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Viable Support to Transition and Stability (Vistas) Fy 2016 Annual Report October1, 2015 - September 30, 2016

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Viable Support to Transition and Stability (Vistas) Fy 2016 Annual Report October1, 2015 - September 30, 2016 VIABLE SUPPORT TO TRANSITION AND STABILITY (VISTAS) FY 2016 ANNUAL REPORT OCTOBER1, 2015 - SEPTEMBER 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) FY 2016 ANNUAL REPORT OCTOBER 1, 2015- SEPTEMBER 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. FY 2016 Annual 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.................................................................................................................... 7 IV. Program Highlights ................................................................................................................. 9 To Increase Space and Tools to Manage Conflict and Tensions ............................................................. 9 To Build Cross-Line Interdependency to Promote Peaceful Coexistence ......................................... 11 To Promote a More Informed Community ............................................................................................... 12 To Engage Communities in Trauma Awareness to Lay the Foundation for Healing and Reconciliation .................................................................................................................................................... 14 Support to Women .......................................................................................................................................... 16 V. Impact .................................................................................................................................... 17 VI. Monitoring & Evaluation ....................................................................................................... 20 VII. Administration And Logistics ........................................................................................ 21 Offices and Staffing ........................................................................................................................................... 21 Operations ......................................................................................................................................................... 21 Annex A: Financial Information (For Internal USAID Use Only) .......................................... 23 Annex B: Schedule Of Upcoming Events .................................................................................. 24 Annex C: Region-Specific Information ...................................................................................... 25 Annex D: Progress On Indicator Targets ................................................................................. 26 Annex F: Success Stories ............................................................................................................ 27 FY 2016 Annual Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) ii I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY After a year of following the highly contentious SUMMARY OF VISTAS PROGRAMMING implementation of the Agreement on Resolution Total # of Activities Cleared in FY16 114 of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCISS) the Total Value of Activities Cleared in FY16 $10,623,022 chasm between the signatories deepened and Total Value of Activities Completed in FY16 $8,706,153 the conflict escalated into previously unaffected Average Size of FY16 Activities $73,771 parts of South Sudan. FY2016 saw the near Program Funds Disbursed in FY16 $7,317,024 collapse of the economy with inflation rising by over 600% during the fiscal year, increased risk of war-induced famine as an estimated 4.8 million South Sudanese faced severe food shortages, and the controversial announcement of the 28 states, which to many was a clear violation of the terms of ARCISS and a signal for furthering the conflict. January 2016 witnessed the return of the advance group of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (IO) party to Juba. This was to herald the implementation of the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) with politicians from both sides of the aisle joining the unified government. The IO leader and then First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar finally landed in Juba in April with 1350 lightly armed forces and set up a base just outside of Juba. However, peace was short lived when fighting broke out on July 8th in the presidential palace between the two sides and resulted in a three day gun battle inside of Juba. Machar and the IO forces were subsequently evicted and forced to flee into the surrounding countryside. The SPLA helicopter gunships and ground forces pursued them, but they managed to cross the border into the DRC. UN personnel then picked them up and the Khartoum government later transported Dr. Machar and the remaining IO forces to Khartoum for medical treatment. Machar has since been removed from the TGoNU and replaced with Taban Deng Gai. ARCISS is now in deep peril, and war currently rages in parts of the Equatorias while threatening to break out across the country. During the Juba violence in July the US Embassy called for an ordered departure, which led to the relocation of the VISTAS international staff to Nairobi, where they will remain until the end of FY2016. In this fluid and unstable context, VISTAS cleared 114 activities valued at approximately $10,623,022. In Northern Bahr El Ghazal (NBG), migration southward continued to improve but trade weakened due to South Sudan-Sudan border issues and devaluation of the South Sudanese Pound (SSP), which resulted in the economy and food security deteriorating dramatically. In Lakes State, VISTAS continued supporting traditional courts to manage blood compensation, adding more weight to the inter-Dinka dialogue to address decades of inter-communal violence. In Unity, VISTAS was able to work across citizens in conflict within the Protection of Civilian Site (POC) in Bentiu as well as in Panyijar County to the south in the IO held areas. In Upper Nile, the program became a key factor in the humanitarian and peacekeeping community work, improving relationships between the different ethnic groups of Internally Displaced Person (IDP) within the POC and beyond. In Jonglei, the Murle remained out of the national conflict but started their own internal conflict leading to the looting of the VISTAS office in Pibor town but saw further improvements in their relationship with the Lou Nuer. On the Dinka side, Bor saw significant involvement in traditional authorities and construction of cattle related infrastructure. In Juba, Morning Star continued to develop trauma awareness materials and completed the pilot project in selected sites across the country. ARCISS also continued to be disseminated in areas with strong partners and trusted relationships with the local authorities. Unfortunately, trust in the agreement continued to wane throughout the fiscal year. FY 2016 Annual Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 1 Since the October 2015 Strategic Review Session (SRS), VISTAS held two Rolling Assessments, including one in Nairobi, after the Juba violence. During this reporting period, VISTAS enhanced its program cycle management, human resources capacity and operational effectiveness by providing much needed training, investing in monitoring and evaluation, and competitively recruiting to fill capacity gaps within the program. These efforts aimed at ensuring that the program’s systems were keeping pace with the team’s expansion while working in South Sudan’s increasingly complex security situation. Ongoing national conflict, high levels of crime in Juba, near collapse of the economy, and the relocation of staff to Nairobi created most challenging constraints to implementation of activities. As VISTAS considers a possible full return to Juba, it is also managing program demand in its existing regions and is aware of the ever-changing context and the security void in the country. These demands will only increase as ARCISS continues to be in jeopardy and largely unimplemented by the parties. VISTAS’ focus will require regular monitoring and re-calculations both strategically and geographically to operate safely and effectively in this fluid and unpredictable environment. II. POLITICAL AND SECURITY LANDSCAPE NATIONAL POLITICAL, SECURITY, AND OPERATIONAL LANDSCAPE FY 2016 saw considerable change in the political and security environment of South Sudan. Initially, the signing of ARCISS in August 2015 provided measured optimism that peace could be achieved, but despite Riek Machar’s return to Juba in April, the lack of implementation
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