to be returned to their families. Thirteen guns that were used to kill traders in Pibor and Gei payams in November 2021 were surrendered and handed over to the Pibor County commissioner in Lekuangole. Discussions continue about returning 56 cattle that were taken from Lou Nuer traders in Gei Payam during the November 2021 killing.
 In Bentiu, floodwaters in recent weeks breached dikes near the Bentiu internally displaced persons camp. This photo was taken December 15 during a joint USAID, United Kingdom, and European Union visit to Bentiu. Photo: USAID
USAID, UK, EU Examine Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Challenges in Bentiu
USAID Mission Director for South Sudan Kate Crawford and Humanitarian Assistance Office Director Kristina Ortiz traveled to Unity State’s Bentiu internally displaced persons camp on December 15 with colleagues from the United Kingdom and European Union to assess challenges in the water, sanitation, and hygiene sector and how our assistance is helping improve community health. The site currently hosts more than 102,000 people displaced by conflict and floods. Heavy rainfall and flooding continue to threaten the community’s health and weaken camp infrastructure. The joint mission revealed opportunities for further collaboration between USAID, the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office, and the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office on information sharing and joint monitoring of humanitarian programs.
 U.S. Ambassador to South Sudan Michael Adler commemorated international Human Rights Day at this USAID-organized event on December 9. Photo: Victor Lugala/USAID
U.S. Ambassador Expresses Grave Concern about Human Rights Abuses
USAID's Shejeh Salam activity organized an event in Juba on December 9 marking Human Rights Day, which is celebrated annually worldwide on December 10, and is also the final day of the annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. U.S. Ambassador to South Sudan Michael Adler told South Sudanese human rights defenders at the event, “The United States is gravely concerned by credible reports of continued human rights violations and the impunity enjoyed by those perpetrating such acts. Many of these violations occur within the context of subnational violence, such as in the ongoing conflict in Upper Nile State. It is clear that political actors in Juba bear responsibility for much of the violence in Upper Nile State and must act to end it." Ambassador Adler also expressed deep concern about credible reports of sexual and gender-based violence and extrajudicial killings. He expressed strong support for USAID’s work in South Sudan, including Shejeh Salam’s efforts to promote peace.
 Women in Jur River County participating in community resilience planning. Photo: Policy LINK activity
Community-Led Resilience Planning Spurs Practical Solutions to Challenges
Resilience planning in some of South Sudan's most crisis-affected counties through USAID's Policy LINK activity is empowering communities to prioritize their needs, helping build trust within the community, enhancing community members' sense of agency, and giving traditionally marginalized community members such as women and youth opportunities to voice their aspirations—inspiring community members to take leadership, ownership, and responsibility for their own resilience. In Jur River County, for example, a 2021 community resilience mapping exercise identified six major shocks: conflict, food insecurity, livelihood and economic challenges, human and animal disease, crop pests, and fire and flooding. Fire was identified as one of the most impactful shocks disproportionately affecting women and children. A majority of households in Jur River County said they cook indoors and do not have a separate kitchen area, significantly increasing the likelihood of fire. Maria Ator, a community-selected delegate from the payam-level local action planning workshop, was inspired to take action and collaborated with another female leader to invent a local stove to reduce the risk of fire from home cooking. The stove prevents embers from escaping and igniting household effects or burning children, who are often by their mother’s side. The stove is made from locally sourced materials and uses both charcoal and firewood for cooking. Ms. Ator conducts a 90-day training targeting woman- and child-headed families and people with disabilities and chronic diseases. She has trained 75 people so far. USAID Policy LINK established this resource portal to share information on its community-based approach. This video explains Policy LINK's approach.
 Nyamet Kim Kai, 33, a community animal health worker in Khorwai village in Ayod, vaccinates a calf. Photo: Veterinaires Sans Frontieres Germany
Community Animal Health Worker Training Protects Livestock, Food Security
With USAID-funded training for community animal health workers provided by Veterinaires Sans Frontieres Germany, farmer Nyamet Kim Kai serves 55 households in Jonglei State’s Ayod locality, vaccinating and deworming livestock. Between October and November, Nyamet de-wormed 1,813 cattle and 3,000 pigs, which provide milk and meat to improve nutrition of flood-affected populations. She uses the money she receives from vaccinating livestock to feed her family, pay school fees, and buy school uniforms for her children. “With the knowledge and skills I gained from the training, I am a well-known and active woman in the village, because for three years now I have been treating livestock, and help advise and train more female community animal health workers,” said Nyamet, who has mentored and trained five female community animal health workers in Ayod.
 Beneficiaries in Mayendit receive fishing equipment provided through USAID's Shejeh Salam activity. Photo: Shejeh Salam activity
Fishing Equipment and Training Help Boost Livelihoods in Leer and Mayendit
USAID's Shejeh Salam activity supported the Centre for Livelihoods, Peace Research and Poverty Reduction (CLIP POVERTY), a South Sudanese organization, with training and fishing equipment as an alternative livelihood for youth in Mayendit and Leer Counties. Support included solar-powered refrigerators and kilns to dry fish for optimal preservation. USAID also brought women into fishing activities; an activity normally dominated by men in South Sudan. “I was looking for this type of training for a long time," said one young woman beneficiary, Nyadier. "I always used to throw out fish in peak season. I didn’t know how to preserve fish. However, with the knowledge that I have acquired from this training, I will not throw out fish again.” Trainees formed fishing groups to work together, and have already seen economic benefits from the training and equipment provided. “I worked extra hard to sun dry about 300 fish and planned to transport and sell them at the Juba fishing market, but I found out that dry fish were in high demand in Bor town," said a young man
named Liep. "My dry fish was bought, and I proceeded to Juba to purchase goods in the market and returned to Leer and sold them at Adok port,” he said.
 This year's World AIDS Day focused on addressing inequalities that hinder progress on ending AIDS.
USAID Marks Progress, Renews Commitment to Test for and Treat HIV/AIDS
U.S. Ambassador to South Sudan Michael Adler and staff of USAID, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Department of Defense joined representatives of civil society and the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity on December 1 to mark World AIDS Day at John Garang Mausoleum. Ambassador Adler and other dignitaries lit candles in memory of those who have died from AIDS and to offer hope to those living with HIV. Through the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the U.S Government supports HIV/AIDS programs in South Sudan and around the world. Eye Radio invited USAID, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the South Sudan HIV/AIDS Commission to discuss World AIDS Day. This year’s theme was “Equalize,” recognizing the need to make HIV/AIDS awareness, testing and treatment available to all communities, including those most at risk of infection. “We know that we’re making progress in getting people on treatment, getting people tested, but ...there are communities out there that are marginalized or communities that oftentimes are left behind,” said USAID HIV Team Leader Monica Villanueva.
 At Gumbo health facility, Kiden (not her real name) tracks clients living with HIV who are not following regular treatment, to follow up and urge them to resume treatment to maintain good health. Photo: IntraHealth
Community Outreach Volunteer Helps Others Living with HIV
Kiden (not her real name), age 44, has been living with HIV for 22 years and has been diligent about taking medication to keep her viral load low and her health good. USAID’s Advancing HIV & AIDS Epidemic Control Activity trained her as a community outreach volunteer to support others living with HIV. This includes encouraging clients who have stopped or been inconsistent in taking medication to resume treatment, identifying those due for a viral load check on the HIV level in their blood, refilling clients’ antiretroviral tablets, and encouraging pregnant mothers to know their HIV status. “I’m consistent on medication because I own my health. This helped me to raise and keep my two children in school,” Kiden said. She currently monitors 100 clients on antiretroviral therapy. Eighty have suppressed viral load and 20 are receiving enhanced counseling to ensure they take their medication promptly.
 Charity is pursuing her goal of becoming a professional driver, a male-dominated field in South Sudan, with support from USAID's ACHIEVE and DREAMS activities. Photo: Jhpiego
Young Women Learn Skills in Traditionally Male-Dominated Fields
As part of USAID’s efforts to build skills and livelihoods, increase gender equity, and reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS in South Sudan, USAID’s Adolescents and Children HIV Incidence Reduction, Empowerment, and Virus Elimination (ACHIEVE) project—which is implementing activities under USAID’s Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe (DREAMS) project with funding from the President’s Emergency Plan
for AIDS Relief—is helping adolescent girls and young women train in fields that are traditionally male-dominated, including professional driving and computers. Charity is pursuing a driving course with the goal of becoming a professional driver for an international organization. “I always wanted to become a driver in my life, but no one was there to support me to achieve this dream. However, through ACHIEVE, my dream is coming true,” she said. Charity intends to complete her university studies and continue supporting her family and siblings. Charity is one of nine adolescent girls and young women who have taken a driving course through USAID's DREAMS project; 947 adolescent girls and young women have received training in tailoring, beauty therapy, sandal making and juice making.
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