Peace Canal
Background
As a part of our effort to consolidate our work into a sustainable local structure, we supported the establishment of a national non-governmental organization in 2019, called Peace Canal. The NGO is now the main implementer of activities in program areas, fostering local ownership and sustainability.
Peace Canal aims to support communities in becoming more harmonious and resilient to conflict, as well as strengthening and supporting more inclusivity of political, socio-economic, and cultural institutions that are key for handling conflict and establishing the conditions for sustained peace.
International donors in South Sudan play a key role supporting the ongoing peace efforts. Part of this endeavour is to support local actors to sustain effective initiatives. The Peacebuilding Opportunities Fund established an effective infrastructure of local personnel, working in their regions to support the program outcomes.
Peace Canal is made up of 17 local advisors who represent all four of the ethnic groups in areas where we work. Their local knowledge and relationships are central to building trust with community leaders, and their example of cross-cultural collaboration is an inspiration to the divided groups.
Find out more on the Peace Canal website.
Local organisations in South Sudan rarely have the investments to sustain the foundations of their own progress, with the lion's share of funding going to international NGOs and UN agencies, who have significant overheads. One challenge for many NGOs are costs associated with a physical presence in the capital, Juba.
The UK Government's Peacebuilding Opportunities Fund is ending its first phase in December 2023. Peace Canal, having secured activity funding from a range of donors, including Caritas Germany, the Swiss Cooperation Office, USAID, and the Australian Government, is looking to consolidate a foundation by establishing an ecological office space in Juba as the base of its operations.
Having the new Juba office will give greater operational security to Peace Canal, will model a rare approach to design aesthetics and ecology in the capital city, and will also afford them with a modest income base moving forward.
