USAID Systems to Uphold the Credibility and Constitutionality of Elections in South Sudan (SUCCESS) FY2021 Q2 Quarterly Progress Report

SUCCESS' main focus remains on advancing objectives under its Component Three, considering that Component One and Two of the project remain on hold as per United States Agency for International Development (USAID) guidance. During the Second Quarter (Q2) of Fiscal Year (FY) 2021, SUCCESS continued to promote civic engagement in key political and peace processes, fostered CSO sustainability through mentorship, coordinated Partnership for Recovery and Resilience (PfRR) activities through the User Committees (UCs) at the Civic Engagement Centers (CECs), and also continued to support psychological support services, peacebuilding and social cohesion, civic education, and advocacy activities through grants issued to SUCCESS strategic partners in this quarter. SUCCESS in FY 2021 Q2 continued to implement its activities with extreme flexibility while adhering to coronavirus (COVID-19) guidelines provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of South Sudan (GoSS). In Quarter 2, SUCCESS supported its coalition partners the Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG), the Voluntary Civil Society Taskforce on the Implementation of the Peace Agreement ("The Taskforce"), and the Women's Monthly Forum on the Peace Process (WMF), to advocate for full implementation of the Revitalized Agreement for the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS). The coalition partners engaged key stakeholders within the states through meetings, advocacy events, and monthly forums. The CECs continued to offer their respective communities a conducive and safe space for CSOs and community members to coordinate and engage in the peace process. With USAID approval, grants were awarded to SUCCESS' six strategic partners this quarter which include: Young Women Christian Organization (YWCA), Christian Agency for Peace and Development (CaPaD), South Sudan Theatre Organization (SSTO), Change Maker South Sudan (CMSS), and South Sudanese Network for Democracy and Elections (SSuNDE). Two other CSO partners, the Foundation for Democratic and Accountable Governance (FODAG) and Organization for Responsive Governance (ORG) were also awarded grants to implement activities related to peacebuilding, psychosocial support, civic education, and advocacy around the peace agreement. The eight grants will run through the end of June 2021. SUCCESS supported its coalition partners to continue engaging on advocacy initiatives to promote a fair and inclusive peace process. The TJWG conducted a public awareness session on Chapter V of the R-ARCSS with a particular focus on the Transitional Justice and the Commission of Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing provision in six locations Yei, Yambio, Wau, Rumbek, Torit, and Bor; the Taskforce organized a validation meeting on the national dialogue analysis and the peace agreement and held a round table discussion with the South Sudan Minister of Peacebuilding and his Undersecretary to provide an update on the status of the implementation of the peace agreement; and the WMF conducted one monthly forum, one advocacy meeting, one round table discussion, and one radio talk show to update the women of South Sudan on the R-ARCSS and commemorate International Women's Day. SUCCESS awarded eight new grants to the strategic partners, the TJWG, and FODAG to implement activities on advocacy, psychosocial support, civic engagement, and advocacy for a period of four months (March-June, 2021). CAPaD was awarded a grant to implement psychosocial support activities; CMSS will implement peacebuilding and community security activities; FODAG will conduct programming to strengthen communities for constitution making; SSuNDE will implement activities to promote civic engagement and advocacy; and YWCA will implement activities to promote women's participation in peace processes. The CECs continued to offer their respective communities a conducive and safe space for CSOs and community members to coordinate and engage in the peace process. The CECs in Yei, Yambio, Wau, Rumbek, Torit, and Bor continued to provide a platform for CSOs and community members to engage in peace processes, and the CECs in other locations also continued to provide a platform for CSOs and community members to engage in peace processes. The SUCCESS program has made significant progress in promoting civic engagement, peacebuilding, and social cohesion in South Sudan. The program has empowered South Sudanese citizens and CSOs to contribute to inclusive peace, government accountability, and national cohesion in South Sudan. The program has also supported the implementation of the R-ARCSS and promoted a fair and inclusive peace process.