VIABLE SUPPORT TO TRANSITION AND STABILITY (VISTAS) Q3 FY 2016 QUARTERLY REPORT APRIL 1 - JUNE 30, 2016

JUNE 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) Q3 FY 2016 QUARTERLY REPORT APRIL 1, 2016 – JUNE 30, 2016

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.

Q3 FY 2016 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, Security, And Operational Landscape ...... 2 Political & Security Landscape In Vistas Regional Offices ...... 4 III. Program Strategy ...... 5 Program Objectives ...... 6 IV. Program Highlights ...... 6 To Increase Space And Tools To Manage Conflict And Tensions ...... 7 To Promote A More Informed Community ...... 8 To Build Cross-Line Interdepency To Promote Peaceful Coexistence...... 9 To Engage Communities Trauma Awareness To Lay The Foundation For Healing And Reconciliation ...... 10 V. Impact ...... 10 VI. Monitoring & Evaluation ...... 11 VII. Administration And Logistics ...... 12 Offices And Staffing ...... 12 Operations ...... 12 Annex A: Map Of Activities ...... 14 Annex B: Financial Information (For Internal Usaid Use Only) ...... 15 Annex C: Schedule Of Upcoming Events...... 16 Annex D: Region-Specific Information ...... 18 Annex E: Progress On Indicator Targets ...... 19 Annex F: Success Stories ...... 20

Q3 FY 2016 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) ii I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Overall, in Quarter 3, VISTAS cleared thirty four activities valued at $2,758,383 and disbursed a total of $2,591,831. This marks an 85.3% increase in the amount of program funds disbursed compared to the second quarter of FY2016. Much of this increase in spending is attributable to large scale construction projects. Infrastructure projects, thirteen in total, began moving rapidly during this quarter. These activities provided support to the traditional authorities, improved access to information, and enhanced livestock management, critical elements to maintaining peaceful relationships amongst communities in South Sudan. In addition, the process for liquidation of grant finances has improved and the approval process has been streamlined, increasing the efficiency of implementation.

Against this background, the political situation in the country failed to improve in Q3 despite the fact that Riek Machar returned to Juba under the Agreement for the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCISS) and was sworn in as First Vice President. Machar’s arrival and placement in the government was a brief moment of hope but failed to materialize into significant integration of the SPLA- IO in the Juba political scene. Q3 was marred by outbreaks of violence between the government and IO forces in areas of Western Bahr el Ghazal and Equatorian States which were previously unaffected by the conflict in 2013.

During this quarter, VISTAS also expanded its programmatic reach into Western Equatoria, a decision long under consideration to improve responsiveness to emerging conflict dynamics. VISTAS developed two new, innovative activities in Yambio; support to local human rights documentation and peace dialogues to repair relationships between the local community and the local government. In addition, VISTAS conducted an assessment in Mundri in June. It was determined that there was a potential role for VISTAS because the conflict was short, the community is largely homogenous, and the capacity of local NGOs and institutions is high to address their own problems with some small inputs.

VISTAS took advantage of Q3 to comprehensively improve systems, procedures, and policies. As a part of this effort, a senior HR advisor joined the team in June. He worked to improve the capacity of the HR staff in Juba, reviewed manuals, contract templates, employee files, and job descriptions in order to improve the efficiency and compliance of hiring and employment systems. In addition, the Director of Operations & Performance Management conducted an assessment of VISTAS in order to streamline policies and systems between the field and home offices. Further, a senior Operations support STTA worked on fleet and assets management and training for the new Logistics Director. Additionally, the Senior Technical Manager (Programs), conducted a number of program trainings focused on revising and updating the regional strategies, activity design and management, and theories of change.

During the reporting period, an experienced M&E consultant conducted the first VISTAS cluster evaluation on peace dialogues across regions, an infrastructure case study, and training for the M&E team in evaluation techniques. In addition, the new M&E Manager with significant OTI experience joined the team in June, a position that was unfilled since February 2016, lending some much needed support to the M&E team.

Some key challenges faced by the team during this quarter included: the plummeting exchange rate and shortage of goods; insecurity along the roads out of Juba; early rains in several field locations; and high staff turnover. This resulted in increased costs for activities as goods had to be chartered in on flights. Insecurity, weather, and staff turnover often delayed activities, and early rains meant that some activities planned for this quarter had to be postponed until next dry season.

Q3 FY 2016 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 1 II. POLITICAL AND SECURITY LANDSCAPE

NATIONAL POLITICAL, SECURITY, AND OPERATIONAL LANDSCAPE During the reporting period, there was little meaningful progress towards the implementation of the ARCISS and a clear lack of political will to move forward on the terms of the agreement. There were a few positive signs, most importantly, the return of Riek Machar as First Vice President (FVP) to Juba and the formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU). However, President Salva Kiir publicly agreed to form a committee to review the number and borders of states and the establishment of IO cantonment sites in the Equatorias and Bhar el Ghazals, but he failed to agree on the establishment of either, leaving the way forward in limbo. In addition, the reconstitution of the National Assembly has not moved forward as President Kiir does not approve of the selection for the Speaker of the Houses, whose terms of reference are outlined in the ARCISS. In April, prior to Riek Machar’s return, the SPLA-IO (Opposition forces) began moving troops to two cantonment sites near Juba. However, as late as mid-May the cantonment sites identified for the SPLA 25km outside of Juba were reported by The Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM) to be mostly empty. Then, in another clear step away from the terms of the ARCISS, both President Kiir and FVP Machar announced that a hybrid court to try war crimes would not be established. The FVP denied having made any such claims and insisted that the government was propagating this false narrative.

Over the last quarter, a number of potential internal fractures have emerged both within the government and the opposition. In a move that is likely to have created some friction between President Kiir and the SPLA Chief of General Staff, General Paul Malong, the President announced that the state governors would hold all of the interim SPLM Chairmanships for the twenty-eight newly created states. General Malong is known to want the Chairmanship of the three new states in the Bhar el Ghazals, his home territory, and he did not publicly announced either his support or opposition. However, speculation and rumor are that this may eventually lead the General to take matters into his own hands. There was also a rumor of a potential split within the IO between Machar and Taban Deng because, despite being the IO’s chief negotiator, Deng was not appointed to head the Ministry of Petroleum. Although speculative, it appears that the shrinking pool so funds and incessant vying for power created internal pressures resulting in rifts within the opposing sides.

The political and economic uncertainty, along with limited progress on the implementation of the ARCISS, created a return to insecurity across the country and fears that there could be a return to conflict. Serious clashes again occurred during this Quarter including (but not limited to):

 Kajo-Keji & Yei: Conflict in these two Equatorian towns on the border with Uganda began in much the same manner as previous clashes in Mundri and Yambio. The SPLA deployed troops in April to deal with what they referred to as a banditry threat in the region but began fighting with local youth groups in May and the situation escalated. In mid-May, a Slovakian doctor was accidentally shot and severely injured by SPLA soldiers in Yei, later succumbing to her wounds. By the end of June, the situation had calmed somewhat but the towns remained tense.

 Bentiu UNMISS Base: In late April, fighting broke out in Rubkona near the Bentiu UNMISS Base. Initial reports suggested that an unidentified armed group and the SPLA exchanged fire and then UNMISS forces engaged one or both of the two sides in the darkness after firing warning shots. The situation was close enough to the Humanitarian Hub that two RPGs landed in it, with one penetrating a UNICEF container. Through observing the point of impact against the UNICEF container (showing the rocket had a flat trajectory) it was assessed that the RPGs were intentionally fired at the UN base. Luckily, neither grenade exploded.

Q3 FY 2016 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 2  Pibor: Ethiopian military forces entered South Sudan near Akobo and Pochalla in early May. The force was said to consist of upwards of 10,000 soldiers supported by tanks and aircraft and they began a push westwards towards Pibor. The publicly stated aim of the incursion was to rescue the 100 Ethiopian children abducted by Murle raiders in Gambella on 15 April. By June, they had rescued a number of the children and were reported to be scaling down their forces.

 Mangalla: In the second week of May, fighting was reported between the Mundari and Bari tribes in the town of Mangalla, Central Equatoria, about 40 kilometers northeast of Juba on the road to Bor. Mundari tribesmen opened fire on vehicles travelling the Bor – Juba road prompting officials to temporarily close the route. The attack was due to a dispute over Mangalla between the proposed Jubek and Terekeka States, which lies along their proposed border. Although Bari - Mundari violence occurred in the past, even within Juba, this was an example of localized clashes triggered by disputes arising from the implementation of the 28 states.

 Wau: At the end of June, the situation in and around Wau, which had been simmering for many months, erupted in brutal fighting between the SPLA and a local armed group believed to be comprised of ethnic Fertit. The SPLA-IO also admitted clashing with the SPLA, but only, they said, after the fighting had begun and only on the southern outskirts of the town as they tried to facilitate the evacuation of civilians. The use of heavy weapons and tanks was reported and tens of thousands of civilians fled the town, with many seeking refuge with UNMISS. Estimates for the number of civilians killed varied, ranging up to 50 but are likely to be much higher. No figures for SPLA or armed group casualties were offered. The fighting appears to have been particularly brutal with reports of SPLA going house to house and summarily executing young men, some people being burnt alive inside houses and of tanks driving over others. Although some reports attributed the fighting to the SPLA’s mistreatment of the civilian population (stealing food in particular) others claimed it was triggered by, or at least exacerbated by, the sacking of the popular State Governor who had accused the SPLA commander of embezzling soldier’s salaries.

 Leer and Mayendit Counties: A significant clash occurred between the SPLA and SPLA-IO in Leer and Mayendit Counties of Unity State in late June, around the same time as events in Wau. One report suggested that fighting began when some SPLA-IO tried to defect to the SPLA but were rejected. UNMISS reported that SPLA troops from Division 4 had mobilized from Bentiu and travelled south to Leer and Mayendit, with some of the reinforcements reportedly redirected to Wau. Insecurity in this area was a critical concern for the Government as they were desperate to restart oil production in the Unity and Thar Jath Oil fields. However, if the government fails to get this area under control and guarantee security, then the oil companies are unlikely to return.

 Raja County: On June 15, unidentified gunmen attacked Governor Rizig Hasan Zacharia’s residence in Raja, the capital of the newly formed Lol State. The unexpected attack left a trail of dead police and military officers guarding the governor’s residence, massive population displacement, burnt vehicles and a robbery at the local bank. Governor Rizig narrowly escaped with some government officials to Nyamlel, the former headquarters of Aweil West County, where the leadership of Lol state is now temporarily working while waiting for the security situation to improve in Raja. It is still unclear why the armed group organized an attempt to overrun the state capital - sources suggest it could be the local population of Raja who oppose the merger of Raja county with the two predominantly Dinka populated counties of Aweil North and West, coupled with their animosity towards Rizig Zacharia’s closeness to the Dinka. Other reports suggest Gen. Malong had a hand in the attempted seizure of Raja.

Q3 FY 2016 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 3 POLITICAL & SECURITY LANDSCAPE IN VISTAS REGIONAL OFFICES Lakes State: The former Lakes State continued to experience old conflicts, such as a revenge killing and cattle raiding, as well as tensions over the newly created states. The government announced that Yirol town would be shared as the administrative capital of two counties, fueling tensions between the Luac and Akot clans in Rumbek East County.

Revenge killings continued in Lakes state, and, in May, and dozens of people from both the Kuei Agaar and Rup Agaar subsections of the Dinka Agar were killed. Although all parties agreed in principal that there was a need to bring sustainable peace and end impunity, the parties were unable to agree on how to compensate the families of the dead in order to break the cycle.

Cattle raiding continued to cause insecurity along roads in the area, in particular on the road between Rumbek and Yirol, where VISTAS has ongoing activities. During the reporting period, the VISTAS team had to delay travel along the Yirol road due to reported incidents of cattle raiding. Over the month of June, more than 300 head of cattle from Tonj were looted by armed youth (known as gelweng). Efforts are currently underway to recover the stolen cattle.

Northern Bahr El Ghazal State (NBeG): The former NBeG State remained relatively calm throughout the quarter, particularly along the border between Sudan and South Sudan. People continued to cross the border, despite restrictions by the Sudan government. However, a couple of incidents threatened to destabilize the state’s security. Firstly, the splitting of the former NBeG state into the new states of Aweil East, Aweil, and Lol, created a power struggle between the states’ leadership and General Paul Malong, the current Chief of Army Staff and former Governor of NBeG. General Malong continues to fight Governor Rizig Zacharia of Lol state to become the SPLM/A chairperson for all three states. Secondly, in May, the Governor of Aweil East, Deng Akwei, removed Malong’s chief tax collector, which created major tensions between the two former allies. Lastly, there was anger in the state over the recent takeover of Raja by unknown military groups; in NBeG, General Malong is widely rumored to be responsible for these events.

Upper Nile State: The government of Eastern Nile State reported that it would continue to implement Administrative order (1) which dismissed any civil servant from either Latjor State or Western Nile State. According to the national order establishing the 28 states, the former state of Upper Nile was divided into three states. Eastern Nile State, which is largely Dinka, while Latjor and Western Nile states are primarily Nuer and Shilluk, respectively. During this reporting period, the SPLM-IO relocated its military base from Pagak to Kaldak. However, Pagak remains the headquarters for the civilian leadership of the movement.

Jonglei State: On April 15, a large militarized force, presumably from Murle tribe, crossed into Gambella region of Ethiopia and carried out a number of simultaneous attacks, killing over 200 Nuer and abducting 125 children. Following this attack, Ethiopian authorities, with consent from South Sudanese Government, launched a military operation to rescue abducted children and stolen cattle from Lekuangole and Pibor counties in Boma State. To-date, South Sudanese authorities estimate that Ethiopian forces returned forty-nine children.

The situation in and around Akobo remained calm during the reporting period with no major security incidents to report. In May, the SPLA-IO troops from Akobo East arrived at the designated cantonment site. The site is located between Chiban and Wech Yier Yeir – an area about 15 kilometers south of Burmath on the border between the Lou Nuer and Murle populations. VISTAS assessed that the presence of SPLA-IO soldiers in Nyandit Payam will enhance security in the area and possibly reduce cross-border cattle raiding between the Murle and Lou Nuer. An improvement in the security situation

Q3 FY 2016 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 4 in Nyandit may trigger the return of residents who fled to Akobo in 2008 as a result of continuous fighting between the Murle and Nuer.

During the reporting period, there was increased insecurity along the Juba-Bor road due to fighting between Mundari and Bari over Mangala town. Mangala has historically been inhabited by the Bari community and was also a payam headquarters. However, during the war between the SPLA and Khartoum, Mangala was a garrison town. Most of the civilian population was displaced by the war. From 2005, when the CPA was signed until the announcement of 28 states, the town was primarily inhabited by Mundari.

Central Equatoria State (Juba): During the quarter, most of the remaining Dinka cattle camps in the Equatorias moved from Eastern and Western to Central Equatoria. Most of these camps are now located on Kajo-Keji road, while a few are on Nimule road. As a result, long standing pastoralist-farmer conflicts over grazing and farming land in places such as Mundri have now shifted to new locations. Host communities continue to demand the removal of cattle camps. Cattle keepers themselves profess a desire to return to Greater Bor. However, the difficulties in logistics, communication, and coordination among the cattle camps and the timeline required to arrange transportation made the population movement largely unfeasible this dry season. As a result, VISTAS anticipates ongoing conflict, and likely escalating violence, between pastoralists and host communities in the coming months. III. PROGRAM STRATEGY The VISTAS understanding of conflict in South Sudan is that there are three levels of interconnected conflict: 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 works on the ground to provide fast, flexible, short-term assistance targeted at key political transition and stabilization needs. VISTAS operates in six regions (Central Equatoria, Jonglei, Unity, Upper Nile, Northern Bahr El Ghazal, and Lakes) that are critical to the political and security stability of the country. The program’s offices are strategically placed to help local partners advance peace by seizing critical windows of opportunity.

Over the reporting period, VISTAS continued to operate at the community level in these six regions, focusing on key fault lines in the current conflict. Inter-communal violence in these areas could significantly contribute to and expand the ongoing political conflict.

During the last quarter, VISTAS laid the groundwork for a potential expansion into other parts of the Equatorias. VISTAS was originally designed when conflict was largely limited to the Nilotic states while the Equatorias were comparatively peaceful. That situation began to change in 2015 as conflict erupted across the Equatorias, largely a result of conflict between Dinka cattle keepers intruding on the lands of pastoralists with the SPLA intervening on the side of the cattle keepers; fueling tensions, reinvigorating community defense groups that grew out of the LRA defense (Arrow Boys), and increasingly violent attacks by the SPLA on anyone they suspected of siding with the opposition. While VISTAS had long been exploring the idea of programming in the Equatorias (such as by conducting research and developing case studies), the new conflict dimensions made this assessment more urgent. During the deep dives conducted in September 2015, hotspots identified and prioritized for assessment were Mundri, Maridi, and Yambio. Programming in the Equatorias will remain hyperstrategic and with a light VISTAS footprint as there are not enough resources at present for a brick and mortar office and full staff in all locations and program aims can be accomplished with a smaller team and remote management from Juba.

Q3 FY 2016 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 5

As reported earlier, a rapid assessment was conducted in Yambio in March 2016 to determine if VISTAS would be a value add in terms of resolving conflict, whether there was a window of opportunity for programming, and, if yes, what were some initial program areas. We determined that Yambio would be highly strategic for programming because it was reflective of many dynamics across the Equatorias, and the signing of a peace agreement between the Arrow Boys (SSNLM) and the government presented an important step forward in government-community relationship building and approaches that could be capitalized on. Additionally, Yambio presented a new level of intervention for VISTAS, not just community-community, but improving relationships between the community and government. While it is still outside VISTAS's mandate to engage directly with the national level government, it is critical to continue to understand these dynamics at the local level.

Once the situation was sufficiently stable for an assessment, VISTAS went to Mundri for similar purposes to the Yambio assessment. Mundri was selected for assessment as the conflict there looked much like it does across much of the Equatorias and, in that way, is illustrative. Peaceful gains in Mundri could be illustrative for other similar contexts in the Equatorias. Six areas in both government and opposition held areas were visited, including: Mundri town, Bari, Kotobi, Gariya, Bangolo, Lui, and Amadi. The assessment visit focused on the conflict between cattle keepers and local pastoralists. Across interviews and meetings, the following needs were prioritized: lack of information, especially on the peace agreement, which was even more acute in IO-held areas; basic needs such as food, health care, tools and seeds; free movement of people; dialogue and reconciliation between community memebers; and, when pressed, trauma and GBV were highlighted as challenges that urgently need to be addressed.

It was the conclusion of the assessment team that the conflict in Mundri could be addressed with a relatively low level of intervention because the conflict was relatively short, the community ethnically homogenous, and the capacity of local NGOs and institutions is high to address their own problems with some small inputs. Mundri presents a relatively low risk and potentially high impact model for programming where a small investment could generate large peace returns. VISTAS will make a determination on working in Mundri in the coming quarter.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES 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 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.

IV. PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS This reporting period coincided with the dry season and was characterized by active implementation, especially focusing on finishing construction projects before the onset of the rainy season.

Q3 FY 2016 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 6 TO INCREASE SPACE AND TOOLS TO MANAGE CONFLICT AND TENSIONS 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 intercommunal relationships through peace dialogues by supporting follow-on activities that provide mutual economic and social benefits to communities. Under this objective, VISTAS implemented 16 projects worth $773,372 in Q3. Activities included LORETO GIRLS 5 KILOMETERS PEACE WALK IN RUMBEK- PHOTO BY ABRAHAM MABOR providing support for inter- and intra-tribal peace dialogues, school debates on peace and reconciliation, and university lectures in the Protection of Civilian sites (PoCs). Some of the key activities under this objective are highlighted below.

In Lakes State, VISTAS supported Loreto Girls' Secondary School by facilitating a series of participatory peace building and conflict mitigation activities that included, among others, poetry, drama, and debates. VISTAS sponsored a debate on peace and development in April that attracted between 300-350 attendees, including students and teachers. The students displayed a good understanding of the topics and openly argued against cattle raiding, female genital mutilation, and gender inequality.

In Juba, VISTAS worked with a dynamic grantee, South Sudan Wrestling Entertainment, to host the first national wrestling tournament since the onset of the crisis in December 2013. The tournament brought together teams from Lakes, Jonglei, Central and Eastern Equatoria who competed in a total of 6 matches between April 16 and 23rd, with each match consisting of 15 rounds between opposing wrestlers. Five of the six matches had a turnout of more than 2000 people each, while the teams came with large groups of supporters in traditional dress who helped cheer their teams with song and dance. While the tournament pitted teams from different ethnic groups against each other, the event brought people together to celebrate their common culture in a safe atmosphere. The Dinka Bor team from Jonglei defeated the Mundari team from Central Equatoria in the final match – but the teams then proceeded to celebrate together the following night. One of the wrestlers from Jonglei stated, “This wrestling tournament has built relations among the wrestlers and I believe that as a wrestler, I can now move freely from Bor up to Terekeka without any fear because I have built friendships with other wrestlers from the other tribes.” The wrestlers are almost all cattle-camp youth who would normally have little opportunity to interact with other ethnic groups.

In Unity State, a VISTAS activity brought together over 40 youth and traditional leaders of Bentiu PoC, Bentiu town, and Rubkona for the first time since early 2014. The dialogue was held to improve trust and confidence by giving those inside and outside the PoC their first chance to interact in several years. This dialogue opened space for future engagement between these communities.

Q3 FY 2016 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 7 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 Q3 VISTAS carried out five activities totaling $403,610 under this objective.

These activities included support to journalists and media outlets, in particular radio stations. 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. VISTAS also supported local groups in disseminating ARCISS as well as holding public lectures exploring themes of justice and reconciliation.

VISTAS supported three radio stations in the Equatorias, Lakes and Jonglei region. This support is estimated to expand their A DINKA BOR WRESTLER STRUTS AROUND THE STADIUM BEFORE ENTERING THE RING. coverage to approximately 1 THEIR TEAM WOULD GO ON TO WIN THE TOURNAMENT – PHOTO BY JUDITH DORUBA million additional people and expanded news coverage into over seven regional languages.

VISTAS worked with Eye Radio to develop shortwave broadcasts that covered all of South Sudan. This is the only South Sudan focused shortwave broadcaster in the country and is broadcasting in both English and Arabic, as well as in a different “language of the day” six days a week. Those languages are Dinka, Nuer, Shilluk, Zande, Bari and Lotuho. Early feedback included reports of the broadcast being listened to in a number of remote areas. Feedback came from Rumaker, Aweil East in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, a remote town without telephone or internet coverage. The listeners stated that they depended on Eye Radio shortwave for information from Juba.

VISTAS enabled the construction of Jonglei FM radio station to extend and improve the provision of independent, professional, and accurate information and peace messaging to vulnerable communities across Jonglei state. This radio station is also used to compliment other VISTAS activities, such as dissemination of ARCISS, resolutions of a Bor Dinka Intra-communal Peace Conference, and the updated and standardized Dinka Bor customary laws.

Realizing the critical role journalist play in dissemination of information, VISTAS supported a Peace Journalism Training drawing 32 radio journalists from 16 different media houses from all over South Sudan. The training focused on improving the journalist’s story production, focusing specifically on promoting peace and countering negative propaganda.

VISTAS also worked through a youth association to develop a youth internet café in Pagak, Upper Nile State. The activity aimed at improving access to reliable and credible information to members of the communities in Pagak. The youth introduced a program called ‘family connect’ which gave an

Q3 FY 2016 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 8 opportunity to the residents to reconnect with their relatives or friends whom they had lost contact with since the 2013 conflict. The youth leadership developed a cost recovery plan by charging minimal fees on services such as printing, photocopying and scanning. Youth are using the money to renew the annual internet subscription.

Throughout the quarter, VISTAS continued supporting Nuer students in the Juba PoC to hold lectures on Nuer and South Sudanese culture, computer literacy, and English grammar and literature. Students reported that the courses were benefitting them in various ways, including assisting them in writing their university research proposals. In addition, they reported that literature courses had been valuable as they studied things like the Rwanda genocide, which one student reported helped them to no longer “feel alone” after the crisis in 2013 and it helped them to better tolerate the current situation. There is high demand for continued courses as this is one of the only avenues available to young people in the PoC to learn about other cultures and prepare for life outside of the PoC.

TO BUILD CROSS-LINE INTERDEPENCY TO PROMOTE PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE. Trade is effective in connecting communities and generating mutual benefits and relationships across communities in conflict. Communities have resisted being mobilized for violence across fault lines because of their mutual need for trade. Over the last quarter, VISTAS supported three activities in NBeG and Jonglei totaling $177,679, which supported trade and promoted engagement between communities.

During the quarter, VISTAS continued to successfully support the promotion of peaceful co-existence among the border communities of Dinka Malual, Misseriya and Rizeigat by enabling another peaceful cattle migration season. This was accomplished by providing logistical support to enable the communities’ to deliberate issues that arose during the migration season. Two migration conferences took place on June 2– 4th and 16th – 18th 2016 between the Dinka Malual and the Rezeigat and Misseriya, respectively. The conferences attracted huge attendances from the three communities with the former attended by 148 participants and the latter by 115 participants.

It is worth noting that because of the vigorous dissemination of the conference resolutions conducted by the Joint Border Peace Committee (JBPC), the trio communities (Dinka Malual – Rezeigat & Misseriya) were able to resolve their issues during the migration season. The issues that were resolved involving killings, livestock thefts and property destruction, which were settled amicably through compensation and not revenge attacks. As a result, in a single major incident, over 108 cattle were recovered and returned to the pastoralists by the host community in coordination with the local authorities. This is indicative of the community’s desire to continue enjoying peaceful co-existence with their neighbors from the north particularly during the cattle migration season. JBPC is playing a pivotal role in ensuring peace along the soft border by empowering traditional chiefs and community leaders to address local and cross border disputes. The security apparatus in the state also recognizes that and therefore seeks JBPC mediation in any incidents that involve the Rizeigat and Misseriya community.

In a separate activity, over 180 traders from Rumbek Town in Lakes State held a one-day traders and local government conference to discuss the Rumbek market challenges. Rumbek Town is the center of trade for a number of different Dinka groups that have been engulfed in a cycle of revenge killings. They traders demanded that the government regulate taxation, stop harassment of traders by police and protect them from hate crimes. A committee was set up by the local government to follow up on the recommendations and possible implementation of the resolutions.

Q3 FY 2016 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 9 TO ENGAGE COMMUNITIES 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 Q3 Morning Star cleared four activities worth $844,102.

During the third quarter VISTAS was in the process of significantly adjusting the Morning Star approach. This shift was informed by the results of an external evaluation of the Morning Star pilot, as well as VISTAS internal assessment of strengths and weaknesses of the initial phase. Forcier Consulting, which was hired to conduct the evaluation of the Morning Star community conversation pilot, presented their findings and final report to USAID and VISTAS. The overall feedback from the evaluation validated the effectiveness of the Morning Star program model. However, the evaluation suggested condensing the community conversations into a shorter, more intense time frame, replacing certain images, and improving some translations. During this quarter, VISTAS hired a consultant to revise the Morning Star materials and integrate various recommendations into the curriculum. Whereas the community conversations previously took place for one day a week over a 12-week period, they have now been condensed into 5-day sessions. The new 5-day approach was tested this quarter with a group of youth in Akobo and in the PoC in Juba. For the full roll out, Morning Star will replace the volunteer part-time Resource Facilitators and Community Facilitators with 15 paid, full-time Master Trainers. Eastern Mennonite University will train the Master Trainers in their Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience methodology in July and August. A third training will cover facilitation skills. During the pilot, Morning Star worked both within and outside VISTAS programming areas. However, Master Trainers will be assigned only to areas where VISTAS already has a programmatic presence. This shift is designed to ensure that the Morning Star program can be mainstreamed into VISTAS’ other activities and properly monitored by the team.

V. IMPACT During Q3 VISTAS activities in the Equatorias, showed great success in building relationships among different communities. The relationship established between the Mundari and Dinka Bor teams during the wrestling tournament supported by VISTAS were reported by the community to be critical in solving a bout of cattle raiding that was breaking out between the communities in May. Meanwhile, the lectures for university students in Juba PoC were spoken of by participants as something that helped them deal with their “trauma” of being in the PoC for such a long time with few healthy outlets available to them. Of note – in the violence, which has started in July – there were no serious reports of mobilization of youth in the Juba PoC to join the SPLA-IO. VISTAS realizes that the activity couldn’t have played the most critical role in reducing mobilization – but it was likely a contributing factor along with activities sponsored by other partners.

VISTAS has also through its activities succeeded in increasing public discussion and information sharing on critical issues. A series of five lectures managed by the Institute for Applied Research of the Catholic University on subjects of justice, reconciliation and healing was relatively unique in bringing together experts of different backgrounds to discuss these matters in a public setting. In addition, activities focusing on dissemination of information about the peace deal took place in several regions across South Sudan, and were reported to be very successful at informing populations about ARCISS. Shortwave radio broadcasts for Eye Radio have been broadcasting since early May – offering a new source of information to population around the country who did not have access to Eye Radio FM broadcasts (estimate of 80% of the population cannot listen to Eye Radio FM broadcasts). Initial reports on the Eye

Q3 FY 2016 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 10 Radio shortwave have also been positive. All of these activities are definite contributions to increasing information sharing, which would not have been available without VISTAS support.

In Lakes State, VISTAS did programming in support of mitigating internal conflict in Rumbek town and interstate conflicts in the Wunlit region. During the course of Q3, the team received positive feedback on the activities completed in Q2 in Rumbek East County where the program had given support to the peace dialogues among the different warring communities across the region. The state officials and community leaders were especially grateful for VISTAS’ contribution to program stability in greater Akot Payams.

Jonglei State remained relatively peaceful over the last few months. VISTAS programming reinforced this peace by supporting the construction of a livestock trade and auction building and three cow pens along the Bor - Pajut corridor during the reporting period. Dinka and Nuer communities on both sides were deterred against fighting because it would lead to destruction of this infrastructure that is a source of livelihood for both communities. VISTAS constructed these infrastructures in tandem with peace dialogues bringing together leaders from both communities.

In NBeG, VISTAS continued to play a pivotal role in ensuring a peaceful cattle migration from East Darfur and South Kordofan into South Sudan for this dry season. Cross-border migration conferences and Joint Border Peace Committees’ which were both enabled by VISTAS programming, continued to serve as the means for preempting and addressing any potential conflict arising between the trio border communities of Rizeigat, Dinka Malaul and Misseriya.

During the reporting period VISTAS also undertook comprehensive efforts to evaluate how new program processes and systems were working and where regional teams needed additional support. The Senior Technical Manager (STM) worked with all of the Regional Program Managers and the Senior Management Team (SMT) to determine program support needs. In order to address these needs and provide support to the field teams, the STM, in consultation with the COP, designed a training for the program teams that among other things, reviewed the regional strategies, activity design and development of strategic activities and lessons learned. Trainings were delivered by the STM in the regions with the teams in the following order: Malakal, Bor, Rumbek, Aweil, Akobo, and Juba (including Morning Star team). Additional trainings are planned for Bentiu and Pibor, during the next quarter. The trainings were very well received by team members across all regions who indicated that the training had led them to have a better grasp of the program, which would help in the design of more effective grants in the future.

In an effort to reinforce this information with teams, several of these topics were also reviewed during the monthly Regional Program Manager meetings. Additionally, during the Rolling Assessment planned for July 2016, several topics, including strategy revisions/renewals, communication, and lessons learned, will be touched on again. VISTAS plans to continue to prioritize program learning, especially the design of strategic activities and improved program targeting, in the coming quarter.

VI. MONITORING & EVALUATION The new M&E Manager for VISTAS took up the position in late May and has since been working closely with the Director of Research, Reporting and Evaluation to transition into the new position.

During the reporting period, VISTAS also hired a short-term external consultant to conduct the Peace Dialogue Cluster Evaluation and Infrastructure Case Study. The consultant visited multiple field sites including Jonglei, Akobo, Upper Nile, NBeG and Rumbek. During the fieldwork phase, the consultant

Q3 FY 2016 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 11 conducted Focus Group Discussions and Key Informant Interviews with local chiefs, grantees and community members including women beneficiaries and program staff. The first draft of the evaluation was submitted to senior management in late June while the final report will be finalized in the next reporting period.

During the reporting period the M&E team worked closely with the COR on the finalization of Statement of Work for an anticipated mid-term program evaluation of the VISTAS program, which for now is planned to begin in late July 2016.

To strengthen the analysis and activity evaluation efforts, the VISTAS M&E team conducted regular field visits, which were intended to compliment the larger program learning objective.

The M&E team also took a number of initiatives to further strengthen the M&E process and accountability mechanisms, which resulted in the development of a more structured reporting format developed for activity level monitoring visits. Additionally, changes have been incorporated in the M&E Plan template for each activity by including output and outcome indicators, which were not previously required as part of each plan. These will help the program teams track the activity deliverables and collect outcome level data in a more organized manner.

VII. ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS

OFFICES AND STAFFING During the reporting period key management staff joined the program; Deputy Chief of Party for Operations, Regional Program Managers for Upper Nile, Unity and Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Procurement Director and Logistics Director.

This took place because after consultations between the SMT and USAID it was determined that the Chief and Deputy Chief of Party had too many divisions reporting to them and therefore in the interest of efficiency, decentralization was needed.

The new director level positions created will have each division reporting to them, while the directors will report to the Chief and Deputy Chief of Party. The new staff are anticipated to improve the efficacy and effectiveness of the HR, Procurement, Logistics, Operations and Program Departments.

This reporting period also saw a change in the VISTAS Contracting Officer Representatives (COR), Ms. Nadia Shah who left the program in early June. As a result, USAID’s OTCM Lead Richard Hoffman started acting as the COR.

OPERATIONS The economic crisis deepened over the quarter, and the U.S. dollar (USD) street rate reached as high as 48 SSP to 1 USD. Because of the global drop in oil prices, the value of South Sudan’s oil exports have dropped below the cost of the transit fees required to export them. Therefore, the government has minimized the production of oil to the point necessary to prevent the export infrastructure from deteriorating. Many businesses, both small and large, have stopped operating in South Sudan due to the scarcity of USD.

During Q3, there was an acute shortage of supplies in the regional offices. In Juba, supplies were available but due to their scarcity and the declining SSP rate, prices were increasing on almost a daily

Q3 FY 2016 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 12 bases. If this trend continues into the future, it would lead to potential inaccuracies in activity budgets and therefore the need for requesting multiple activity budget amendments. Furthermore, due to lack of supplies in field and insecurity on the roads leading out of Juba almost all grant supplies during the quarter had to be transported via chartered flights to the field locations. The process of procuring the services of a limited number of chartered flight providers, getting security clearances from different arms of the government and ensuring whether field airstrips were okay to land fixed-winged aircraft, led to further unplanned delays the implementation of grant activities by weeks at times.

Due to the severe economic downturn, levels of crime in Juba increased during Q3. Thefts, muggings, burglaries, and compound intrusions significantly increased compared to Q2. Armed forces, teachers, police and other civil servants were yet to receive the promised 300% adjustment in their salaries to account for the falling value of the SSP.

The Bentiu field office received the much-awaited vehicle to increase their mobility to implement grant activities. VISTAS was also able to secure new offices and better residential accommodations for the Malakal team in the newly built humanitarian hub at the UNMISS camp in Malakal.

Q3 FY 2016 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 13 ANNEX A: MAP OF ACTIVITIES

VISTAS PROGRAM ACTIVITIES 3RD QUARTER, FISCAL YEAR 2016

Q3 FY 2016 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 14 ANNEX B: FINANCIAL INFORMATION (FOR INTERNAL USAID USE ONLY)

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

Total Actual, Projected Total Approved Obligated Costs Incurred Projections Accruals June Expenditures through

Budget (Mod 9) Amount through Invoice 33 FY16Q4 2016 FY16Q4, and June Accruals

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

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

Q2 FY 2016 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 15 ANNEX C: SCHEDULE OF UPCOMING EVENTS

DATE LOCATION ACTIVITY Dinka Bor Youth Dialogues (2 Day Early July Juba Meeting) Mid- July Juba Juba Peace Marathon Cultural Dance Competition – once Early August - October Juba per week for 12 weeks Daily Shortwave Broadcasts from July to December Juba Eye Radio and Radio Tamazuj Lectures for University Students in July to mid-October Juba Juba POC – 5 days per week Peace Engagement Days in Juba Early August – January Juba POC – every 2 weeks for 6 months Intra-Faith Group Led July to September Yambio Dissemination of Local Peace Deal Events – 10 events over 3 months World Day for Cultural Diversity July Bor Conference Peace Training Workshops for July - September Bor Jonglei State Women’s Association. Capacity Building for Peace June - September Akobo Workshop for Women of Akobo East County July – September Bor Support to Jonglei 95.9 FM Loreto Girls Secondary School Mid July Rumbek Parents’ & Peace Day Aliab, Atuot and Mundari peace Early August Minkaman conference Finalization of recruitment of Multi–Regional Morning Star Master Trainers and June- September (Juba and other locations.) commencement of trainings facilitated by the master trainers. Conflict management training (two, Late July Bentiu PoC week long sessions) Bentiu PoC youth sports Late July/Early august Bentiu PoC celebration – football and volleyball matches and grant item handover Sports association training on Early/Late august Bentiu PoC coaching, captaincy Early/Late August – Early September Bentiu PoC Vocational training 8 sequential dialogues on mitigating Late august Panyijiar – Nyal and Ganyiel revenge killings Early September Panyijiar Inter-regional trade dialogue

Q3 FY 2016 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 16 DATE LOCATION ACTIVITY Finalization of 15 Morning Star July Juba and field offices Master Trainers recruitment process. STAR I training for 20 Morning Star Master Trainers (MOR034) to be July Juba, South Sudan conducted by STAR trainers from Eastern Mennonite University. STAR II. STAR trainers from Eastern Mennonite University will August – September Juba, South Sudan conduct training for 29, Morning Star Master Trainers (MOR034). Facilitation Skills training for 20 September 19 – 30. Juba, South Sudan Morning Star Master Trainers (MOR034) Morning Star trauma awareness sessions for university students (MOR032) at Juba University, June - September Various locations including Juba Catholic University of South Sudan, Bor, Rumbek and Yambio Universities. Capacity Building for the Malakal July – September. Upper Nile (Malakal PoC) Peace and Security Council Income Generating Support to June - August Upper Nile (Pagak) ROM GAAT Women's Group Strengthening Traditional July - October Upper Nile (Maiwut &Nasir) Leadership Roles in Conflict Mitigation Strengthening the Capacity of July - October Upper Nile (Maiwut) Gender Empowerment for Sudan Organization (GESO) Maiwut Community Peace July - September Upper Nile (Maiwut) Dialogues Women's Dialogue on the July - September Upper Nile (Malakal Town) Restitution of Occupied IDP Property in Malakal Town

NOTE: The recent violence that sparked in Juba on July 11th 2016, might have a negative effect on programming and the above referenced activities may not take place as anticipated.

Q3 FY 2016 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 17 ANNEX D: REGION-SPECIFIC INFORMATION

FY16 Q3 CLEARED ACTIVITIES BY REGION NBeG Unity 13% 17%

Unity 10% Lakes 7%

Jonglei 17%

Juba 36%

Q3 FY 2016 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 18 ANNEX E: PROGRESS ON INDICATOR TARGETS

ANNUAL Q3, FY16 Q3, FY16 Q3, FY16 INDICATOR TARGET ACHIEVEMENT ACHIEVEMENT ACHIEVEMENT

Number of new groups or initiatives created through USG funding, dedicated to 28 7 11 0 resolving the conflict or the drivers of conflict. Number of people participating in USG- supported events, training, or 13,500 8299 8088 295 activities designed to build mass support for peace and reconciliation. Number of USG-assisted campaigns and programs to enhance public understanding, NGO support, and media 0 0 5 0 coverage of judicial independence and accountability. Number of local women participating in a substantive role or position in a peace 35% 1.5 49.3% 44.4% building process supported with USG assistance Number of consensus building forums held with USG 10 0 2 1 assistance that end in agreement Number of initiatives or events that include peace messaging or increase access 34 0 3 1 to information among communities Number of beneficiaries with improved access to critical 35,000 0 362 0** infrastructure, such as service delivery, trade and training

** VISTAS currently has 11 ongoing construction projects in the implementation and completed phase. The beneficiary figures for which will be compiled in Q4.

Q3 FY 2016 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 19 ANNEX F: SUCCESS STORIES

“Wrestling for Peace” in Juba

USAID supports a multi-ethnic “My presence here is already peace, whether I win or lose, this wrestling tournament promoting tournament is peace by itself,” says Machuong Makwei, a wrestler messages of peace and unity in Juba from Lakes State, who is also a science student at Upper Nile University. Wrestling is a sport practiced among a handful of South Sudan’s ethnic groups, largely within cattle camps, and is a great source of pride within these communities. Under a recent activity, USAID brought together participants from four different states and ethnic groups – Lakes State (Dinka), Jonglei (Dinka Bor), Central Equatoria (Mundari) and Eastern Equatoria (Lotuho) to compete in Juba in a national wrestling tournament. This activity was premised to build relationships between communities by bringing them together to “This wrestling tournament has celebrate shared South Sudanese traditions at a time when promoted peace, and I believe that as a tensions between communities have been on the rise. wrestler, I can now move freely from The championship match pitted the Mundari of Central Equatoria Bor to Terekeka without any fear, against the Dinka Bor of Jonglei, two communities with a long because I have built friendships with history of conflict and ongoing tensions. The tournament also utilized songs and cultural dances to promote peace messaging other wrestlers from the other tribes” before, during and after the matches. The Jonglei team won the Taban Ajak-wrestler from Jonglei State. match and were joined by the Mundari team in their victory celebration dance. “This wrestling tournament has built relations among the wrestlers and I believe that as a wrestler, I can now move freely from Bor up to Terekeka without any fear because, I have built long lasting friendships with other wrestlers from the other tribes”, said Taban Ajak a wrestler from Jonglei State. The tournament offered a rare chance for the wrestlers, coaches and their supporters to interact closely with different ethnic groups, which is an important step in building trust between communities. One spectator spoke of how the wrestling tournament built trust and provided a peaceful outlet for communal pride, which can otherwise express itself violently. Juba Stadium was filled to capacity for the majority of the six matches with an average of 3000 plus spectators attending each match, a crowd comparable to the national football team matches, according to the stadium management. The high turnout and buzz generated by the tournament is indicative that wrestling can be an important avenue towards the formation of a South Sudanese national identity.

Q3 FY 2016 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 20

Support to Traditional Authorities

USAID supports activities that The Greater Bor Dinka Area has been seriously affected by the national strengthen the capacity of conflict pitting government forces against the SPLM-IO, as well as by traditional chiefs who lack perennial problem of cattle raiding, child abduction and revenge killing authority and knowledge on involving the Mundari, Murle, and Nuer communities. This has greatly undermined the rule of law and social cohesion, along with the authority customary laws in order to and influence of traditional leaders within the Greater Bor Dinka enable them to resolve conflict in community. Most of the old, experienced chiefs have been lost to over two the community effectively. decades of civil war, diseases and old age. The new crop of chiefs that have replaced the old ones lack the requisite authority and knowledge on customary laws required to dispense justice in the community; and as a result traditional chiefs are losing their credibility as arbitrators of justice. Recognizing the gap between the customary and statutory laws and the value of traditional authorities in resolving local and national level conflict. USAID’s Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) provided support to Greater Bor Paramount Chiefs Committee to facilitate a five- day training on the review, standardization and harmonization of the Greater Bor Dinka Customary Laws. The five-day training was attended by paramount, head and executive chiefs from the Greater Bor Area. The Photo: Traditional Chiefs, photo by training sought to strengthen the capacity of about 100 traditional chiefs on Taban Charles conflict resolution mechanisms through the review, standardization and harmonization of the Greater Bor Dinka customary laws; making presentation on the linkage be- tween customary and statutory law, and deepening the understanding of traditional peace building mechanisms by equipping the chiefs with skills on conflict resolution at community level. The closing ceremony of the five day training, was attended by state government officials led by Jonglei State Governor Philip Aguer, who announced the formation of an 18-person committee (comprised of representatives from traditional authorities, women, youth, religious group and traders) to work with the technical committee before the draft customary laws are taken to parliament. As a result of this activity, the chiefs developed consolidated action points and resolutions on the review and standardization of customary laws, which would be tabled at the Jonglei State Assembly. The bill, if adopted by the State Assembly, will be signed into law by the state governor and printed copies of the Customary Law Act will be distributed to the traditional authorities at their respective locations across Greater Bor. Not only did this training boost the profile of the traditional authorities by enabling them to hold important consultations regarding key is-sues, which often cause instability in the area, it has also helped them to upgrade their knowledge and understanding of customary and statutory laws, which were last reviewed in a systematic way in 1953. The training also enabled traditional authorities to receive training in peace building mechanisms and to explore various mediums that they can use to pass on accurate and reliable information and peace messaging to the community, particularly on the Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (ARCISS).

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Q3 FY 2016 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 22

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

Q3 FY 2016 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 23