Prevention of the use of children in armed forces and armed groups in Jongeli

This project aims to prevent boys and girls from being used by armed forces and armed groups in Akobo and Bor South counties and in the Pibor Administrative Area in South Sudan through community-led violence reduction and child recruitment prevention interventions. Project activities include: (1) facilitating inter-county peace and protection dialogue between the Dinka Murle and Nuer communities within the geographic target areas by leveraging complementary and ongoing programming currently implemented by organization partners; (2) facilitating a joint analysis of conflict drivers and child recruitment pathways with targeted communities; (3) developing and implementing community-led actions to contribute towards violence reduction and the use of children in armed forces and/or armed groups within these communities; (4) offering opportunities to the families of children particularly vulnerable to develop safe livelihood options to counter the factors that lead children to engage with armed forces or armed groups; (5) preventing child recruitment and abduction particularly girls through community engagement work that challenges inequality combats sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and supports girls’ empowerment; and (6) supporting national-level advocacy work on this issue alongside UNICEF and the United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan. This project helps by creating a space for intra-community dialogue that is driven by and supports ongoing community and national-level advocacy to prevent the recruitment and use of children affected by armed forces and group. This project creates a protective environment that sustainably prioritizes children’s rights and prevents child recruitment. The project is delivered by the Danish Refugee Council as the consortium lead along with War Child Holland and the Community Initiative for Development Organization a national NGO.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved access to quality community-level child protection services for girls boys and their caregivers at risk of or experiencing SGBV and/or (re-)recruitment in Pibor and Bor South provided by Community Based Child Protection Networks; (2) increased knowledge and protective attitudes of communities families youth and children towards reintegration and prevention of SGBV and (re-)recruitment in Pibor and Bor South; (3) increased knowledge and skills gained by women youth and community leaders in decision-making regarding protection and peacebuilding in Akobo Bor South and Pibor; and (4) increased knowledge and commitment to the implementation of the Comprehensive Action Plan amongst local authority structures in Bor South and Pibor counties.