Forging a sustainable path: Jonglei-GPAA Strategy Dialogue for a shared 2030 vision
On March 13-14, key leaders from Jonglei and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) gathered in Juba for a dialogue on the future of peace and development in the region. Hosted by the Peacebuilding Opportunities Fund (POF) in partnership with the Reconciliation, Stabilisation and Resilience Trust Fund (RSRTF) area-based partners, the Jonglei-GPAA Strategy Meeting (2025-2030) provided a platform for State and County officials, and peacebuilding partners to shape a sustainable, locally-driven strategy for the next five years.
Government and partners discussing improvements to the draft strategy for Jonglei-GPAA 2025-2030
Why This Dialogue Matters at This Time
While numerous peace and development initiatives have been launched in the past to break the cycle of violence in Jonglei-GPAA, fragmentation, short-term funding, and a lack of local ownership have often undermined their impact. In this dialogue, area based partners sought to convene key stakeholders to create a more inclusive and sustainable approach, co-designing a comprehensive strategy that is both credible and sustainable in the long term.
The dialogue was guided by a key principle: peace and development in Jonglei-GPAA can only succeed if they are owned by the people who live there. This means moving beyond externally imposed projects, further towards community-driven solutions, strengthened inter-communal governance structures, and economic pathways that reduce incentives for violence. The funding isn’t guaranteed, so this meeting was flipping the norm: usually partners wait until top-down calls for proposals materialise, whereas this meeting was designed to be on the front foot and in a position to present to potential investors a credible, substantive strategy.
Key Themes and Priorities
The discussions over the two days were structured around several strategic priorities:
1. Strengthening Local Ownership and Governance
One of the strongest messages from the dialogue was that local leadership and governance structures must be at the heart of the strategy. Participants emphasised:
The need to strengthen local government to facilitate and coordinate community-driven initiatives.
Ensuring greater transparency and accountability in decision-making, particularly in how resources are allocated.
Developing a clearer, fairer role for national and local government in supporting peace and development efforts, while still maintaining financial accountability.
Additionally, there was broad agreement on the need to support and deepen integration of traditional governance structures into the peace process, ensuring they are equipped to play a meaningful role in stabilisation and reconciliation efforts.
2. Enhancing Inter-Communal Peacebuilding and Stabilisation
With continued cattle raids, youth mobilisations, and retaliatory violence, peace remains fragile in Jonglei-GPAA. Discussions focused on:
Revitalising the Inter-Communal Governance Structure (ICGS) to ensure it is not just a platform for discussions but a real decision-making body.
Using local conflict resolution mechanisms, including traditional justice and reconciliation approaches, rather than imposing external models.
Building confidence among armed youth to explore non-violent alternatives and integrating trauma awareness and leadership development into community peace efforts.
Strengthening cross-border early warning and response system (EWAR) to track tensions before they escalate into violence.
Continuing the work towards permanent presence of partners in the border areas between the three communities.
A key takeaway was the importance of ensuring that dialogues lead to action—peace agreements must have follow-up mechanisms to ensure commitments are implemented.
3. Creating Sustainable Economic Pathways
Participants recognised that without alternative economic opportunities, young people will continue to be drawn into conflict. The strategy aims to:
Develop sustainable economic initiatives that benefit whole communities, rather than a select few.
Shift from short-term aid dependency to community investment models, ensuring resilience and self-sufficiency.
Integrate livestock health services with human health services, recognising the cultural and economic centrality of cattle.
Support agriculture and livelihoods programs that offer real alternatives to conflict-driven economies.
There was also discussion on the role of the South Sudanese diaspora, which at times has played a role in conflict (albeit out of frustration and an understandable desire to protect their families back home), but could instead be mobilised to invest in peace and development efforts.
4. Improving Coordination and Communication
A longstanding challenge in Jonglei-GPAA is the fragmented approach of different peace and development programs. The strategy discussions reinforced the need for:
A more adaptive programming model, allowing for greater flexibility in responding to emerging challenges.
A dedicated communication strategy to ensure that communities are fully informed and engaged in decision-making processes.
Transparent resource allocation, with local actors and communities able to track and influence where funding goes.
Commitments and Next Steps
By the end of the meeting, there was a strong consensus that the 2025-2030 strategy must reflect the realities and priorities of Jonglei-GPAA’s communities. Key commitments included:
Local government and county commissioners pledged to take a more active role in peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and transparent governance.
Partner organisations committed to a shift towards true localisation, ensuring local actors are at the forefront of program design and implementation.
The Inter-Communal Governance Structure (ICGS) was reaffirmed as a key body for decision-making, with an emphasis on holding communities accountable for agreements reached.
A stronger approach to resilience will be taken, ensuring that economic development initiatives are sustainable, culturally relevant, and conflict-sensitive.
A Call to Action for Donors and Partners
One of the biggest challenges remains funding. While there was broad agreement that the five-year strategy framework presents a credible and community-driven pathway forward, uncertainty remains about donor priorities beyond the abrupt de-funding of USAID’s Shejeh Selam, the end of the current RSRTF project for a swathe of partners in March 2025, and POF’s current phase ending in 2026.
The key message to donors is clear: sustained investment in Jonglei-GPAA is necessary to consolidate the progress made and forestall yet another loss of momentum in the cycle of investments. Cutting off support prematurely risks undoing the modest but hard-won gains and reinforcing cycles of instability.
Final Reflections
We hope that this won’t just be another meeting, though that remains possible. There was representation, belief and energy in the room. Our sense is that this dialogue could prove to be a crucial step towards rewriting the peace and development narrative in Jonglei-GPAA going forward. The discussions and cooperation in the room highlighted the potential for a new way of working: one that prioritises local ownership, long-term solutions, and meaningful collaboration between government, communities, and partners, across all our ‘tribal’ lines.
But the 2030 vision can only become a reality through the continued hard work and courage of all of the partners and local stakeholders on the ground, with the voice of the local people at the heart of the action.
For updates on this process, stay tuned to our blog.
This blog was drafted based on the meeting documentation, with the support of AI.