FY 2023 Q1 Quarterly Report: October 1 – December 31, 2022

The technical approach to implementing USAID Shejeh Salam activities in South Sudan's complex operating environment aligns itself with the USAID/South Sudan country strategy. The primary goal of the Activity focuses on stabilization of the country and strengthening the foundation for a more self-reliant South Sudan through four objectives. The first objective is to assist local actors in building crossline interdependence and intra-community cohesion to promote peace processes and peaceful co-existence. This involves supporting local actors in building relationships and trust across different communities and ethnic groups. The second objective is to support civil society actors to advocate for peace, justice, reconciliation, and reform and participate in political and civic processes. This includes providing training and capacity-building support to civil society organizations to enable them to effectively advocate for peace and justice. The third objective is to enable key partners to supply trauma awareness services to communities. This involves providing training and support to community leaders and service providers to enable them to provide trauma awareness services to communities affected by conflict. The fourth objective is to promote print, radio, and other media in providing accurate, fair, and thorough information to mitigate the destructive impact of rumors and misinformation. This includes supporting local media outlets to provide accurate and unbiased information to communities. The report covers the fiscal Year 2023 Q1, from October 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022. USAID Shejeh Salam is implementing primarily in five states and thirteen counties. The Activity has made significant progress in achieving its objectives, including building crossline interdependence and intra-community cohesion, supporting civil society actors, enabling key partners to supply trauma awareness services, and promoting print, radio, and other media. Key highlights of the quarter include the completion of a civic engagement center in one of the target counties, the launch of a community-based trauma awareness program, and the provision of training and capacity-building support to civil society organizations. The Activity has also made significant progress in promoting print, radio, and other media, including the establishment of a local media outlet and the provision of training and support to local journalists. The Activity has faced several challenges during the quarter, including security concerns and logistical challenges. However, the Activity has been able to adapt and respond to these challenges, and has made significant progress in achieving its objectives. The Activity will continue to work with local actors and partners to build crossline interdependence and intra-community cohesion, support civil society actors, enable key partners to supply trauma awareness services, and promote print, radio, and other media. The Activity has made significant progress in achieving its objectives, including building crossline interdependence and intra-community cohesion, supporting civil society actors, enabling key partners to supply trauma awareness services, and promoting print, radio, and other media. The Activity will continue to work with local actors and partners to achieve its objectives and contribute to the stabilization of the country and the strengthening of the foundation for a more self-reliant South Sudan. The Activity has implemented several grants under contract, including a grant to support the establishment of a civic engagement center and a grant to support the launch of a community-based trauma awareness program. The Activity has also implemented several construction projects, including the construction of a civic engagement center and the renovation of a local media outlet. The Activity has made significant progress in monitoring, evaluation, and learning, including the completion of a midterm evaluation and the development of a monitoring, evaluation, and learning plan. The Activity has also made significant progress in collaboration, learning, and adapting, including the establishment of a collaboration, learning, and adapting committee and the development of a collaboration, learning, and adapting plan.