Locally-led peacebuilding in South Sudan

In a show of unity, Pakam and Luanyjang community leaders walked together through swampy terrain to share peace resolutions forged in their first-ever dialogue. This grassroots dissemination, led by youth and chiefs, marked a shift from conflict to cooperation—symbolising free movement, growing trust, and local ownership of peace as an ongoing, community-driven journey.

On 13-14 March, leaders from Jonglei and GPAA gathered in Juba to develop a locally driven peace and development strategy (2025-2030). Hosted by area-based partners, the dialogue emphasised local ownership, inter-communal governance, and sustainable economic pathways—moving beyond short-term fixes to long-term solutions for stability.

Despite deeply ingrained cultural norms, women in Deng-jock Payam have proven to be powerful peacebuilders. Through the Bridges of Peace initiative, they’ve led successful reconciliation efforts, yet their contributions remain overlooked. For lasting peace, we must challenge stereotypes and recognise that peacebuilding is not gendered—women are vital agents of change.

The first part of 2024 Year in Review looked at what happened, and in part II, David Vincent, Minagano Kape and Rob Lancaster look at the frustrations and issues emerging from those experiences... and lessons for 2025.

"This is painful in a way we can't forget."

Mothers bear the emotional and often physical brunt of intercommunal conflict: caught up in cattle raids, subject to gender based violence, kindnapping and the loss of their children.

Livelihood programmes in South Sudan, like POF’s Livelihoods Lab is experimenting with Peace Farms and cattle trading initiatives to bridge peacebuilding to economic pathways by fostering social cohesion and economic empowerment in the same engagements. These community-driven models provide sustainable income, mitigate conflict drivers, and empower marginalised groups, demonstrating how integrating livelihoods with peace interventions transforms communities and supports lasting stability.