International Development Grant

Women's Voice and Leadership - South Sudan

Project Number: CA-3-D003757001

Status: Closed

Country/Region:

South Sudan 100.00%

Maximum Contribution: $5,751,198.00

Start Date: March 14, 2019

End Date: March 31, 2023

Duration: 4.0 years

Project Description

This project is part of Canada’s Women’s Voice and Leadership Program which supports local and regional women’s organizations and networks that are working to promote women’s rights and advance women’s empowerment and gender equality in developing countries. This is done by supporting their activities building institutional capacity and promoting network and alliance-building as women’s rights and feminist organizations are critical agents of change. The Program also responds to the significant globally recognized gap in funding and support to women’s rights organizations and movements around the world. The project is implemented by CARE Canada who is supporting an estimated 15 women’s rights organizations in South Sudan to pursue their agendas and priorities. The organizations are working across the former states of Jonglei Central Equatoria and Eastern Equatoria.

Expected Results

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved management and sustainability of local women’s rights organizations in South Sudan particularly those representing vulnerable and marginalized women and girls; (2) enhanced performance of women’s rights organizations’ programming and advocacy to advance gender equality and empower women and girls; and (3) increased effectiveness of national and sub-national women’s rights platforms networks and alliances to affect gender-sensitive policy change and policy implementation in South Sudan.

Progress & Results Achieved

Results achieved as of the end of the project (March 2023) include: (1) 48 rapid response and multi-year grants were provided to over 30 women-led organizations (WLOs) and 3 networks ranging from 30 000 to 160 000 Canadian dollars. These funds allowed WLOs to reach over 100 000 people with gender-targeted programming at the community and state level of which 70% were women; (2) WLOs and networks were able to influence 15 out of 17 policies or mechanisms demonstrating a success rate of 88% – much higher than the target of 40%. Moreover all multi-year grantees reported a high ability to engage in networks and to work with others to achieve a common goal. One of the most impactful contributions made by WLOs networks and communities was advocacy that contributed to the ratification of the Maputo Protocol by the government of South Sudan; (3) 87% of WLOs diversified their sources of funding compared to a target of 75%. Six WLOs who had not received funding prior to the project have now diversified their funding including 4 WLOs located in more rural areas. These results indicate that the project had a direct impact on increasing the sustainability of WLOs; and (4) Over 30 WLOs including 360 staff/volunteers participated in three networks supported by the project across the three regions. These networks allowed WLOs to foster partnerships collaborative advocacy influence policy and advocate in the safety of numbers.

Key Information

Executing Agency:
CARE Canada

Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada

Program:
WGM Africa

Last Modified:
September 19, 2025

Development Classifications

DAC Sector:

Women's rights organisations and movements and government institutions 100%

Aid Type: Project-type interventions

Collaboration: Bilateral

Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation

Selection Mechanism:
Department-Initiated

Policy Markers
Level 2 Gender equality
Level 1 Participatory development and good governance
Major Funding (>$1M)
Budget Breakdown
2018-04-01 to 2019-03-31 $5,751,198 CAD
Geographic Information
000
Project Number: CA-3-D003757001