VIABLE SUPPORT TO TRANSITION AND STABILITY (VISTAS) Q1 FY 2017 QUARTERLY REPORT OCTOBER 1- DECEMBER 31, 2016

DECEMBER 2016 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 2017, QUARTERLY REPORT OCTOBER 1, 2016 – DECEMBER 31, 2016

Contract No. AID-668-C-13-00004

Submitted to: USAID South

Prepared by: AECOM International Development

Prepared for: Office of Transition and Conflict Mitigation (OTCM) USAID Mission American Embassy , 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 2017 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) i TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Executive Summary ...... 1 II. Political and Security Landscape ...... 2 National Political and Security Landscape ...... 2 Political & Security Landscape in VISTAS Regional Offices ...... 3 III. Program Strategy ...... 5 IV. Program Highlights ...... 7 To Increase Space and Tools to Manage Conflict and Tensions ...... 7 To Promote a more Informed Community ...... 9 To Build Cross-Line Interdepency to Promote Peaceful Coexistence ...... 10 To Engage Communities in Trauma Awareness to Lay the Foundation for Healing and Reconciliation ...... 111 V. Impact ...... 12 VI. Monitoring & Evaluation...... 14 VII. Administration and Logistics ...... 15 Offices and Staffing ...... 15 Operations ...... 15 Annex A: Financial Information (For Internal USAID Use Only) ...... 17 Annex B: Schedule of Upcoming Events ...... 18 Annex C: Region-Specific Information ...... 19 Annex D: Progress on Indicator Targets ...... 20 Annex E: Success Story ...... 21

Q1 FY 2017 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) ii I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The first quarter (Q1) of FY17 saw continued difficulties with implementation of the Agreement on Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCISS). Fighting continued in parts of the Equatorias, Upper and States. Q1 saw continued weakening of the economy with the South Sudanese Pound (SSP) devaluing to 100:1 against the US Dollar (USD), from 70:1 at the start of the quarter. There were numerous warnings of genocide from senior individuals within the UN and politicians in exile. Additional rebel groups were formed demanding regime change. Security in Juba remained uncertain, and VISTAS international staff remained in Kenya with a few trips to South Sudan and to the regional offices.

VISTAS carried out its annual Strategy SUMMARY OF VISTAS PROGRAMMING Review Session (SRS) in Tanzania during the last week of November, Total # of Activities Cleared in FY17 Q1 29 bringing all the current staff, both Total Value of Activities Cleared in FY17 Q1 $4,317,140 international and national. The main Total # of Activities Completed in FY17 Q1 24 objectives of the SRS were to update the strategic vision and plans for Total Value of Activities Completed in FY17 Q1 $3,462,405 VISTAS programming in 2017 and to Program Funds Disbursed FY17 Q1 $1,179,223.74 provide psychosocial staff care for the South Sudanese team members. All regions recognized the need for more targeted strategies that focused on layering and clustering activities to achieve stronger thematic cohesion and greater impact (e.g., trade, migration, and strengthening customary authorities). Unity, , Juba, and regions have more targeted FY17 strategies with fewer outcomes. (NBeG) and Jonglei have slightly modified strategies, but overall they are reflective of those of FY16. All regions incorporated the Morning Star trauma awareness activities as part of the regional objectives.

During Q1, VISTAS cleared 29 activities valued at approximately $4.3 million and completed 24 activities valued at approximately $3.5 million. This was a great achievement considering that all managerial staff was based in Nairobi during the reporting period.

In NBeG, stability continued but trade weakened due to problems on the border with Sudan and devaluation of the SSP. This led to a dramatic deterioration of the economy and increased food insecurity. In Lakes State, VISTAS supported communities in Yirol to work with their Unity State neighbors to promote peaceful coexistence and trade. In Unity, VISTAS conducted livelihoods training within the Protection of Civilian Site (PoC) in , and promoted inter-ethnic trade relationships between the Nuer and Dinka in Panyijar County to the south. In Upper Nile, the program supported stability in the PoC and community work in , improving relationships between the different ethnic Internally Displaced Person (IDP) groups within the PoC and around Pagak. In Jonglei, VISTAS worked to improve relationships further between the Murle and Lou Nuer, and focused on enabling Dinka Bor traditional authorities. In Juba, Morning Star continued to develop trauma awareness materials and completed the pilot project in selected sites across the country. VISTAS sent 14 infrastructure projects to market, received bids, and reviewed and selected contractors. These projects- worth over $2 million- include Traditional Authority Courts, Women’s Centers, Youth Centers, and a boat dock. VISTAS will begin implementation of these projects in Q2.

Q1 FY 2017 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 1 During Q1, VISTAS worked with Management Services International (MSI) on its mid-term program evaluation. The purpose of the evaluation is to document the program’s effectiveness and challenges against the stated objectives during the life of the program to date. The findings and lessons learned will inform VISTAS’s strategic and programmatic direction during the final eighteen months of the program. The MSI team completed the program desk review during the reporting period, and is expected to send out field teams to South Sudan during the next quarter for data collection.

The end of this quarter saw the departure of the Chief of Party of the last 1.5 years and the arrival of her replacement. With the impending end of the USG issued ordered departure stemming from the July outbreak of violence in Juba, VISTAS will consider a full return to Juba in February 2017.

II. POLITICAL AND SECURITY LANDSCAPE

NATIONAL POLITICAL AND SECURITY LANDSCAPE The overall political and security situation in the country did not improve over the reporting period as the government in Juba continued to isolate the SPLA-IO and its leadership and looked towards military solutions to resolve the post July 2016 conflict. There was an escalation in fighting in the Equatorias and areas, continued increase in the number of IDPs and refugees fleeing to neighboring countries, internal splits among opposition groups, and continued crackdown by the government on the media and civil society.

There was an increase of defections to the IO in Central and with heavy fighting in certain areas. This led to significant and continued displacement of civilians across the border into Uganda and insecurity along the roads leading to Juba. SPLA-IO aligned groups in the Equatorias gained popular support due to the heavy handedness of the government forces and their continued inability to address the major grievances of the people. Unity State witnessed tension and sporadic clashes between the SPLA-IG and the SPLA-IO forces in the area. The Bul Nuer of Unity was anticipated to defect to the opposition- which would have been a major blow to the ability of the government to hold on to Unity State- but this did not ultimately occur. However, Taban Deng Gai’s appointment as First Vice President has stressed their commitment to the government. The Upper Nile region saw infighting between the Shilluk forces aligned to Johnson Olony, commander of the Agwelek forces, and the Tiger Faction New Forces considered loyal to former minister and prominent Shilluk leader, Lam Akol. This infighting underscored fragmentation among the various opposition groups.

In December, the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan warned that the stage was being set for a repeat the Rwandan genocide if things did not change rapidly. The Commission cited hate speech, armed group recruitment, a media crackdown, and growing ethnic polarization. They criticized both the government and opposition forces, citing a steady process of ethnic cleansing underway in several areas of South Sudan using starvation, gang rape, and the burning of villages as tactics.

President Salva Kiir launched a “National Dialogue” in December calling it a “forum and process through which the people of South Sudan can gather to redefine the basis of their unity as it relates to nationhood, and sense of belonging.” The government also announced that three prominent local think tanks- Ebony Center, Institute and Centre for Peace and Development- would spearhead this process. The

Q1 FY 2017 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 2 implementers will divide The National Dialogue into three phases. Phase 1 would entail grassroots discussions among warring communities, Phase II would consist of holding regional level conferences and Phase III would be a Juba (national) level dialogue.

Church leaders, politicians and some experts in the think tanks proposed to lead the initiative have raised doubts about the legitimacy of this process. There is a very real fear that the government will use the National Dialogue to overtake key accountability mechanisms already existing under ARCISS, such as the Commission for Truth Reconciliation and Healing. In such a scenario, international supporters of the National Dialogue, while intending to support what at face value can be considered a constructive initiative, could inadvertently undermine key accountability mechanisms of the ARCISS.

POLITICAL & SECURITY LANDSCAPE IN VISTAS REGIONAL OFFICES

Central Equatoria State (Juba): During the reporting period, Juba town was more stable but there continued to be high levels of insecurity, inflation and a collapsing economy, making it nearly impossible for most citizens earning in SSP to survive. The Government continued to restrict free speech, freedom of assembly and the work of the media and civil society.

The Equatorias faced ongoing instability. Yei River State remained in constant turmoil with shifting battle lines reported in the more rural areas outside of Yei town. Gbudwe State also saw conflict with the opposition aligned Arrow Boys attack reaching into town, and with a large government offensive launched to force the Arrow Boys out of their established positions outside of . There was mass displacement in both places and more generally across the Equatorias, with many thousands becoming refugees in neighboring countries. This insecurity interrupted VISTAS ongoing activities with the Civil Society Human Rights Forum and the Inter-Faith group in Yambio.

Jonglei State: In the Bor region there were increased reports involving suspected Murle raiders of cattle rustling, child abduction and revenge killing. Between August and December 2016, the Murle and Bor Dinka communities held two peace dialogues, despite which cattle rustling and revenge killings continued. Although there have been reports of road ambushes and cattle theft, the Dinka-Nuer border region of Ayod, Pajut and Gadiang was relatively calm, with cross-border trade in cattle and goods continuing. This relative calm will allow VISTAS to maintain programming in these areas in order to continue to strengthen the Dinka-Nuer relationships.

The political and security landscape in Greater Pibor and Greater Akobo remained largely unchanged during Q1, with the Murle and Lou Nuer communities making steady progress towards restoring and strengthening cross-border peace. However, despite a commitment to peaceful coexistence at the community level, Greater Pibor and Greater Akobo authorities have been on high alert since late September 2016. This was when a delegation of high-ranking Eastern Bieh officials, appointed by President Kiir, arrived in Pibor and proceeded to Lekuangole- a town south of the government- opposition border. The Akobo community believed the presence of the pro-government delegation comprising of Governor Bol Koang Nhuth, Deputy Governor Taban Juch, advisors, ministers and county commissioners was an effort by the government to plan an invasion of Akobo. With Greater Pibor being

Q1 FY 2017 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 3 under control of the government, SPLA-IG has a pathway for its troops to advance on opposition controlled Greater Akobo. This, in turn, may open a new frontline for fighting between the government and opposition forces. This would make it even more challenging for VISTAS to program in both Greater Pibor and Greater Akobo regions.

Lakes State: Creating 28 states continues to be the biggest challenge for Lakes during the reporting period. There were clashes reported due to disagreements over borders created by the new states. Inflation continued to be a major problem as well, where prices of basic commodities skyrocketed in local markets. There was an increase in armed robberies along the highways and urban areas, largely attributed to the economic collapse. Most of the robberies took place in town while parts of Eastern Yirol and Rumbek East Counties witnessed a few communal clashes.

There were also a few cross-border incidents reported, alleging Nuer from Panyijar attacked fishermen around Madol, which left 13 fishermen dead. Nevertheless, the overall the relationship of those border communities remained strong. These incidents did not affect VISTAS programming designed to address Dinka-Nuer issues along the state borders, and going forward VISTAS expects that its activities will provide the mechanism to address such incidents in a peaceful manner.

Northern Bahr El Ghazal State (NBeG): The emergence of the new rebel movement, calling itself the “Unionists,” operating along the Sudan – South Sudan border, continued to threaten the security and movement of people along the border. This group recently launched an attack on Majok Yith Thiou, a commercial town along the border. This attack, coupled with sporadic killings along other parts of the un-demarcated border, led to the closure of the Majok – Meriem road and to cutting off supplies from Sudan. This insecurity is likely to impede the conduct of the VISTAS supported 2016-2017 pre-migration conferences. The security situation in Raja town of Lol State continues to be a major concern as people cannot access the state through the former Aweil West and North Counties by road due to fear of being ambushed.

Unity State: The major security and political change over the last quarter has been the persistent military offensive against IO in the state and the diminishment of IO forces as a result. As of December, the IO ceased to be a cohesive military force outside of Panyijiar County in southern Unity. The upshot of this was a strategic retreat into guerilla tactics. This meant that the security situation was largely stable but that clashes were less predictable and more geographically disperse. A focus of the 2017 strategy is new projects outside the PoC and in southern Unity, and these activities are potentially viable but are also now more vulnerable to disruption.

Upper Nile State: Upper Nile experienced several episodes of violence throughout this quarter, without any major shift in regional power dynamics. Fighting between SPLA and Opposition forces continued in Nasir, descending into a battle of attrition. Malakal, the most significant flashpoint in the region, remained firmly in SPLA control despite Shilluk contestation. The most concerning development in the region occurred at the end of the reporting period, as infighting between the Shilluk tested what have historically been very cohesive community bonds. It is too early at this juncture to anticipate the fallout from these very recent events. Overall, the major cleavages remain unchanged throughout the region, with SPLA and Opposition forces representing Dinka and Nuer/Shilluk interests, respectively.

Q1 FY 2017 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 4 While the cleavages hold, the operational environment has evolved. The UN Protection of Civilians camp in Malakal no longer houses a Dinka population, therefore it no longer functions as a microcosm of the larger conflict. VISTAS has responded by designing interventions beyond the PoC in the first quarter of FY17. VISTAS operations have been impeded by the growing gulf between Opposition controlled territory and the capital, Juba. As the Opposition increasingly seeks to establish a parallel government, operating across government-opposition lines will pose incrementally greater challenges. VISTAS is responding to this trend by utilizing Pagak to implement more mobile and responsive ‘soft’ grants that rely on a lighter footprint.

III. PROGRAM STRATEGY VISTAS understands 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 (, 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.

During the reporting period, VISTAS had a Strategy Review Session (SRS) in Arusha, Tanzania from November 30 – December 3, to plan for programming in 2017. Over 135 people participated, including the VISTAS field staff, USAID OTCM, USAID Africa Bureau, USAID Democracy and Governance, OTI (as co-facilitator), and the VISTAS Program Management Unit from Washington. The main objectives were to update the strategic vision and plans for VISTAS programming in FY17 and to provide staff care for the South Sudanese team members.

All regions recognized the need for more targeted strategies that focused on layering and clustering activities to achieve a stronger thematic cohesion and a greater impact. In Unity, Lakes, Juba, and Upper Nile, the FY17 strategies will target goals, and have fewer outcomes. In NBeG and Jonglei, the strategies were modified slightly but largely reflected the current direction. All regions wanted greater inclusion of Morning Star activities. The teams also agreed to focus VISTAS programming on shared thematic areas across the different regions like trade, migration, and strengthening customary authorities.

Q1 FY 2017 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 5 The program strategy in Central Equatoria State remained largely in-line with last year’s strategy or specific USAID requests. The biggest change was an explicit focus on public events that bring together different communities, a change from FY16’s less defined regional objective of “reduce mistrust between communities”.

The Jonglei program strategy did not see any significant changes from FY16, except for a greater emphasis on grants targeting women and the youth.

The Lakes regional strategy remained largely the same as FY16. A change was made to one of the three regional objectives to focus more on the emerging issues around the interstate borders in the region, such as the border of Lakes with southern Unity, Jonglei and Western Equatoria.

The NBeG regional strategy continued to focus on the outcomes from FY16, however, given the conflict that broke out in Raja during the Q3 of FY16, and the formation of the unionist groups around the border with Sudan, the geographical areas of focus were slightly adjusted to include the possibility of programming in conflict affected areas in State, close to the border with Darfur. Furthermore, there was an inclusion of an outcome unique to Morning Star activities in the region to incorporate them in regional programming.

In Unity State, the program strategy was modified from FY16 to ensure VISTAS was addressing conflicts outside the PoC. In particular, the team looked to identifying effective grants and reliable grantees outside of the PoC into Bentiu town and beyond, and in southern Unity, as well as layering grants to build upon one another.

The Upper Nile program strategy for FY17 was revised during the SRS to accommodate evolving dynamics on the ground. Retaining previous strategic objectives concerned with inter-communal trust and increased access to neutral information in local languages, the strategic shift will address two additional dimensions of the conflict in Upper Nile. Activities will be designed to mitigate militia mobilization with a view to preventing atrocities and to increase awareness of trauma and psychosocial wellbeing. To facilitate the strategic pivot, VISTAS will try to engage beyond the PoC in Malakal and use the Pagak office to reach communities closer to the frontlines of fighting in Nasir and Longuchuk.

Morning Star program strategy changed from trauma awareness activities being independent of VISTAS regional activities to embedding trauma awareness activities into VISTAS regional programs. The integration of Trauma awareness activities will be driven by a team of thirteen full time master trainers recruited and deployed to serve as a core team implementing different Morning Star trauma awareness tools. The strategic change was based on lessons learned from the Morning Star pilot phase that ended in February 2016, which pointed out the need for more flexible and manageable tools connecting trauma awareness activities to other conflict mitigation activities. At the same time, the Morning Star core team in Juba will continue with development of new and complementary trauma awareness tools as well as providing technical support to Master Trainers in the different regions. During the reporting period, the team developed complementary trauma awareness tools such as theater activities and radio dramas in response to lessons learned towards the need to target specific audiences such as children and primary health care providers.

Q1 FY 2017 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 6 IV. PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

TO INCREASE SPACE AND TOOLS TO MANAGE CONFLICT AND TENSIONS

TRADITIONAL AUTHORITY COURT IN MARIAL BAAI – PICTURE TAKEN BY SANTINO BOL

VISTAS uses peace dialogues to reaffirm the legitimacy of community leadership and customary authorities, in particular 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 by supporting follow-on activities that provide mutual economic and social benefits to communities. Under this objective, VISTAS cleared 17 projects worth $2,908,530 in Q1. Some of the key activities under this objective are highlighted below.

VISTAS program in NBeG witnessed the completion of the construction of two traditional authority courts in Marial Baai (Aweil West) and Jaac (Aweil North). The courts were constructed to facilitate both Dinka and Rizeigat chiefs to preside over cross-border community cases. One of the major problems identified by the judges was inadequate security owing to the lack of an enclosed space where cases were being heard. The lack of a private space to provide judgments resulted in conflict amongst the community members that disagreed with the rulings given by judges. As a result of VISTAS support, the judges no longer need to operate under trees in the public eye, and can now handle up to 40 cases per week, which is expected to encourage people from both communities to bring their cases to the court instead of resorting to violence and vigilantism.

During Q1, the Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative (WPDI) was able to resume Peace Engagement Days in the Juba PoC. The Peace Engagement Days bring together sports teams for a day of tournaments, cultural dancing and peace messaging from community leaders. VISTAS provided in-kind support such as vehicle hire, computers and office equipment, and sports equipment that support the Peace Engagement Days and WPDI sports program. The activity was intended to continue to provide a productive and healthy outlet for youth with limited opportunities in the PoC in order to improve their psychosocial health prior to departing the PoC and reintegration in Juba.

Q1 FY 2017 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 7 In Upper Nile, VISTAS in collaboration with UNMISS, coordinated an activity designed to enhance the capacity of the Malakal Peace and Security Council (PSC) to increase the space for conflict management in the Malakal PoC site by rendering assistance to the IMDRM (informal mediation dispute resolution mechanism), a judicial body formed and moderated by UNMISS. The IMDRM consists of recognized traditional leaders who adjudicate and interpret customary law in the Malakal PoC. VISTAS MEMBERS OF THE MALAKAL PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL RECEIVING EQUIPMENT – PHOTO BY KOANG PUK provided material support in the form of uniforms, stationary, communications equipment, and items such as gumboots and raincoats to enhance their mobility during the rainy season to facilitate their management of disputes in the PoCs. This activity has increased PSC’s visibility and boosted their motivation to voluntarily work as the primary interlocutor between the internally displaced persons (IDPS) and the international community.

In Unity State, recognizing that sports can be a strong alternative to violence VISTAS supported a local grantee Unity State Bentiu Generation to provide structured, community-based sports activities for youth at risk of mobilization for revenge killing, cattle raiding and gang violence. The absence of youth activities in the Bentiu PoC means that youth experience community exclusion and have minimal opportunities for productive interaction with youth from different backgrounds. VISTAS provided sports equipment; administrative equipment and support the construction of sports fields to allow structured sports activities to take place (including specialized activities targeting girls. The project was extremely popular with the youth of the PoC and has proven to be an effective tool in reducing recruitment into the SPLA-IO’s armed forces as substantiated by anecdotal evidence from senior SPLA-IO officials.

During Q1, VISTAS organized a regional peace conference between Jonglei, Terekeka and Eastern Lakes State communities. The conference provided the three communities of Dinka, Mundari, and Atuot with a platform to address common threats that contribute to local conflicts, such as road ambushes, inter county boundaries disputes and cattle rustling among other retrogressive practices that have negatively affected peace and security between these communities. Over four hundred people attended the conference and contributed to the various discussions that were held. Local leaders pleaded to the communities to abandoned pastoralism and embrace progressive cultural LOCAL CHIEFS IN THE JONGLEI, TEREKEKA AND practices that will put at equal footing with other EASTERN LAKES PEACE CONFERENCE IN MINGKAMAN – PHOTO BY ANGELO UGWAAG South Sudanese that have embraced farming and other entrepreneurial practices.

Q1 FY 2017 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 8 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. In FY17 Q1, VISTAS cleared seven activities totaling $934,574 under this objective.

These activities included support to media outlets, in particular radio stations, building of a resource center and peace messaging at public gatherings. The program’s support increased these entities’ ability to provide objective and reliable information, and it increased the size and diversity of the audiences they reach.

In FY17 Q1, VISTAS supported Radio Tamazuj to run Shortwave Radio Broadcasts for two hours daily for a period of six months. Tamazuj is one of the most independent and reliable media outlets in South Sudan. Their nationwide coverage of South Sudan, encompassing both national and local news, is un- paralleled, and shortwave service allows this news coverage to reach even the most remote parts of the country. Radio Tamazuj through both its shortwave broadcasts in Arabic and its English language website is a critical source of information in South Sudan. Building on the apparent need to promote a more transparent and accurate, reporting VISTAS continued its support to Eye Radio, to conduct shortwave radio broadcasts. This support places VISTAS in a pivotal position as we are supporting the only two shortwave broadcasts focused on South Sudan.

In Jonglei, VISTAS supported the Jonglei Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development (JIPDD) to support accurate, balanced, active and impartial citizen engagement in the peace process by providing an internet café to local media actors in Bor, , with an operational website and an editor to ensure fair and balanced reporting. This activity is intended to help reduce the political manipulation and misinformation directed towards and perpetuated by the youth, through social media, and will help to utilize social media as a platform to mobilize youth for peace and reconciliation. In the same region, VISTAS is in the final stages of an activity to provide electricity to Radio Jonglei 95.9FM to enable that station to re-start programming. Through this activity, the program provided the station with two generators that will be shared with Zain mobile network, which will provide the necessary fuel and maintenance support. After a previous agreement with Zain fell through, the station went off air in May 2016.

In Lakes State, VISTAS supported commemoration of the International Peace Day by providing logistical and technical support to the Peace Commission Coordination Office to conduct three international peace day events in Rumbek, Yirol and Cueibet. The events consisted of different activities including peace messaging from political, religious, traditional and civil society organization leaders, cultural FOOTBALL TEAMS FROM WULU AND RUMBEK CENTER COUNTY dances, peace songs, peace marches – PHOTO BY RICHARD OBWAYA and a football match. During the events leaders including but not limited to the local state ministers reiterated the message that “Peace is more than putting weapons aside, It is about building a global society in which people live free from poverty and share the benefits of prosperity”. Over 3,000 fans both female and male attended the three international peace events.

Q1 FY 2017 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 9 TO BUILD CROSS-LINE INTERDEPENCY TO PROMOTE PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE Promoting trade and economy around livestock is effective in connecting communities and generating mutual benefits and relationships across communities in conflict in South Sudan. Communities have resisted being mobilized for violence across fault lines because of their mutual need for interdependency. In FY17 Q1, VISTAS cleared four activities totaling $333,461 under this objective.

In Upper Nile, VISTAS implemented a grant intended to build trust between IDP and host communities by the construction of a local market facility aimed at improving community relations, between IDPs, the returnees and the host community who have been competing over scare resources in Pagak. The facility will be run and maintained by a 25-member local women’s association.

In Unity, VISTAS conducted the second tripartite trade conference in Ganyliel, southern Unity in December 2016. VISTAS sponsored the first such conference in Ganyliel in January 2016. The conference brought together 45 Nuer and Dinka traders from Jonglei, Lakes and Unity regions. The conference was aimed at resolving conflict issues surrounding trade, DINKA AND NUER PARTICIPANTS CELEBRATING TOGETHER capitalize on opportunities available to – PHOTO BY GABRIEL CHUOL deal with current trade and economic challenges facing communities in the three regions, and to build interdependency and intra and inter-ethnic relationships with the hope to mitigate conflict between communities. In addition, the aim of the conference was making trade along the Nile “an important mechanism that binds communities and enables them to live in peaceful coexistence.” After two days of dialogue, the participants reached resolutions and created action items. The participants intend to discuss these action items during a future grant.

Q1 FY 2017 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 10 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 tensions between them and begin to bridge these divides, paving the way to reconciliation. During FY17 Q1, Morning Star cleared one activity worth $140,575.

Morning star activities mainly consisted of training and recruitment of master trainers, trauma sensitive script writing and integrating morning star activities in PARTICIPANTS AND FACILITATORS OF THE FACILITATION SKILLS TRAINING mainstream VISTAS programming. – PHOTO BY MARKO SMOKVINA

During Q1, the Morning Star, team conducted a Training for Master Trainer candidates commencing on October 28, 2016 for five consecutive weeks. The series of trainings consisted of Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience (STAR II & I), facilitation skills training and Morning Star Training of Trainers. In the course of the trainings, the ability of Master Trainers to deliver trauma awareness content was monitored and evaluated by different facilitators and VISTAS staff. Following the completion of the trainings, thirteen (out of seventeen) candidates were selected for the position of Morning Star Master Trainers, based on their performance during the training and were deployed and integrated in VISTAS regional offices, (Malakal, Pagak, Akobo, Pibor, Juba, Bor, Rumbek, Aweil) with two serving as roving trainers and two for specific sectors (education and health). By the end of Q1, Master Trainers were integrated in in the regional teams under the Regional Program Managers with only technical guidance being provided from the Morning Star Juba office. They began working on grants with the regional teams to implement various trauma awareness tools.

In October 2016, Morning Star team held a trauma sensitive script writing and radio drama production workshop for eight members of South Sudan Theater Organization (SSTO). Following the workshop, five scripts were developed by members of SSTO together with the facilitators of the workshop and Morning Star Program Director. The scripts covered different themes on causes and impact of trauma (tribalism, domestic violence, discrimination of women, economic collapse). The SSTO team started designing activities that will include developing forum theater and radio drama based on these scripts.

Q1 FY 2017 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 11 V. IMPACT

In Yambio, Central Equatoria, the program successfully implemented activities to improve access to reliable and accurate information by partnering with the most prominent non-governmental agencies. According to the beneficiaries and local government officials, these activities contributed significantly to the regional peace dynamics between the Arrow Boys and local government, who previously had no lines of communication, and thus MEMBERS OF SSTO DURING THE TRAUMA SENSITIVE SCRIPT-WRITING established VISTAS as a key player WORKSHOP IN NAIROBI – PHOTO BY MARKO SMOKVINA in promoting peace in the region.

In Jonglei, the provision of youth resource center, an internet café in Bor and electrification support to Radio Jonglei 95.9FM, is expected to strengthen the communities’ access to timely and accurate information, and encourage youth to be less inclined for mobilization for military purposes. However, as the activities recently ended, VISTAS will only be able to assess the impact fully during Q2 and thereafter.

Morning Star Master Trainers, whose training, recruitment and deployment took place in this quarter, were integrated in VISTAS offices in December 2016. Only a few of the trainers had time to implement Morning Star trauma awareness tools, therefore, impact assessment of the new strategy is yet to be done. However, feedback received from the trainees and trainers during the sessions held in December 2016 pointed out to the high quality of both content mastery and delivery by the Master Trainers.

Additionally, the group of Master Trainers, having undergone the training in different aspects of trauma awareness curriculum showed great appreciation and praise for the approach and stressed the importance and timing of the trauma awareness activities for South Sudan. A candidate for Pagak commented:

“…this was not a mere training but a fellowship and healing space that has contributed to healing for myself. Before I came to Nairobi, I had a lot of burden of hatred in my heart and now feeling well… Based on the acquired knowledge from STAR I. and STAR II, I have started sharing with my church and the immediate family members about some of the issues related to trauma and the cycles of violence in most of the communities in South Sudan.”

In NBeG, the strategy, which supports the community and peace actors to address, manage and mitigate conflict in the region, continued to yield positive results. According to the community, the construction

Q1 FY 2017 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 12 of the traditional authority courts in Marial Baai and Jaac in Aweil West and North is expected to result in a the reduction of revenge attacks between the trio border communities of Rizeigat, Misseriya and Dinka Malual during the upcoming dry season. The communities informed VISTAS that now they have increased confidence in the authority of the traditional justice system, as unlike in the past they will not be operating from under trees.

According to the community, conflict over limited spaces/resources has been reduced because of the construction of livestock and trade support structures in Wanyjok and Marial Baai towns of NBeG during Q4 of FY16. The construction of the vaccination pens in six locations in the region under the same activities made it possible for cattle keepers to have a common point where their livestock can be vaccinated, hence reducing the risk of animal related health issues that normally cause conflict between border communities.

The completion of a series of grants targeting youth in Unity state was believed to have a definite impact on youth mobilization rates. This was evident from conversations VISTAS had with community elders in the PoC who informed VISTAS that SPLA-IO recruiters had been complaining to them about their inability to readily recruit youth for fighting, as they were more interested in VISTAS supported youth activities. Similarly, a concentration on addressing issues affecting the otherwise peaceful community of southern Unity, raised the profile of the organization and allowed VISTAS to attempt relatively bold projects such as the trade conference that required a high level of trust within the relevant communities. Traders from Jonglei and Lakes State travelled to southern Unity to attend these conferences despite of the ongoing conflict between the Dinka and Nuer communities, because they trusted VISTAS’ ability to hold such an event and assist in enabling stronger trade ties between these communities going forward.

The impact of VISTAS programming in Upper Nile has been to generate increased trust between returning IDP communities and resident populations in eastern Upper Nile. Due to VISTAS intervention, displaced Burun communities straddling the South Sudan- border and the broader Gajaak (Nuer) community of Greater Maiwut engaged in VISTAS’s facilitated dialogue to facilitate the return of Burun IDPs and refugees to their homes of origin. The Burun community had been ostracized since 2013, when they sided with the SPLA against the Opposition in the war that erupted at the end of that year. As a consequence, the Nuer communities in the area (specifically the Gajaak) chased the Burun from their lands in South Sudan and proceeded to occupy their homes. These groups have historically lived in relative harmony, so the rift created by this split was not irreparable. The symbiotic relationship that had existed between the two communities for years meant that the Gajaak actually relied on many of the services provided by the Burun, and vice-versa. However, without a third-party broker to transfer information, to facilitate transport, and to oversee proceedings, Burun leaders were unwilling to spend time and money on negotiations that were not guaranteed to succeed. Following a successful series of meetings, the two communities have asked for further VISTAS facilitation, and the Upper Nile team is planning to expand this dialogue in a follow-up grant.

Q1 FY 2017 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 13 VI. MONITORING & EVALUATION During the reporting period, the M&E team reviewed and revised the Project Management Plan (PMP) for FY2017. New sections were been added to the PMP. For instance, to address the challenges of data quality control and quality assurance (QA&QC), a detailed matrix was incorporated in the PMP to elaborate individual responsibilities in the process of QA&QC and information management. Furthermore, to develop and track the yearly targets in a participatory way, indicators tracking sheet was added to the PMP. Subsequently, the revised PMP was submitted to OTCM for approval.

To cope with the changing security and operational environment in South Sudan, VISTAS focused on capturing the key lessons learned both operational and programmatic, which would guide the future strategy review process and strengthen internal practices and procedures. In an effort to make the lessons learned procedure more rigorous and participatory, the M&E team developed a detailed guide for conducting the exercise. The exercise will be carried out at regional levels. Key areas of consideration were the activity design process, planning and implementation process, procurement/logistics process, engineering and M&E.

The M&E team also identified three main sectors for cluster evaluations - infrastructure, trauma awareness, and media/shortwave programming. The team also developed SOWs for infrastructure and shortwave cluster evaluations. The studies are tentatively planned for the second quarter of the FY17.

Q1 FY 2017 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 14 VII. ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS

OFFICES AND STAFFING During Q1, the main VISTAS office in Juba moved from Primo Building close to Bilpam junction, to its new premises located in Kololo road, in Tong Ping, located close to the US Embassy and next to the South Sudan Immigration Office. The move was prompted by an assessment done by the VISTAS Security team, which indicated that the new location, which was previously occupied by another USAID implementing partner, was more secure. The move was completed in the first week of November while additional security measures and upgrades were also being put in place.

All VISTAS offices in South Sudan were closed in November during week of 28th due to the SRS being held in Arusha where the entire staff participated.

In December, all VISTAS offices were again closed for the week of December 26th for Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

A Consultant joined the team as an STTA in November for Contracts Support, focusing on Requests for Proposals for 14 construction projects set to begin in FY17 Q2. He is staying with a Program until 25th of January 2017.

The Procurement Director left the Program in December, after being with VISTAS for two years. Recruitment process for the position was ongoing. A new HR Admin Director and a new HR Admin Specialist also joined the VISTAS in November and December, respectively. In December, the Finance Department lost the Finance Manager and Cashier and recruitment for these two positions was ongoing.

Under stricter regulations introduced during Q1, the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) of South is set to be more heavily involved in recruitment of national staff. In addition to the Labor Office approval for vacancies, RRC will now also review and approve vacancies. These changes will further delay the hiring of local staff as was the case when VISTAS had to cancel a vacancy in December as the government determined that proper approval from RRC was not received when advertising the position. This trend is expected to only get worse in the future.

OPERATIONS During the reporting period, the economic crises worsened, and the USD street rate went from 70 SSP:1 USD in October, to 100 SSP: 1USD in December.

In Juba, lack of basic commodities in markets led to an increase in prices of all goods. The lack of fuel and delayed import of goods from neighboring countries affected grant implementation as well. Procurement lead time increased from 6 to 8 weeks, and even longer in many instances depending on items availability and vendors’ response time to import the items needed. Many vendors shut down their business and some vendors with whom VISTAS had Bulk Purchase Agreements were unable to honor their contracts. The situation in field offices is even worse.

Q1 FY 2017 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 15 Most of program supplies were still sent to field offices by using air charters, which in addition to lengthy procurement process required security clearances – a process that took three weeks on average, further delaying grant implementation in the field.

Limited access to cash became a constant issue for both, VISTAS and vendors. More and more vendors requested payments to be made to company accounts in neighboring countries (Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda) as they were not able to access cash in banks located within South Sudan, or they insisted that payments be made in cash, which goes against USAID and AECOM policies due to accountability concerns. National staff faced even greater hardships, as daily limits for withdrawals of USD were capped at $100 - $200. VISTAS used a money transfer company for transfer of cash to all the field offices as well as for the Juba office if requirements for cash were higher.

Another major logistical challenge during the reporting period was the continuation of the ordered departure in Nairobi for the international staff, separating expat program managers from the rest of the team and making coordination and implementation of activities more challenging. This was however mitigated by regular communication with the team in Juba and short trips by the managers to South Sudan.

Q1 FY 2017 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 16 ANNEX A: FINANCIAL INFORMATION (FOR INTERNAL USAID USE ONLY)

A B C D E F = C + D + E

Total Actual, Projected Costs Incurred Total Approved Obligated Projections Accruals June Expenditures through through Invoice Budget (Mod 9) Amount FY16Q4 2016 FY16Q4, and June 33 Accruals

Project Management Costs $ 48,961,742 $27,765,285 $23,512,174 $2,944,449

TAP $57,658,778 $32,697,211 $18,002,258 $1,691,250

Fixed Fee $ 3,858,426 $2,188,047 $1,844,606 $231,785

TOTAL $ 110,478,956 $62,650,543 $43,359,038 $4,867,484 $850,000 $49,076,522

Budget Lines:

Project Management Costs = direct contractor activity (and indirect costs). Operational costs are inclusive of grant handling charge. TAP = TAP STTA, Training, DDGS, and GUC 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 June 2016 Column F – Total Actual and Projected Expenditures for the associated period and June 2016 accruals.

Viable Support To Transition and Stability (VISTAS)/ Q3 FY2016 Quarterly Report

Q1 FY 2017 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 17 ANNEX B: SCHEDULE OF UPCOMING EVENTS

DATE LOCATION ACTIVITY

21st January 2017 Aweil Aweil Peace Marathon 2016/2017

25th January 2017 Aweil Dinka Malual – Rizeigat Pre- Migration 2016-2017

Late February Aweil Trauma Awareness Sessions Daily Shortwave Broadcasts from Jan-March Juba Eye Radio and Radio Tamazuj

Dissemination of local Peace Jan-February Yambio Agreement

January Pagak Rom Gaat Women’s Training

Nuer Association Conference on February Pagak Reducing Militia Mobilization

Morning Star Trauma Awareness February Malakal/Pagak Training

Jan through late Feb Bentiu PoC Vocational training

Workshop on the role of women Mid Jan Bentiu PoC in preventing conflict – 1 week duration

Delivery of construction materials Late Feb Bentiu to IOM for the construction of the PoC Cultural Centre

Trauma awareness session for John January - February Bor Garang University in Bor (6 sessions)

Bor Inter school drama and essay Mid-February competition; peace messaging, 5 days’ event

Bor Peace workshop to strengthen the Mid- January role of women in peace and conflict mitigation

Traditional Peace messaging Early Feb Yirol East through music events across the state

Trauma awareness session for January - February Rumbek (6 sessions)

Journalists training in GOK/Yirol Mid-March Rumbek Center and Rumbek Center

Q1 FY 2016 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 18 ANNEX C: REGION-SPECIFIC INFORMATION

FY 17 Q1 Cleared Activities By Region

17% 28%

17%

10%

7% 21%

Norther Bar el Ghazal Unity Central Equatoria/Juba Jonglei Upper Nile Lakes

FY 17 Q1 Completed Activities By Region

11% 32% 26%

5% 10% 16%

Q1 FY 2016 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 19 ANNEX D: PROGRESS ON INDICATOR TARGETS

Q1, FY17 Target Q1, FY17 (for the entire INDICATOR ACHIEVEMENT program) Number of new groups or initiatives created through USG funding, dedicated to resolving the conflict or the drivers of 5 10 conflict. Number of people participating in USG-supported events, training, or activities designed to build mass support for peace 2000 5948 and reconciliation. Number of USG-assisted campaigns and programs to enhance public understanding, NGO support, and media coverage of 2 3 judicial independence and accountability. Number of local women participating in a substantive role or position in a peace building process supported with USG 35% 10%1 assistance

Number of consensus building forums held with USG 4 4 assistance that end in agreement

Number of initiatives or events that include peace messaging 8 11 or increase access to information among communities

Number of beneficiaries with improved access to critical 2000 13602 infrastructure, such as service delivery, trade and training

1 Several grants in the cleared stage that have a much higher percentage than the target rate, will be included in the indicator progress sheet in subsequent quarterly reports. 2 Multiple infrastructure grants were completed during Q1 but the beneficiary information will not be obtained until Q2, hence the achievement figures are expected to be much higher than the targets in the next quarterly report.

Q1 FY 2016 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 20 ANNEX E: SUCCESS STORY

SUCCESS STORY Cultivating Trust between Burun & Gajaak communities in Upper Nile

USAID seeks to restore As the session concluded, Honourable Deputy Speaker of Regional Assembly in Gambella, Ato Koang Okay, said: “this is a great milestone relationships between ahead to reconcile not only the two communities of Burun and Gajaak, but communities through equally the two sisterly countries (Ethiopia and South Sudan), who were on peaceful dialogue. the verge of conflict between 2014 and 2015.” While the larger cross- border issues were not the immediate focus of this dialogue, it attracted parties from both sides of the border with a stake in peaceful coexistence,

eliciting unexpected buy-in from the Ethiopian authorities which will contribute to more coordinated reintegration activities between the communities moving forward.

The Burun and Gajaak communities cohabit areas in eastern Upper Nile state. Peaceful coexistence between the two groups was disrupted by conflict in 2013, during which the two sides were drawn into opposing camps. The Burun were induced to support the government (SPLA) while Photo: Peace Dialogue meeting the Nuer Gajaak joined the opposition (SPLA-IO). As the conflict rapidly between the Burun and Nuer spread outward from Juba and the SPLA-IO mobilized in eastern Upper Nile, Gajaak in Pagak - Photo by Koang the minority Burun communities were forced to flee their homes and Puk remained internally displaced and across the border in Ethiopia throughout the civil war. Gajaak families occupied Burun property, exacerbating animosities between the groups and impeding the return of IDPs and refugees. “This is a great milestone ahead to reconcile not only the Following the cessation of armed hostilities in the region, VISTAS two communities of Burun and supported a national NGO based in Pagak, called Lead Development Gajaak, but equally the two Agency to conduct a three-day dialogue meeting between the Burun and sisterly countries (Ethiopia and Gajaak aimed at addressing the insecurity emanating from this continued South Sudan), who were on the dislocation. The intervention was designed to bring 166 representatives and verge of conflict between 2014 leaders from both communities to converge in Pagak to discuss and resolve and 2015.”, Ato Koang Okay- their differences, build trust and confidence needed to support a peaceful Deputy Speaker of Regional return of Burun community to their respective areas currently under the Assembly in Gambella occupation of the Gajaak Nuer. In an unexpected scaling-up of the three- day dialogue meeting, representatives of the broader Burun community, including the Ethiopian Burun and the broader Gajaak community of Greater Maiwut joined in the dialogue to facilitate the return of IDPs and refugees to their homes of origin. The meeting not only addressed inter- communal tensions between the two South Sudanese communities, but provided a forum for raising mutual concerns shared by communities across the South Sudan-Ethiopia border. This meeting was a major step in normalizing relations both between communities and across borders.

Q1 FY 2016 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 21

U.S. Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov

Q1 FY 2017 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 22