FY 2021 Q3 Quarterly Report: April 1 – June 30, 2021 for Shejeh Salam (Promoting Peace)

The activity began on September 30, 2020, and is set to conclude on October 1, 2025. The geographic focus of the activity is Juba, South Sudan. Shejeh Salam accelerated grant development and implementation in the third quarter of fiscal year 2021, clearing 15 grants, completing three, and closing one. Two of the completed activities were follow-on activities from the Pieri Peace Conference, which was completed in the second quarter. The activity also cleared multiple activities for each of its five regional teams and has become a trusted and respected peacebuilding actor in each location. Shejeh Salam conducted field visits to understand its operating environment and contextualize various issues, including gender, youth, and social inclusion dynamics in the regional areas. The activity completed the baseline survey and the Gender, Youth and Social Inclusion (GYSI) Assessment, meeting two contractual deliverables by submitting the draft baseline survey and the GYSI Assessment to USAID by June 30, as planned. Shejeh Salam also conducted its Rolling Assessment in this quarter, which will inform the development of the Shejeh Salam strategy and work plan. The USAID-funded Systems to Uphold the Credibility and Constitutionality of Elections in South Sudan (SUCCESS) Program completed its programming on June 30, and Shejeh Salam took steps to take over the majority of the SUCCESS legacy projects. Shejeh Salam cleared one grant to support the Wau Civic Engagement Centre under WBG005 and assumed the responsibility for supporting the Civil Society Forum under NAT005. Key lessons learned from the first wave of activities implemented to support peace dialogues include the importance of preparatory meetings before the main dialogues and conducting due diligence in identifying the correct partners. Shejeh Salam also encountered difficulties in engaging with the umbrella civil society organizations taken over from SUCCESS, which had administrative issues and struggled with creating cohesive planning. Shejeh Salam's experience with the Pieri Peace Conference highlighted the importance of planning with grantees, continued engagement, and being present during meetings to ensure the success of an activity. The activity's ability to contextualize various issues, including gender, youth, and social inclusion dynamics, will inform the development of the Shejeh Salam strategy and work plan.