Promoting Resilience, Peace-building and Social Cohesion (PRePS) in Budi County

The PRePS project is implemented by CDSS, with support from DanChurchAid (DCA) and Act Church of Sweden (ACoS) comprises of four components which include: Resilience Building/food security and livelihoods; Peace Building and Social Cohesion and Survivor Community Led Response and Group Cash Transfer (GCT) and it targets Returnees, IDPs, PWDs and Women and Girls from families affected by GBV. The project aims to improve social cohesion, community safety and strengthen resilience of people and communities affected by violent conflicts, GBV and disaster; and engage in sustainable livelihoods and live in dignified and peaceful lives in Budi County, Eastern Equatoria Stare of South Sudan.

The project runs and operates at Homiri Women and Girls’ Friendly Space (WGFS) providing Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response services for women and girls affected by GBV. The project also provides training for Duty bearers and religious actors on women rights and legal issues in Budi County. Women are also given training on women human rights and legal rights; targeting women leaders, Representatives of women associations and girls.

In resilience/Food security and livelihoods, we work with Lead farmer who are trained and given new farming groups to mentor and coach on the best farming practices. We are trying to pilot a Village farming model in form of ToT method. Through the distributions of ox-ploughs to the farmers in Nagishot, CDSS is able to preach the messages of peace and encourage farmers sharing boundary to always embrace peace and encourage peaceful co-existence. The project runs a demonstration unit, in which farmers are trained and encouraged to go and practice in their farms what they have seen and understood.

In peace building and social cohesion, CDSS is engaging the community in community peace dialogues, inter-communal peace conference, inter-generational dialogues. Trainings of chiefs on their roles and responsibilities to promote peaceful co-existence and social cohesion.

In all these, CDSS through this project aimed to realize these objectives.

1. The project Reduced prevalence of GBV both in armed conflict and in peace in Budi County
2. People and communities have increased safety and ability and empowerment to prevent and manage conflicts as well as participate in peace and reconciliation processes in Budi County
3. People and communities have strengthened resilience, power and resources to manage, recover from and minimize the effects of crises and disaster, including the consequences of climate crises in Budi County.