VIABLE SUPPORT TO TRANSITION AND STABILITY (VISTAS) Q1 FY 2018 QUARTERLY REPORT OCTOBER 1– DECEMBER 31, 2017
JANUARY 2018 This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. It was prepared by AECOM.
VIABLE SUPPORT TO TRANSITION AND STABILITY (VISTAS) Q1 FY 2018 QUARTERLY REPORT OCTOBER 1– DECEMBER 31, 2017
Contract No. AID-668-C-13-00004
Submitted to: USAID South Sudan
Prepared by: AECOM International Development
Prepared for: Office of Transition and Conflict Mitigation (OTCM) USAID South Sudan Mission American Embassy Juba, South Sudan
DISCLAIMER: The authors’ views expressed in this document do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government.
Q1 FY 2018 Quarterly Report | Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) i TABLE OF CONTENTS Acronyms ...... III I. Executive Summary ...... 1 II. Political and Security Landscape ...... 2 National Political and Security Landscape ...... 2 IIi. Program Strategy...... 3 IV. Program Highlights ...... 4 To Increase Space and Tools to Manage Conflict and Tensions ...... 4 To Promote a More Informed Community ...... 8 To Build Cross-Line Interdependency to Promote Peaceful Coexistence ...... 10 To Engage Communities in Trauma Awareness to Lay the Foundation for Healing and Reconciliation ...... 11 Program Challenges and Lessons Learned ...... 13 V. Impact ...... 14 VI. Administration and Logistics ...... 16 Human Resources...... 16 Finance ...... 16 Logistics / Operations ...... 16 Procurement ...... 17 Annex A: Financial Information (For Internal USAID use only) ...... 18 Annex B: Schedule of Upcoming Events ...... 19 Annex C: Region-Specific Information ...... 21 Annex D: Progress on Indicator Targets * ...... 22 Annex E: Success Story ...... 23
Q1 FY 2018 Quarterly Report | Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) ii ACRONYMS
ACDFS Abiem Community Development Foundation South Sudan AISS AECOM International South Sudan CAD Civil Affairs Division CCN Cooperating Country National COH Cessation of Hostilities DDG Danish Demining Group GBV Gender-Based Violence GoSS Government of South Sudan GWELP Gender Equality and Women’s Leadership Program HLRF High-Level Revitalization Forum IGAD Intergovernmental Authority on Development INGO International Non-Government Organization IOM International Organization for Migration JDF John Dau Foundation JSWA Jonglei State Women’s Association KCB Kenya Commercial Bank LTTA Long-Term Technical Assistance M&E Monitoring and Evaluation MACHAWA Mading Aweil Community Animal Health Workers Association NAS National Salvation Front NBeG Northern Bahr El Ghazal NGO Non-Government Organization PoC Protection of Civilians PV Photovoltaic SPLA-IG Sudan People’s Liberation Army SPLA-IO Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition SPLM-IO Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition SRS Strategy Review Session SSP South Sudanese Pound SSTO South Sudan Theater Organization STTA Short-term Technical Assistance TAP Transition Activities Pool TCN Third Country National UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNMISS United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan USN United States National VISTAS Viable Support to Transition and Stability WASH Water, Sanitation and Hygiene WERD Women’s Empowerment for Reconciliation and Development
Q1 FY 2018 Quarterly Report | Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) iii I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The first quarter (Q1) of FY18 was marked by an increased focus on the High-Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the members of the Troika (United States, Norway and the United Kingdom). They made it clear that the HRLF was a unique and critical opportunity to make progress towards peace in South Sudan. However, the humanitarian, economic, security, human rights, and political situation continues to deteriorate, with devastating consequences for the people of South Sudan.
In this reporting period, fighting continued SUMMARY OF VISTAS PROGRAMMING within the Equatorias, Jonglei and parts of Unity State. Protracted cases of insecurity Total # of Activities Cleared in FY18 Q1 9 remained around Juba and in Lakes State Average Grant Size $72,325 where armed cattle camp youth carried out Total Value of Activities Cleared in FY18 Q1 $650,926 several attacks on villages killing over 100 civilians and cattle. In Juba, the president Program Funds Disbursed FY18 Q1 $2,454,061.91 attempted to remove Paul Malong, the Program Funds Disbursed to Date $32,655,861.77 former SPLA Chief of Staff, and disarm his guards where he was being held under house arrest, leading to major tensions in the capital. President Kiir carried out additional reorganizations within the military in an attempt to strengthen his grip.
Various individuals flipped sides, resigning from Machar’s IO and moving to Cirillo’s NAS, primarily in the Equatorias. The HLRF was launched on December 18, 2017 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which brought a large delegation of opposition groups along with the government to the table to sign a Cessation of Hostilities (CoH) agreement. Riek Machar remained in South Africa under house arrest with numerous calls for his freedom and involvement in the HLRF process. Security in Juba remained relatively stable, and VISTAS international staff have been operating normally both within Juba and in the field. FY18 Q1 saw continued weakening of the economy with the South Sudanese Pound (SSP) devaluing to 185:1 against the US Dollar (USD), from 165:1 at the start of the quarter (the official bank rate stands at 128:1). The humanitarian situation did not improve, with a bleak outlook for food supplies and hunger during the dry season.
During FY18 Q1, VISTAS cleared nine activities valued at $650,926 and completed 39 activities valued at approximately $2.8 million. The volume of cleared activities was lower than preceding reporting periods, because VISTAS was drawing down TAP activities due to funding limitations, pending an extension and new funding obligation. Overall staffing was reduced by over 20% in December.
In Northern Bahr el Ghazal (NBeG) stability continued, but the border with Sudan remained officially closed during this reporting period and the devaluation of the SSP caused prices to remain high in the market. The economy is based mostly on funding and assistance from UNMISS, elites, and INGOs. This led to continued food insecurity and exodus of citizens migrating north to Sudan. The World Food Program continued to provide massive amounts of food aid. Tension was high in NBG related to the ongoing house arrest of Paul Malong and attempts to disarm his bodyguards in Juba.
In Lakes State, VISTAS supported children’s peace messaging activities in Rumbek schools and furnished several new structures such as two women’s resource centers, a youth resource center and a traditional authority court for the community. Insecurity around Rumbek town continued with gun shots being heard at night and early morning. The local police struggled to maintain control over the Gelweng (armed youth).
In Unity, VISTAS team successfully partnered with IOM in the Bentiu PoC to construct the Community Resource Center and provide it with library books. The political and security situation in Unity State
Q1 FY 2018 Quarterly Report | Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 1 remained tense with occasional incidents between the IO and government forces, but no significant territory changed hands. BBC Media Action peace messages were loaded onto 2,500 SD cards to be inserted into wind-up SW/FM radios for distribution in the state.
In Upper Nile, the program carried out a series of large migration conferences in the north of the state with the pastoralists and host community in cooperation with UNMISS CAD. The government and IO clashes and standoff around Pagak resulted in the VISTAS office officially being closed last quarter, with the material losses accounted for this quarter.
In Jonglei, VISTAS worked with the customary chiefs to publish and distribute a book of Dinka traditional laws. The Murle carried out a major attack on Payuel resulting in over 30 dead; however, they renewed their relations with the Nuer of Akobo, and interaction between the two communities continued.
In Juba, the team continued to focus on support to students in the PoC under the management of the Gender Equality and Women’s Leadership Program (GWELP). Over 100 students graduated from the program in December. Support to the Juba Monitor continued with their daily publications improving in layout and content. Juba itself remained calm with the government attempting to present the capital as a place of normalcy and stability.
VISTAS completed the final portions of its infrastructure work during FY18 Q1 with the handover of several buildings, including the Traditional Authority Court in Rumbek and the Akobo Youth Center in opposition- controlled areas. These were the last of over 22 infrastructure-related activities completed in 2017.
WASH grants were cleared and tenders for these projects were released in the Juba market. Contracts were awarded for 10 WASH projects in the six regions. WASH progress reports and indicators will be added to the next quarterly reports as these projects are being completed and closed. II. POLITICAL AND SECURITY LANDSCAPE
NATIONAL POLITICAL AND SECURITY LANDSCAPE During FY18 Q1, the level of conflict on a national level remained relatively low, with only isolated clashes being reported. Although many of these clashes were reported as SPLA vs. SPLA-IO (Machar), it is difficult to ascertain whether that was the case, rather than some being localized conflicts spiraling out of control and not necessarily part of a larger national conflict. The opposition parties continued to lack support from the regional countries, be it political, financial or logistical, needed to wage war.
Similarly, the level of crime did not grow significantly with the struggling economy, though corrupt practices and blatant money-making schemes within government departments continue. If and how the government continues to pay security forces is always a question of contention, but it is suspected they are receiving support to print more money as needed. The effect on the SSP and prices of injections of cash into the economy are uncertain. As there is no visibility into the country’s economic management it is hard to say if this situation will continue or suddenly crash.
The main event of note during this reporting period was the issue of reducing the number of General Paul Malong’s bodyguards, which resulted in a protracted standoff outside his official residence in Juba over several weeks in November until he was eventually allowed to travel to Nairobi. Although local reports intimated there might be violence if the issue was forced, there was never any physical evidence to support that suggestion on any significant scale. What role General Malong may now play in South Sudan’s future is not known.
Q1 FY 2018 Quarterly Report | Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 2 VISTAS’ security stance remained unaltered with pro-active preparations remaining in place and a readiness to react to any sudden change in the situation. This included an understanding that, despite the above observations, an unforeseen event may occur at any time requiring staff to shelter in place for up to 72 hours. III. PROGRAM STRATEGY
VISTAS identifies three levels of interconnected conflict in South Sudan: 1) conflict between the political and military elites in the SPLM/A & SPLM/A-IO; 2) community-level conflict often centered on access to resources (including cattle, land, pasture, and water); and, 3) conflicts characterized as ‘citizen vs state,’ impacting populations that feel marginalized and aggrieved by the national or state level governments.
VISTAS supports both national and local-level stabilization and transition efforts targeted at recovery by mitigating political and social volatility and reducing vulnerability to violence. VISTAS operates in six regions (Equatoria, Jonglei, Lakes, Northern Bahr El Ghazal, Unity and Upper Nile) that are critical to the political stability of the country. The program strategically places its offices to help local partners advance peace by seizing critical windows of opportunity.
VISTAS works through the following objectives: A. To increase space and tools to manage conflict and tensions. B. To promote a more informed community. C. To build cross-line interdependency to promote peaceful coexistence. D. To engage communities in trauma awareness to lay the foundation for healing and reconciliation.
Along with the overall objectives, each of the six regions develops its own regional strategy that identifies the key contextual issues and sub-objectives to address those issues, in line with the overall VISTAS objectives.
During FY 18 Q1, VISTAS regional offices continued to pursue activities supporting the strategies agreed upon during the Strategic Review Session (SRS) in November 2016. Building upon a rolling assessment from last summer, VISTAS conducted another rolling assessment in October 2017. No significant changes were made to the regional program strategies. However, due to funding limitations and the stated close-out date of the VISTAS program in July 2018, TAP activities were scaled down and closing- out of activities was prioritized with the end of TAP/grant cycles. In a bid to promote sustainability and build the capacity of partner organizations, VISTAS initiated a capacity building program across all regional offices in which the teams assessed grantee capacities and then developed and conducted capacity building trainings in different thematic areas such as:
A. Conflict Sensitivity B. Gender Integration C. Financial Management D. Asset Management E. Procurement/Logistics F. Monitoring and Evaluation G. Report Writing
This capacity building program is an effort to support beneficiaries to continue their work once the VISTAS program closes. Results and lessons learned from these capacity building activities will be shared in future progress reports.
Q1 FY 2018 Quarterly Report | Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 3 IV. PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
TO INCREASE SPACE AND TOOLS TO MANAGE CONFLICT AND TENSIONS VISTAS uses peace dialogues to reaffirm the legitimacy of community leadership and customary authorities, particularly to mitigate conflicts and manage local agreements, often over shared natural resources and access to markets. VISTAS reinforces progress in strengthening inter-communal relationships through peace dialogues, and by supporting follow-on activities that provide mutual economic and social benefits to communities. Under this objective, VISTAS cleared seven projects worth $490,761in FY18 Q1. Some of the key activities under this objective are highlighted below.
VISTAS provided critical support for the Ana Taban Art Initiative (JBA060) – a group of artists focusing on peace messaging, counteracting hate speech and healing divisions between communities. VISTAS support included the office rental fees, fuel, stationaries, and airtime, as well as a significant amount of equipment to support their work. With this support, Ana Taban progressed in their work making films and
other products, and hosting events including ANA TABAN LAUNCHED THEIR FIRST LONG FILM – “BLOOD MOVIE” AT ROYAL concerts, poetry slams, and school debates. PALACE HOTEL IN JUBA. PHOTO BY JUDITH DORUBA
The South Sudan Girl Guides celebrated the International Day of the Girl Child on October 11, 2017 at Medan Rainbow with approximately 600 people in attendance. The event included poems, songs, cultural dances, and speeches from invited guests. Most of the speeches focused on girl child rights to education, discouraging early child marriage, and peace building for the sake of child welfare. VISTAS supported the event with water, buses to transport guides to the venue, hired chairs, and tents. The grantee and other invited guests, such as the national Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport and State Minister of Information, thanked USAID for supporting the event and urged continued support for the association. VISTAS also continued to provide monthly support for Girl Guide office expenses, and provided some needed equipment and furnishings for their head office in Juba.
MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH SUDAN GIRL GUIDES ASSOCIATION MARCH THROUGH JUBA ON THEIR WAY TO MEDAN RAINBOW OR “RAINBOW FIELD” TO CELEBRATE THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL CHILD. PHOTO BY AARON SHAPIRO
Q1 FY 2018 Quarterly Report | Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 4 VISTAS team successfully installed 50 solar lights in the Bentiu PoC, increasing security and access in and around the camp. The idea for this project arose from a flawed UNHCR precursor activity. In 2015 UNHCR installed 100 solar lights in the PoC, only two of which remain functional today. The lack of theft prevention measures on those lights was an invitation to criminal elements both within the PoC and those entering the site at night to steal them. Therefore, VISTAS solar lights were installed higher
SOLAR LIGHTS IN DAY AND NIGHT IN THE POC. PHOTO BY MACHIEN
LUOI off the ground and ringed with razor wire to discourage climbing. The panels and poles are welded into place to prevent removal of the valuable individual panels and toppling of the pole. The VISTAS solar lights are far more resilient than the previous lights and can be expected to remain in service for a longer period, setting a strong precedent for alternative partners such as IOM, which is investigating the possibility of a follow- on project to continue with additional solar light installations.
The installation of the solar lights has also fulfilled its WASH objective in allowing greater freedom of movement to WASH facilities at night. This is particularly important for female adults and youths who often need to visit latrines and water facilities at night.
SOLAR LIGHTS ACROSS THE POC. PHOTO BY GEORGE PADGETT. In November the VISTAS team in Bentiu distributed sports equipment and uniforms to sports associations in the PoC and within Bentiu and Rubkona towns. The distribution in the PoC was intended to diversify the sporting activities available, expanding upon a previous sports equipment distribution in 2016. This was one of the first sporting equipment distributions in Bentiu and Rubkona. In Rubkona, the team distributed soccer, volleyball, and other athletics equipment. The opening ceremony included the first football game in Rubkona town since the start of the civil war in 2013 on a pitch freshly cleared by VISTAS. During these distributions VISTAS collaborated with the IOM Hygiene Promotion program to provide youth and youth leaders with information on proper hygiene practices. IOM was keen to be involved in this event as youth are a key demographic that they had previously struggled to reach in their efforts to reduce communicable illnesses.
Q1 FY 2018 Quarterly Report | Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 5 KICKBOXING PRACTICE, AND (2) COACH JAMES KUOL POSES WITH MEMBERS FROM THE KICKBOXING CLUB. PHOTO BY GEORGE PADGETT
In Bentiu PoC VISTAS worked with the Danish Demining Group (DDG) to support the burgeoning Kickboxing Club. Run by James Kuol, a former international kickboxing competitor, the club has welcomed youth from throughout the PoC and emphasizes the discipline and respect required to participate in the sport. Camp leadership were initially suspicious that the kickboxing club would be disruptive; however all stakeholders have agreed that youth participation in such activities has made the PoC a safer and more vibrant place. As part of the festivities for the 16 Days of Activism, the Danish Demining Group and Kickboxing Club held a friendly kickboxing tournament in December 2017. The activity garnered a lot of hype within the PoC.
VISTAS team in Akobo conducted a peace conference from October 30 to November 4, 2017. The peace conference was attended by 150 women from the six payams of Akobo East County. The five-day event aimed at expanding the role of women in building positive inter-clan relationships and mitigating both intra- and inter-communal conflicts in Greater Akobo. During the meeting, women discussed the issues that continue to impede inter- and intra-communal peace and develop actionable resolutions to address these issues. The women recognized their negative roles as drivers of conflict and pledged to take an active role as peace agents to mitigate the WOMEN DISCUSSING THE ISSUES NEGATIVELY AFFECTING THE COMMUNITY OF AKOBO EAST DURING VISTAS WOMEN’S MEETING IN existing and evolving conflicts in the region. AKOBO (JON133). PHOTO BY KIRILL CHUPAKHIN.
Q1 FY 2018 Quarterly Report | Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 6 Following the completion of the conference, the 40 women travelled to the six payams of Akobo during the period of November 9-20 to disseminate fourteen resolutions developed during the conference. The resolutions addressed revenge killings, cattle raiding, promoting timely blood compensation for pending cases, women as peace agents and carrying weapons in towns. The host communities agreed to organize peace dialogue meetings between the warring sub-clans to expedite the resolution of pending revenge killing cases. As a result of the conference, the women took a bold stand against revenge killings and carrying guns in Akobo town, random gun shots in Akobo town have stopped and no revenge killings have been reported to date. On November 18 alone, 210 heads of cattle were collected in one place to compensate for three WOMEN CROSSING PIBOR RIVER (WHILE SINGING PEACE SONGS) AT Cie-Doh (Nyandit) young men killed by members BORDER OF BOMA OF CIE-LUONG’OR. PHOTO BY KIRILL CHUPAKHIN. of the Cie-Mankoat sub-clan (Meer).
VISTAS team in Akobo funded a Murle women’s peace conference in Pibor from November 17-21,
WOMEN PARCIPANTS PERFORMING A PEACE SONG ABOUT WOMEN’S ROLE IN RESOLVING LOCAL CONFLICT’S (JON139). PHOTO BY KUJU KELVIN
2017. The event brought together sixty (60) women leaders from Pibor, Kubal, Lekuangole, Vertet, Boma and Pochalla counties to discuss the role of women in ongoing conflicts in the area and develop resolutions that would expand their roles in building positive intra- and inter-communal relations. Specifically, the participants discussed the issues of cattle raiding against the neighboring Jie, Toposa, Dinka Bor and Lou Nuer communities, abduction of children, as well as fighting between age-set groups in Greater Pibor. The participants vowed to take a more active role in positively influencing men and work closely with local and traditional authorities in an attempt to mitigate these issues. The women also requested the governor, who was present at the conference, to come up with strict measures in order to curb the issues of cattle raiding, abduction of children, and age-set fighting.
Q1 FY 2018 Quarterly Report | Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 7
The VISTAS Upper Nile team, in collaboration with UNMISS Civil Affairs, facilitated an exit migration conference in Gerger at the border with Sudan. The conference, which brought together host and migrant communities, produced a list of resolutions that nomadic herders and host populations agreed to abide by during the coming migration season. Given the strategic importance of the cross-border relations in connection with pastoral migration routes in Upper Nile, these SPEAKERS AT THE PASTORALIST CONFERENCE. PHOTO BY MALI BOB resolutions will be key for continuing to expand socioeconomic networks and mitigating potential conflicts between host and nomadic communities.
TO PROMOTE A MORE INFORMED COMMUNITY
VISTAS promotes access to reliable and trustworthy information for communities in critical areas, with the goal of mitigating political manipulation and misinformation that could lead to further tensions and conflict. Most of these activities provided critical operational support to media outlets. The program’s support increased these entities’ ability to provide objective and reliable information, and increased the size and diversity of the audiences they reach.
During this quarter VISTAS team in Juba supported PAX Peace Organization and the Concerned Citizens’ Network for Peace to launch a report “Monitoring the Scenarios for South Sudan in 2020” on November 25th, 2017. The report was a review and update of a previous “2020 Scenarios” report they had released in January 2016, and is a key report for civil society voices to identify issues and advocate for changed policies by all stakeholders. VISTAS provided critical support in the form of plane tickets and hotel accommodations for civil society members who gathered in Kampala for analysis and initial drafting. Six of the nineteen civil society members who contributed to the report have worked for current or past VISTAS grantees.
DR. JULIA DUANY PRESENTS THE “MONITORING THE SCENARIOS FOR SOUTH SUDAN IN 2020” PAPER. PHOTO BY AARON SHAPIRO
Q1 FY 2018 Quarterly Report | Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 8
DRAMA CLUB PERFORMING DURING COMMUNITY PERFORMANCES IN AWEIL TOWN-MAPER MARKET. PHOTO BY DANIEL DENG ATHIAN
The Northern Bar el Ghazal VISTAS team through the South Sudan Theatre Organization (SSTO), organized community and student performances, to engage in-school and out-of-school youth in various thematic presentations such as poetry, drama, cultural dances, and songs on peace, conflict, gender based violence, corruption, poverty, and other causes of conflict. The performances took place in Aweil, Nyamlel and Wanyjok and raised awareness about the negative impact of conflict, displacement of civilians, traumatization, and destruction of lives and property.
VISTAS team in Bentiu in collaboration with IOM completed the construction of a Cultural Center in the Bentiu PoC in October 2017 comprising of a library, reading room, three classrooms, and a check-in desk. The Cultural Centre is the most modern building in the PoC and in the first few weeks of service has seen high levels of use by adult learners, with several hundred PoC residents observed using the
Q1 FY 2018 Quarterly Report | Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 9 library space by VISTAS staff, seeking to read from the selection of over 3,000 books provided by VISTAS.
The center will be the home of adult learning in the PoC and is particularly devoted to the educational needs of women. Greater levels of education and the engagement of youth in productive activities can be a key factor in reducing conflict in the PoC while increasing the potential for successful reintegration within the town in the event of the closure of the PoC.
DESKS AND BENCHES FOR EACH CLASSROOM. THE LIBRARY AND READING ROOM UNDER CONSTRUCTION. PHOTO BY GEORGE PADGETT PHOTO BY GEORGE PADGETT
VISTAS team in Upper Nile commissioned the construction of an office and meeting space for the Women’s Empowerment for Reconciliation and Development (WERD) organization, which includes women of Malakal town and the PoC. WERD has been a key partner in a series of peace dialogues between Shilluk communities that have been displaced from Malakal and the Dinka communities currently residing in the town. The office building is now completed and VISTAS will be installing a solar system for electricity in FY18 Q2 under activity UPN049. This organization to date has displayed a strong degree of YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN IN THE READING ROOM. inclusivity and self-motivation, and this office PHOTO BY GEORGE PADGETT will enable them to continue their community leadership initiatives.
TO BUILD CROSS-LINE INTERDEPENDENCY TO PROMOTE PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE
Interdependency through livestock and trade has a long history of connecting communities in South Sudan and facilitates relationships across conflict lines. Trade is effective in connecting communities and facilitating mutual benefits and relationships across communities in conflict. Communities have resisted being mobilized for violence across conflict lines because of the interdependency.
Q1 FY 2018 Quarterly Report | Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 10 During this reporting period, VISTAS team in NBEG collaborated with Abiem Community Development Foundation South Sudan (ACDFS) to organize a vocational skills training for 20 young men and women from the border communities of Dinka Malual and Misseriya in Northern Bahr el-Ghazal (NBG). The trainings were held with the objective of teaching participants vocational skills in carpentry. Twenty-one youth (two Misseiriya and 19 Dinka Malual) were trained and graduated with employable skills. Some have already reported grouping together and starting their own business, a wood workshop for furniture production. One of the trainees was employed locally by a private entity in Aweil town.
In Upper Nile, VISTAS in collaboration with UNMISS Civil Affairs, facilitated a pre-migration conference in Gerger, at the border with South Sudan. The objective of the conferences was to generate resolutions that bind representatives to a set of mutually agreed upon commitments, develop an action plan for resolving outstanding issues prior to the next migration season in 2018, and bolster cattle-oriented socioeconomic networks within the region. This activity brought together host and migrant communities for exit- migration conferences in three strategic locations of Upper Nile - Renk, Maban, and Melut. The GROUP OF TRAINEES PROUDLY POSED FOR A PHOTO DURING THE LAST STAGE OF THEIR TRAINING, WANYJOK, PHOTO BY, ATOK DAN conference produced a list of resolutions that nomadic herders and host populations agreed to abide by during the upcoming migration season in 2018.
In NBEG, VISTAS collaborated with Mading Aweil Community Animal Health Workers Association (MACHAWA) to provide a capacity-building expert in Marial Bai and Wanjok. The consultant provided several months of on-site support and training on the fundamentals of finance, human resource management, administrative structures, and budgeting for this local organization engaged with border communities of Northern Bahr el Ghazal. MACHAWA managed the trade and support structures in the two areas meant to improve cross border trade and relationships with the pastoralists from Sudan. The consultant trained the members of MACHAWA in the PRE- MIGRATION CONFERENCE. development of policies and procedures to allow PHOTO BY EMMANUEL CHANGUN, VISTAS RPDC the organization to function more effectively.
TO ENGAGE COMMUNITIES IN TRAUMA AWARENESS TO LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR HEALING AND RECONCILIATION
Through the Morning Star program, VISTAS helps communities to understand how trauma has perpetuated historical inter-communal tensions and begins to bridge these divides, paving the way to reconciliation.
During this quarter, Morning Star activities mainly consisted of training on trauma awareness tools, street theatre performance on trauma awareness topics, and continuing to more robustly integrate Morning Star activities in mainstream VISTAS programming.
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The Morning Star team organized a two-week In-Service Training for 22 Morning Star Master Trainers and two Morning Star national staff from October 16 – 27, 2017 in Juba. The training provided ongoing technical and psychological support for the team by reviewing and sharing curriculum critiques noted over the past three months while also focusing on self-care and facilitation skills, and learning more about questioning techniques. The facilitators introduced additional topics on listening and basic counseling skills to enhance Master Trainers’ capacity to support their group work.
The facilitators also introduced for discussion restorative, traditional practices and other social norms, such as gender-based violence, historical trauma, and ethnic and gender identity. Master Trainers observed that such practices continue to cause harm, and guidance on how Master Trainers can begin to tackle such issues was provided by the facilitators and by several participants. One of the consultants conducted one-on-one counseling sessions for all Master Trainers in response to this specific request made previously by participants. A Master Trainer from Aweil commented: “This last 10 days have been very calming, helping me very much. It’s like I’m more armed now and I think I am in a better position. I’ve learned a lot, because there were many concepts that have improved and validated my knowledge.” A Roving Master Trainer commented: “I have learned a lot from other Master Trainers, facilitators and myself. What I’ve learned is going to help me improve my facilitation, improve my life.”
PARTICIPANTS, MEMBERS OF THE HAI TARAWA YOUTH GROUP FROM JUBA POSE FOR A PHOTO WITH MORNING STAR MASTER TRAINERS, JUBA. PHOTO BY YVONNE AYA
During FY18 Q1, a total of eight trauma awareness sessions were conducted by Roving Master Trainers and the two Master Trainers for specialized sectors. While three of these sessions were conducted in Juba, five were conducted in locations outside of Juba, including Wau, Torit and Nimule. Of the three sessions conducted in Juba, two of these were comprised of women only.
The need for age and sector specific tools was a gap COVER PHOTOS FOR MORNING STAR MANUAL FOR CARE GIVERS identified during the Morning Star pilot phase and AND AN INTERACTIVE BOOKLET FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH during the external evaluation from October 2015-
Q1 FY 2018 Quarterly Report | Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 12 April 2016. As a result, Morning Star set a goal to develop tools for children, youth and primary health care service providers. While the development of the tool for primary health care service providers has been cancelled due to budgetary challenges, the tools for children and youth have been successfully developed, pre-tested and printed. A total of 1,000 copies of the Morning Star manual for caregivers and 4,000 copies of the interactive booklet for children and youth have been printed. These materials are complementary and are ready for use, to be rolled out in the coming weeks. The Master Trainers will initially target teachers and primary teachers’ associations who will be trained on how to support children and youth to work with the interactive booklet.
PROGRAM CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNED
During FY18 Q1, VISTAS was challenged by the ongoing security and political crisis taking place in the country. Little to no progress was made on National Dialogue effectiveness and peace remained elusive.
VISTAS adapted well to the changing political and security context and demonstrated strategic relevance. The selection of project activities, along with solid partnerships and strong operational capabilities, allowed VISTAS to operate in a tough and volatile environment.
Programming challenges faced by the regional teams during this reporting period were mainly limited to administrative and operational challenges, which were exacerbated by government bureaucratic obstacles and security and political events. Grant closeout targets are being set and managed, with 39 activities completed in the reporting period and an anticipated 40 grant activities expected to be closed in the upcoming quarter.
Operational challenges consisted of organizing transport for grant materials to the field sites. Consolidating the various materials in the Juba office and placing them onto charter flights to the regions became a consistently challenging process accompanied by delays from government and security offices. Additionally, one of VISTAS’ main charter companies experienced service problems with its planes, leading to scheduling changes and hampering timely deliveries. This unexpected issue delayed implementation for some grants, but was overcome by having multiple cargo options in place.
Contractors performing construction-related duties consistently presented challenges to the scheduling of activities and timelines. Various delays occurring on the jobsite due to contractor error or lack of performance resulted in adjustments to timelines and changes in overall plans for grant implementation. However, cure notices and close monitoring by construction supervisors largely addressed these challenges and assisted in moving infrastructure projects to completion.
Violence and insecurity in Lakes State, particularly Rumbek town, limited the team’s ability to move about and created constant apprehension that the situation would escalate. Activities set to take place outside of Rumbek were rescheduled or cancelled. Road movement was challenging or impossible. Grantees were directed to implement under remote guidance from the team.
Mobilization of youth and communities in and around Akobo to attack the town of Waat, which has been held by government forces since last spring, forced VISTAS to postpone community meetings. This specifically affected the ability of grant JON135 to bring the Jikany and Lou Nuer together in Jikmir. Without the involvement of the stakeholders, who were mobilized by the Govt-IO to attack Waat, the grant had to be postponed to the second quarter of FY18.
A grantee in Bentiu town that had accepted the program’s support to build a youth center using local materials later rejected the grant activity after being pressured by local authorities demanding a concrete
Q1 FY 2018 Quarterly Report | Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 13 structure. The rejection came at the last minute after all materials were delivered and ready to be installed. Negotiations with the grantee proved to be fruitless and the grant had to be cancelled.
VISTAS conducted a rolling assessment from October 4 to 6 in which each of the seven regional teams mapped their projects. They conducted sequencing and layering exercises for all their activities since the start of the VISTAS program and clustered them around major thematic areas such as migration and peace dialogues, traditional authorities, national identity, youth mobilization, and trauma awareness and healing. This proved to be a great opportunity for all the regional teams to assess what type of clustering worked best in their particular regions and identify ways to continue strengthening the sequencing, layering and integration of TAP activities, as well as conducting more cluster monitoring and evaluation. VISTAS regional teams also explored how to better integrate grantee capacity building into programming and planned capacity assessments. V. IMPACT
Over the reporting period, the VISTAS program in Lakes State continued with activities to enhance community resilience through peace dialogues and consultative meetings. Dialogues provided a conducive environment for the creation and operationalization of grassroots joint peace committees to prepare for peaceful mitigations and a timely response mechanism to address threats that might arise. Ten pre-migratory dialogues were held in various locations of the greater Lakes. The community peace committees were formed to respond to cross-border security threats in areas that were identified as higher risk.
VISTAS Unity State team in Bentiu supported 39 dialogues, workshops, and trainings related to peace, security and trauma awareness. The construction of a cultural center with library books and classrooms provided an outlet to residents of the PoC to sit in a quiet area and read. The cultural center will be a place for learning and instruction. VISTAS distributed thousands of items of sportswear supporting 11 sports clubs/associations to carry out sporting events. Material support was provided to seven community security institutions in the Bentiu PoC to improve the capacity and functionality of these offices. In total the Unity team has reached over 4,200 direct beneficiaries, notwithstanding those benefitting from public goods such as the cultural center/library and solar lights. A series of community meetings were held in Ruweng State with the aim of engaging the communities of Pariang to avoid conflict and settle their differences peacefully. These activities have been most impactful in the area of youth mobilization and in the provision of education and security infrastructure to support and facilitate peace and security for the people in Unity State.
In Akobo, VISTAS facilitated the Akobo Leaders Conference on Blood Compensation dissemination campaign organized by the women participants of the six payams of Akobo East County. Through this activity VISTAS supported the Lou Nuer in developing a peace agreement to eliminate revenge killing, which is largely followed and respected by all clans. The communities meet periodically to evaluate the outcome/output of the agreement and review the challenges and developing situation. The grant, supported by VISTAS, had a successful impact in creating sustainable inter-clan peace. Following this peace agreement, the number of revenge killings has decreased as witnessed by the VISTAS team in Akobo. The communities are expected to meet again in FY18 Q2 with VISTAS support to reaffirm the previously agreed upon resolutions and develop a new resolutions to address the challenges faced since the last peace meeting.
In Greater Pibor, VISTAS programming has had a notable impact on promoting peaceful interaction between rival age sets. Since the implementation of the Greater Pibor Age-Set Conference in August 2017 in Pibor town, no violent fighting among the age sets has been reported. Age sets are seen in and
Q1 FY 2018 Quarterly Report | Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 14 around town moving without weapons, as compared to the previous reporting period. The provision of trauma awareness to 100 participants in the community has helped to challenge the cycles of violence and lay the foundation for intra- and inter-community healing, peace, and reconciliation.
In Bor, the rehabilitation of the Jonglei State Women’s Association (JSWA) center has revitalized the role of the women’s association in the community. On November 28, the women invited VISTAS program team in Bor, the state government, and INGOs to witness the launch of an event dubbed ‘16 days of activism’. These 16 days were geared toward raising awareness on women’s issues in Bor town through activities such as drama, traditional dances, radio talk shows, livelihood initiative exhibitions, and speeches from women leaders on the role of women in society. Additionally, following the peace journalism training VISTAS held for radio journalists (JON074), Radio Jonglei FM hired several of the trained journalists. This has led to significant improvement in the quality of programming and improved reporting on peace and conflict mitigation, as seen in the results of the media cluster evaluation.
The most significant impact of VISTAS programming in Upper Nile has been the result of its close work with UNMISS and other humanitarian partners on civilian engagement between groups from Malakal PoC and town. During the reporting period, for the first time, there appeared to be a realization amongst the international community that efforts to engage with Malakal town must constitute a programmatic priority. As humanitarian agencies begin to look at the bigger political picture, VISTAS, due to its relatively long history of programming in town, has been at the center of forging a strategic framework for future interventions. VISTAS created the Malakal Peacebuilding Working Group comprised of UNIMISS, UN agencies and the INGO’s operating in Upper Nile in November to better coordinate operations and programs.
The M&E team conducted a cluster evaluation of 39 completed and closed VISTAS media activities throughout South Sudan. Data collection was completed in November 2017 and final reports will be submitted by the next quarter. In addition, to improve the capacity of the local M&E team in data collection and M&E processes, a four-day training was conducted for six members of the M&E team in Rumbek from November 7-10. The training included topics on quantitative and qualitative data collection, analysis and data management, theories of change, and indicators, along with techniques for conducting focus group discussions and key informant interviews. A one-day practical session in the field was held to transfer knowledge and skills in a real-time scenario.
During the reporting period, a total of 30 trauma awareness sessions were conducted under the Morning Star program. Only one session was of introductory nature and two were the basic two-day sessions. A total of 850 individuals from different regions benefitted from these activities. The participants showed keen interest and attracted more demand for trauma sessions. There have been many requests to extend the activities to other parts of the country, which shows interest of the population in trauma awareness and healing strategies. The participants appreciated the program for providing them with practical tools and a healing space. One participant, a primary health worker form Aweil said of the Morning Star training: “With this knowledge gained from Morning Star I now understand that some of our patients’ sicknesses are trauma related in nature. I will apply this knowledge from today onwards in my medical service.”
Q1 FY 2018 Quarterly Report | Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 15 VI. ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS
HUMAN RESOURCES
VISTAS welcomed Mr. Fahad Bangash as the new Monitoring & Evaluation Manager in October 2017. Later that month, Mr. Wes Brightman was in Juba to provide coverage for the Finance Director who was on leave.
Home Office staff (Ms. Hortensia Vidauri, Ms. Hilary Smith and Ms. Megan Humphrey) visited the Juba office during the months of October and November, to support program implementation, help develop the closeout plan, and work with the team to initiate the demobilization exercise ahead of VISTAS program close-out.
During this reporting period, the HR and Administration Department’s main focus was on demobilization planning of VISTAS employees. The closeout process and staff demobilization were planned utilizing a phased approach, with the first 25 CCN and seven USN & TCN expat staff leaving in December 2017. HR/Admin Department staff visited regional offices to explain the demobilization process and to provide training in job searches, interviewing and writing resumes. Possibilities of extension were also discussed.
Three non-professional LTTAs, one operations STTA, and five TAP STTAs were hired in the first quarter of FY18. One staff member was sent for a training on USAID rules and regulations in Nairobi. All CCN personnel files were updated, completed and scanned and uploaded to One Source.
FINANCE
In FY18 Q1, the finance department processed payments valued at $1,527,958, mainly through Ecobank in Juba, but also through Barclays bank in Nairobi. The KCB field office bank accounts were closed after remaining balances were transferred to the main bank account in Juba. As the final step of closing bank accounts with KCB, a request was submitted for transfer of the remaining funds to Ecobank. All AISS bank accounts with KCB have now been officially closed. Payments and transfers for field offices are now exclusively done through a forex agent.
Internal trainings for finance staff have been completed and two finance team members attended a training on USAID Rules and Regulations conducted by InsideNGO in Uganda.
LOGISTICS / OPERATIONS
During this quarter Logistics was able to transport 54 tons of in-kind grant items to the various field sites despite the challenges of bad weather and security clearances. In addition, the department was able to transport an average of 400 staff members, consultants, and technicians to the various field sites on UNHAS flights to implement and monitor grant activities.
A list of obsolete non-expendable items was finalized and reviewed by Home Office and was subsequently submitted to USAID for disposition approval. The updated assets master list, together with potential beneficiaries’ lists for the field offices and closeout plan, was shared with USAID as the first step in the assets disposition process.
Almost 85% of the grant items from the Juba warehouse were dispatched to the various field offices as part of the closeout planning. VISTAS’ target is to close the Juba warehouse by the end of January 2018.
Q1 FY 2018 Quarterly Report | Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 16 Assets and Vehicle Comprehensive Insurance policies were renewed up to the current end date of the project, and spare parts stock inventories were carried out in all the field sites to be disposed alongside with the vehicles.
Progress has been made on the government’s requirement for withholding 20% of payments for tax purposes, as VISTAS continues to clarify the issue with landlords. VISTAS is currently in the process of obtaining a Tax Clearance Certificate, as it became mandatory for issuance of entry permits, work permits, visas, cash transfer clearances and any other GoSS related documentation.
PROCUREMENT
The main challenges for procurement this past quarter were high market prices, price fluctuation due to currency devaluation against USD, and an attempted increase in taxation on commodities. Procurement is affected in high insecurity areas, especially in the field sites of Akobo, Bentiu and Malakal. Continuing deterioration of banking services, especially by KCB, has affected vendors as they do not receive payments on time and are unable to access cash.
The procurement department worked on 10 RFPs for WASH projects, awarding all 10 by the end of December. During this reporting period, over 2,400 windup radios were procured and delivered successfully to the Juba warehouse and then to the field. The procurement process for the Aweil radio station’s 88-solar panel PV System was completed and delivery of the solar panels to Aweil scheduled for early January 2018. In total, over 160 procurement-related payments were processed, amounting to $1,085,487.93.
Q1 FY 2018 Quarterly Report | Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 17 ANNEX A: FINANCIAL INFORMATION (FOR INTERNAL USAID USE ONLY)
A B C D E F = C + D + E Total Actual, Projected Costs Incurred Accruals Total Approved Obligated Projections Expenditures through through Budget (Mod 12) Amount FY18 Q2 December FY18Q2, and December Invoice 52 2017 Accruals Project Management Costs $ 56,577,951 $54,320,260 $45,412,557 $2,200,078 TAP $50,042,568 $33,561,991 $33,893,025 $1,300,284 Fixed Fee $ 3,858,436 $3,698,000 $3,085,512 $204,137 TOTAL $ 110,478,955 $91,580,251 $82,391,094 $3,704,499 $1,500,000 $87,595,593
Budget Lines:
Project Management Costs = direct contractor activity (and indirect costs). Operational costs are inclusive of grant handling charge. TAP = TAP STTA, Training, DDGS, GUC and Construction Column A – Represents the Total Estimated Cost (TEC) per the award. Column B – Obligated Amount represents the amount obligated per the latest modification/amendment. Column C – Costs expended and paid by the Contractor that have been billed to USAID. Costs incurred to date should be within the last 30 days or latest date available. Column D – Projected expenditures for the associated period. Column E – Accruals for December 2017. Column F – Total Actual and Projected Expenditures for the associated period and December 2017 accruals.
Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) Q1 FY2018 Quarterly Report
Q1 FY 2018 Quarterly Report | Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 18 ANNEX B: SCHEDULE OF UPCOMING EVENTS
DATE LOCATION ACTIVITY Completion of Girl Guides WASH activities – borehole January 2018 Juba/Rejaf and latrines at the Rejaf campground. Juba – Jebel and Completion of the boreholes planned in Jebel and February 2018 Lologo Lologo Morning Star Training for Jebel Community January 8-12, 2018 Juba Engagement Team (who will manage the borehole) January – May 2018 Juba / Yambio / Wau Ongoing Morning Star Trauma Awareness Sessions January – May 2018 Juba Ongoing Ana Taban events (schedule unknown) January – March Ongoing Capacity Building with the Juba Monitor/Girl Juba 2018 Guides January – March Juba and regions Capacity assessment for Morning Star sustainability 2018 Aweil town, Aroyo, December 2017 - Jac, Wanyjok, Gok Partners’ capacity building April 2018 Machar, Marialbai November 2017 - Rumbek Center/East Peace messaging through the School’s peace clubs February 2018 Counties December 2017 – Let’s build Our Nation – Peace Messaging – Radio Whole Lakes State February 2018 Content December 2017 – Lakes State Morning Star – Trauma Awareness February 2018 December 2017 – Youth Skills Training – basics in social media usage – Rumbek Town February 2018 (Good News Radio) December 2017 – Basic Training – Traditional Authorities filling and Rumbek Center/Aduel February 2018 record keeping Skills January 2018 PoC/Rubkona County Distribution of Wind up Radios (UNI049) January – February Creation of BBC Media Action peacebuilding Countrywide 2018 programming - Life in Lulu (UNI076) January 1 – March PoC/Bentiu/Rubkona Trauma Awareness Sessions (UNI078) 15, 2018 PoC/Rubkona January 1 – March 3, Capacity building activities with grantees and County/Panyijiar 2018 community organizations County Furnishing and Equipping of the Traditional Authority January 15-31, 2018 Vertet Center in Vertet December 4, 2017 – Bor, Duk, and Twic Trauma Awareness Sessions to continue February 28, 2018 East
Q1 FY 2018 Quarterly Report | Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 19 DATE LOCATION ACTIVITY November 27, 2017 Development of Capacity Building Tools to be Bor – December 2018 completed January 8 - March Bor Capacity building of grantees/CSOs to be completed 30, 2018 January 2 - March Twic East, Kongor WASH support to JDF supported clinic in Kong’or 30, 2018 January 2 - March Bor Construction of WASH Support to JSWA Center 30, 2018 November 2017 – Renk, Maban, Ulang Morning Star Trauma Awareness Training (UPN061) February 2018 December 2017 – Malakal Town Latrine Construction in Malakal Town (UPN071) March 2018 December 2017 – Malakal PoC/Town Capacity Building for Local Grantees April 2018
Q1 FY 2018 Quarterly Report | Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 20 ANNEX C: REGION-SPECIFIC INFORMATION
39 COMPLETED ACTIVITIES WORTH $2.8M - FY18 Q1
AKOBO-PIBOR LAKES 13% 23% NBG 5%
ROVING 0%
UNITY MORNING-STAR 18% 10%
JONGLEI UPPERNILE 0% 8%
JUBA 23% AKOBO-PIBOR NBG UNITY JONGLEI JUBA UPPERNILE MORNING-STAR ROVING LAKES
Q1 FY 2018 Quarterly Report | Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 21 ANNEX D: PROGRESS ON INDICATOR TARGETS *
Variance (Please explain if FY 18, Q1 FY 18, Q1 there is a variance between INDICATOR TARGET ACHIEVEMENT the planned and the actual numbers). Number of new groups or Fewer grants implemented in FY initiatives created through USG 18, Q1 (drawdown) and focus on funding, dedicated to resolving 20 17 fewer, larger groups, along with the conflict or the drivers of insecurity in some of the VISTAS conflict. implementation areas like Pagak. With fewer activities, VISTAS was Number of people participating in more focused on larger scope USG-supported events, training, campaigns. While fewer in or activities designed to build 12,000 21,692 number, these campaigns reached mass support for peace and more beneficiaries, as evidenced reconciliation. by this indicator. Number of USG-assisted In FY18, Q1 VISTAS was more campaigns and programs to focused on access to information enhance public understanding, and information sharing through 2 3 NGO support, and media NGO support and media coverage of judicial independence coverage – e.g., with Good News and accountability. Radio. Number of local women Increase attributed to reasoning participating in a substantive role presented above and to VISTAS’ or position in a peace building 35% 45.26% increasing focus on women’s process supported with USG participation. assistance Number of consensus building Decrease attributed to reasoning forums held with USG assistance 8 7 presented above i.e. less grants that end in agreement implementation.
Number of initiatives or events that include peace messaging or 20 51 increase access to information Increase attributed to the reason among communities presented above. Increase primarily attributed to the completion of solar lighting Number of beneficiaries with projects: Beneficiaries from solar improved access to critical lighting projects include 25,000 in 6,000 36,445 infrastructure, such as service Bentiu and 5,000 in Malakal; delivery, trade and training Construction projects account for the remaining 6,445 beneficiaries.
WASH indicators will be added to the next quarterly report for FY 18, Q2.
Q1 FY 2018 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 22 ANNEX E: SUCCESS STORY
USAID Brings Adult Learning Facilities to Protection of Civilian Sites in South Sudan
Adult education increases USAID through its VISTAS program in South Sudan, in conjunction with women's roles in society and International Office of Migration (IOM), have supported the construction reduces youth mobilization of a cultural center in Unity State’s Protection of Civilians (PoC) site. IOM, into armed groups in an extensive piece of consultative research with the community and education partners, established the need for adult learning support both in
infrastructure and materials. Since the inception of the emergency in South Sudan in 2013, the vast majority of education support has flowed to primary and, to a lesser extent, secondary education. This has left adult learners, of which there are a multitude in South Sudan, without access to education.
Seeing this need IOM reached out to partners for support. VISTAS immediately identified the benefit of this project. Reducing youth mobilization is a key feature of the VISTAS Unity State team strategy (youth in South Sudan is an elastic term and when discussing mobilization, typically encompasses people, usually men, between 15 and 45) and increasing access to education and information is an important tool in CHILDREN IN BENTIU POC STUDY IN THE NEWLY OPENED LIBRARY READING ROOM. reducing the lure of mobilization into armed forces, criminal groups or PHOTO: GEORGE PADGETT, mere idleness. IOM also stressed the importance of reaching female adult VISTAS SOUTH SUDAN learners as they are the most underserved group in South Sudan’s education system. This dovetails with USAID South Sudan’s determination “THE LIBRARY IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST GIFT THAT to improve the standing of women in communities within the country and USAID-VISTAS AND IOM HAVE GIVEN TO THE IDPS IN to increase economic opportunities for women and their households. BENTIU POC” COMMUNITY LEADER MR. DOR RIEK PAKUR. USAID financed the construction of a comprehensive cultural center that includes a library, reading room, three classrooms, a reception/cloak room and a latrine. USAID also supplied in excess of 3,000 books to stock the library. The buildings were constructed from high grade materials shipped from Juba in order to maximize their durability. IOM mobilized the labor and manage the construction as their contribution to the project. They also committed to manage and staff the facility once complete, including the running of two female literacy classes.
The facility opened on the 9th of November, 2017 in the presence of USAID, IOM Camp Management, community leadership from all sectors, and other humanitarian partners and is now the most modern construction in the PoC and a true home for adult learning.
Community leader Mr. Dor Riek Pakur said “The Library is one of the biggest gift that USAID-VISTAS and IOM have given to the IDPs in Bentiu PoC”. Adult literacy advocate Kuony Beliu called the project a “dream come true” and marveled at the scope of the construction. Women’s representative Naypiini Puol Gai stressed the importance of attending classes and exhorted “Fellow women, kindly go to school and learn so that you can as well get better jobs”.
Since the library’s opening it has proved a huge success. Two large reading rooms are packed throughout the day. In excess of 500 people use the facility each day.
Q1 FY 2018 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 23
U.S. Agency for International Development
www.usaid.gov
Q1 FY 2018 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 24