Democracy & Governance
Program Overview
The landmark 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement took a first step in establishing a just and lasting peace in Sudan through a new system of inclusive government for all Sudanese. With less than two years remaining in the six-year roadmap, major CPA-mandated political processes have yet to be completed. Ongoing public support for the CPA, despite its slow progress, can be secured only through the emergence of legitimate, democratic governance and full implementation of these political processes mandated in the CPA.
This imperative is especially acute in the maturing regional Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) and governments in the Three Areas (Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states, and Abyei), which will face a new and complex set of challenges when the CPA implementation period concludes in 2011. Failure of the GOSS and Three Areas governments to establish participatory, accountable governance that effectively addresses citizen needs could easily spark a resumption of conflict. The legacies of civil war - from lack of infrastructure to high illiteracy rates and inexperience in democratic governance - have made it difficult for these governments to communicate with constituents and deliver services. A lack of understanding of the CPA and its implications also prevents meaningful citizen participation in the transition from war to peace. The potential for CPA-mandated political processes that are deemed not credible, just or well-managed also places greater pressure on the agreement and could fuel underlying tensions.
In support of implementation of the CPA, USAID is working with the GOSS to develop and strengthen the core institutions and systems necessary to meet citizen needs. This assistance is being expanded to Southern state governments along the north-south border and in the Three Areas. At the same time, USAID is supporting the development and strengthening of means to enable citizen participation in governance, including civil society organizations, political parties, media, and access to information, civic education, and dialogue between government and citizen groups. The program also supports implementation of key political processes mandated by the CPA, including the census, national elections (now scheduled for April 2010), popular consultations in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states, and the 2011 referenda on the future status of Southern Sudan and Abyei. This holistic assistance encompasses support for the administration of these processes, civic participation, and international observation.
Activities
Good Governance
Public Sector Executive Function: USAID is supporting the incorporation of democratic structures and principles into the public sector to create and stabilize legitimate and democratic government in Southern Sudan and the Three Areas. For Southern Sudan, USAID is assisting the GOSS in the development and legitimacy of core institutions of governance. Partner institutions include the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning; Ministry of Labor, Public Service, and Human Resource Development; Ministry of Constitutional Development and Legal Affairs; and the Bank of Southern Sudan; and the governments of the Three Areas.
Anti-Corruption: Anti-corruption reform is essential to stabilizing legitimate and democratic governments in rebuilding countries. USAID is supporting governmental reform by strengthening transparency and oversight through technical assistance to both the executive and legislative branches. Partner institutions include the Southern Sudan Anti-Corruption Commission and select oversight committees in the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly.
Local Governance: Democratic governance and delivery of essential public services is the foundation upon which developmental and economic marginalization can be addressed. In late 2008, USAID launched a decentralization program to build the capacity of state and local government to strengthen service delivery in states along the fragile north-south border, where stability is critical for the CPA to remain viable.
Political Competition and Consensus Building
Election and Political Processes: Elections and political processes are key elements in creating and stabilizing legitimate and democratic government in the aftermath of peace agreements. The USAID approach is to provide holistic, nationwide assistance to administer key electoral CPA milestones, promote civic participation, and support international observation. USAID provided technical assistance to the Southern Sudan Commission for the Census, Statistics, and Evaluation in conducting its component of the fifth national census-the first-ever census managed in the South-and continues support for final analysis and use of census data for development planning purposes. USAID elections assistance includes strengthening capacity for electoral management bodies for technically sound administration of elections. Civic participation assistance will encompass civic and voter education, political party capacity building, media assistance, and support for domestic election observation.
Consensus Building Processes: Rebuilding states must support consensus-building processes to ensure stability. USAID consensus-building programs focus on supporting state integration in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states and building the capacity of the Abyei administration as critical steps in implementing the CPA protocols for resolving conflicts in the Three Areas.
Civil Society
Civic Participation: Enhancing civic participation is essential for democratic governance that responds to citizen priorities and needs. USAID seeks to promote strong, vibrant civil society by building capacity and accountability in civil society organizations, which represent women and marginalized groups and allow the organizations to better build consensus across ethnic, social and religious divisions on a number of fronts. Civil society partners work in hygiene, literacy, vocational training, health, and HIV/AIDS and target youth, women, and returnees. Eight community resource centers in the South and Three Areas provide hubs for training, civic education, access to information, and communications; six additional resource centers are under development.
Media Freedom and Freedom of Information: Media independence and freedom of information are integral to an informed citizenry capable of participating in the peace process in post-conflict countries. However, most citizens in Southern Sudan lack access to the small amount of independent information that is available. USAID is supporting the development of professional media and providing technical assistance to GOSS agencies to strengthen their strategic communications capacities. Partners include the GOSS Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Sudan Radio Service short-wave radio, and four community FM stations in Southern Sudan and the Three Areas. A new FM station will be added in Juba, the capital of Southern Sudan, and will serve as a journalism training center. Activities have included assisting the development of the Southern Sudan media regulatory framework, supporting establishment of public information radio and TV in Southern Sudan, journalist training and distributing solar-powered wind-up radios for isolated communities in Southern Sudan and the Three Areas.
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