By William Madouk
UN Women has signed a $600,000 partnership agreement with two national organizations to implement a gender-sensitive security sector initiative aimed at promoting inclusive and transformative leadership in South Sudan.
The 18-month project, titled “Women in South Sudan Security Sector: A Path to Inclusive and Transformative Leadership,” will be implemented by Hope Africa South Sudan (HASS) and the African Relief Development Foundation (ARDF). The initiative will focus on selected areas across the Upper Nile, Bahr el Ghazal, and Equatoria regions.
Delphine Serumaga, UN Women’s Country Representative, described the signing as a significant step forward in supporting women’s participation in peacebuilding and security.
“Today was a really good day because we signed an agreement with two NGOs involved in peacebuilding—specifically focused on increasing women’s participation in the security sector,” she said.
Serumaga emphasized that the project aligns with the ongoing National Action Plan under the UN Peacebuilding Fund, which aims to ensure a gender-inclusive security sector.
“It’s really important for women to be part of the security sector, especially for community-level engagement and peacebuilding efforts,” she added.
Dr. Alex Mawa, Country Director of ARDF, outlined key deliverables under the agreement, including the establishment of women’s networks within the security sector.
“These networks will consist of women in uniform. We will also conduct gender diversity studies to identify gaps in the security sector that limit women’s leadership and participation in decision-making,” Mawa said.
He noted that the project will primarily target women, with 80% of participants being female security personnel and 20% male.
Meanwhile, Aduol Aduol, Executive Director of Hope Africa South Sudan, highlighted the project’s focus on building women’s capacity through advocacy training and research.
“We’ll strengthen women’s skills through advocacy, training, and gender diversity studies to better understand the challenges and opportunities for women in leadership,” Aduol said.
He stressed that the project is expected to boost women’s participation in the security sector and help formulate policy recommendations for national leaders.
“With the knowledge and skills gained, we foresee more women ascending to leadership roles within security institutions,” Aduol said, adding that the project also supports South Sudan’s commitment to implementing the 35% affirmative action for women in leadership.
Joseph Kido, Acting Executive Director for Conflict and Peacebuilding at the Ministry of Peace Building, hailed the agreement as a vital step for national development.
“This implementation agreement is of paramount importance. It will involve both young men and women in the peacebuilding process,” Kido said.
He added that the project will contribute to reducing gender-based violence, promoting gender equality, and enhancing women’s effective participation in leadership.