Civil Affairs

UNMISS civil affairs community engagement mediation conflict resolution dialogue protection of civilians peacekeepers peacekeeping

UNMISS Civil Affairs works in 10 field offices and two team sites across South Sudan to provide a link between the Mission, local authorities and communities to manage conflict, address social cohesion issues, and garner support for reconciliation initiatives between various conflicted communities.

Who we are

In the UNMISS Civil Affairs Division, experienced national and international personnel work in ten field offices and two team sites across South Sudan to provide a link between the Mission, local authorities and communities. 

What we do

Consistent with the current UNMISS mandate and SRSG David Shearer’s vision to protect civilians and build durable peace, Civil Affairs Division undertakes its responsibilities with three strategic priorities in mind:

  • Conflict management focuses on assisting local stakeholders to prevent, mitigate and resolve communal conflicts. Initiatives include support to pastoral migration processes, including in Northern and Western Bahr el Ghazal, Upper Nile and Warrap states, and assisting Lakes, Central and Western Equatarian states in establishing a joint border committee to manage pastoral migration across their respective borders. This portfolio of work also includes support to the management of specific communal conflicts, notably in greater Jonglei, Lakes, and Warrap.  
     
  • Civil Affairs works with local communities to address social cohesion issues. This work helps to repair the social fabric and build trust among conflicted or competing communities. Examples of this work include improving civil-military relations, sports for peace programs, supporting school peace clubs, and delivering workshops on understanding the role of identity in communities. 
     
  • Support for reconciliation initiatives between various conflicted communities. In order to help sustain resolutions to peace agreements, Civil Affairs assists local stakeholders in conducting reconciliation activities. This has included supporting intra-communal reconciliation programing in Boma and Torit. 
     
  • Support to the implementation of the peace process at the subnational level. In order to promote ownership of the peace process at the subnational level, Civil Affairs facilitates meetings between the government and the opposition officials,  organizes awareness raising forums for key community leaders, and facilitates dialogue forums at Juba level to build nexus between subnational and national stakeholders in the implementation of the peace process.

Who we work with

On a regular basis, the Civil Affairs Division collaborates with all levels of government, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, international organizations, faith-based organizations, traditional authorities, women’s groups, and youth groups to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of its work. With the help of these partners, Civil Affairs delivered 162 projects across South Sudan in the 2018-19 budget year which saw the participation of over 34,454 stakeholders. Similarly, during the budget year 2019-2020, 54,042 stakeholders were reached through 129 projects.

The empowerment of traditional leaders, state authorities, women, youth, and the internally displaced people ensures the sustainability of Civil Affairs work as these individuals are better placed to act on conflict management, reconciliation, and social cohesion matters within their communities.
 

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