South Sudan has experienced protracted conflict since before and after the signing of Comprehensive Peace Agreement. South Sudanese are residing in protection of civilian centers as well as refugee camps in neighboring countries. The Revitalized Peace Agreement signed in 2018 offers a ray of hope in ending the conflict.

MaCDA is actively engaged in enhancing peaceful coexistence and social cohesion among communities through establishment of peace, reconciliation and trauma healing initiatives, formation of traditional linkages on peace process, training on peace building and conflict transformation skills, economic empowerment of the communities and dissemination of peace messages to the grassroots. We seek to build the capacity of women and women groups to increase their participation in key decision making at the community and national level; Improve community’s awareness on the rights of women and girls; Build the capacity of community structures to protect women and girls; advocate for inclusion of women and girls agenda and issues in peace processes and local Government development plans and programmes and increase access to income generating activities for women and girls. On increased and meaningful participation of women in peace building processes, we are guided by UNSCR 1325 and South Sudan’s National Action Plan. 

We encompass all the five pillars on UNSCR 1325 which includes Prevention, Protection, Participation and Promotion as well as Relief and Recovery. We recognize that women and girls cannot be empowered if their protection concerns are not addressed. As such, peace building also focus on meeting protection needs of women and girls at the local level through capacity building,
behavioral change messaging, strengthening community protection structures and networks as well as mobilizing communities to own protection issues facing women and girls and take action towards addressing the issues. We believe that unless women and girls are protected, empowered and their access to community resources, education, health, livelihood opportunities, shelter, and justice, shared prosperity in South Sudan will remain elusive.