The Norwegian Embassy in Juba has signed a grant agreement with the Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) to support their efforts in strengthening civic space and democratization in South Sudan.
This partnership is part of Norway’s ongoing commitment to support sustainable peace and democratic governance in South Sudan. The Embassy has allocated funding until February 2025 for a program to enhance civil society’s role in the democratic process.
The project: Civil Society Engagements for Civic Space and Democratization in South Sudan will focus on several key areas including enhancing civil society's capacity to coordinate and interact with civic and political leaders and advocate for space, propelling legislative reforms to ensure respect for human rights and the inclusion of women and youth in decision-making processes, and encouraging civic education and engagement with local communities.
The main objective of this support is strengthening civil society actors and the media so that they engage powerholders and claim civic space for democratization in South Sudan.
The Norwegian Ambassador to South Sudan, H.E. Linken Nymann Berryman underscored the significance of this initiative.
"A strong civil society is important for any democracy and crucial for South Sudan’s future. Through our partnership with NPA, we are committed to empowering the South Sudanese civil society and the media to fostering a culture where all voices can be heard.”
NPA’s Director in South Sudan expressed gratitude for Norway’s ongoing support and highlighted the significance of this partnership.
“I thank the Royal Norwegian government for the trust and confidence in NPA. The support extended to the South Sudan civil society through NPA will immensely boost civil society engagements with the people of South Sudan as the country works towards reforms that include widening of civic space and democratization,” said Hilde Bergsma.
Norway is a major supporter of civil society organizations in developing countries. This collaboration through NPA in South Sudan emphasizes partnerships and helps strengthen local NGOs and CSOs to promote civic space, democracy, and human rights.