"A Letter from the Ambassador of Japan to South Sudan"
2015/7/15
Vol. 4: “Japan’s NGOs responding to the needs on the ground in South Sudan”
Before my posting to South Sudan, I met Japanese NGO representatives involved in the work in South Sudan at the MOFA Headquarters in Tokyo in April. Japanese NGOs have consistently contributed to assistance in South Sudan ever since the conclusion of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005. The meeting started with the briefing by the secretariat of the Japan Platform, a consortium of Japanese humanitarian NGOs under public-private partnership, and was followed by individual briefings by the Association for Aid and Relief (AAR) Japan, ADRA Japan, Peace Winds Japan, Japan Center for Conflict Prevention (JCCP), World Vision Japan, which collectively engage with assistance in various areas such as income generation, health, water supply, and sanitation for IDPs and refugees. The political crisis that erupted in December 2013 made all Japanese staff to evacuate abroad, but some NGOs demonstrate their passion and commitment by overseeing the activities by their local staff and making frequent business trips, while making the most of their in-field connections and expertise, a fruit that bears after long years of engagement.
Having moved to South Sudan, I started to visit the activity sites of the Japanese NGOs. Peace Winds Japan (PWJ) initially worked in the state of Jonglei, setting up boreholes and public latrines as well as sensitizing citizens on hygiene management. It has now relocated its base to the outskirts of Juba since the political crisis. PWJ resumed its operation in the Protection of Civilians site on the UNMISS compound hosting IDPs and refugees, setting up public latrines, collecting garbage, and promoting hygienic practices in collaboration with a South Sudanese NGO, THESO. PWJ then expanded its outreach to Gumbo, lying just outside Juba, where the Salesians of Don Bosco host IDPs in a camp. I recently made a visit to both sites myself.
Upon setting my foot inside the PoC site with the overcrowded population now reaching tens of thousands, I immediately got to know that clean water, latrines, and hygiene education are a matter of survival. Juba announced a cholera outbreak only last month, and the epidemic is taking a toll on the IDPs on the PoC site the most.
Observing a hygiene management workshop by health extension workers and seeing the hygiene conditions around latrines and garbage disposal points made me realize the significance of the NGO activities and their effectiveness in areas that are hard to come to the attention of the government. A village chairperson in the PoC site told me to convey his village’s words of appreciation to the people of Japan. I was also struck to learn that the Japanese NGO is nurturing the local NGO’s skills in procurement, financial management, and reporting. It is also receiving support from other donor countries’ and aid agencies’ funds to expand its operation in terms of both quantity and quality.
Another NGO called the Japan Center for Conflict Prevention (JCCP) has conducted activities in Juba and its vicinities to contribute to conflict prevention, such as vocational training for orphaned children living on the streets and assistance for female who fell victim to gender-based violence as well as support to improve livelihoods. A JCCP representative explained to me that it collaborates with the Salesians of Don Bosco as well. The Child Friendly Space set up by JCCP also serves as a venue for all kinds of training workshops for adults.
In addition, JCCP recently started to tie up with a South Sudanese NGO, Organisation for Nonviolence and Development (ONAD), which has for more than twenty years been promoting non-violence and peaceful coexistence through training and advocacy. It now holds workshops for various communities to tell them about conflict resolution through dialogue, not violence. The inter-tribal conflict and strife has a long history and is deep-seated in the minds of the South Sudanese people, but I hope these initiatives that make use of the Japanese NGO’s wisdom and their empirical knowledge in Africa to prop up the effort of the South Sudanese NGOs to promote reconciliation among South Sudanese.
Other than these, AAR Japan works to improve water supply and sanitation in Eastern Equatoria and a refugee camp in Kakuma, Kenya, while ADRA Japan and World Vision Japan works for South Sudanese refugees at Gambella Camp in Ethiopia, providing clean water, improving sanitation, and facilitating formal education.
Japanese NGOs tap into their individual advantages and previous experiences in considerately responding to local needs of the people who were left out of the bulk assistance that goes into government programmes. Furthermore, they engage South Sudanese NGOs, enhance their capacity, and reach out to the grass-roots level for their assistance activities. This channel for Japan’s assistance ought to be exploited and be expanded further; for that to happen, conclusion of a peace agreement is all the more essential.
As South Sudan celebrated the fourth anniversary of independence last week, I told myself to first listen to the voices of all stakeholders and stand behind various efforts for peace, wishing that the people in this country go past the current political crisis and realize peace as soon as possible.
Having moved to South Sudan, I started to visit the activity sites of the Japanese NGOs. Peace Winds Japan (PWJ) initially worked in the state of Jonglei, setting up boreholes and public latrines as well as sensitizing citizens on hygiene management. It has now relocated its base to the outskirts of Juba since the political crisis. PWJ resumed its operation in the Protection of Civilians site on the UNMISS compound hosting IDPs and refugees, setting up public latrines, collecting garbage, and promoting hygienic practices in collaboration with a South Sudanese NGO, THESO. PWJ then expanded its outreach to Gumbo, lying just outside Juba, where the Salesians of Don Bosco host IDPs in a camp. I recently made a visit to both sites myself.
Upon setting my foot inside the PoC site with the overcrowded population now reaching tens of thousands, I immediately got to know that clean water, latrines, and hygiene education are a matter of survival. Juba announced a cholera outbreak only last month, and the epidemic is taking a toll on the IDPs on the PoC site the most.
Observing a hygiene management workshop by health extension workers and seeing the hygiene conditions around latrines and garbage disposal points made me realize the significance of the NGO activities and their effectiveness in areas that are hard to come to the attention of the government. A village chairperson in the PoC site told me to convey his village’s words of appreciation to the people of Japan. I was also struck to learn that the Japanese NGO is nurturing the local NGO’s skills in procurement, financial management, and reporting. It is also receiving support from other donor countries’ and aid agencies’ funds to expand its operation in terms of both quantity and quality.
 At a workshop by health extension workers |
 A garbage collection point in the PoC site |
Another NGO called the Japan Center for Conflict Prevention (JCCP) has conducted activities in Juba and its vicinities to contribute to conflict prevention, such as vocational training for orphaned children living on the streets and assistance for female who fell victim to gender-based violence as well as support to improve livelihoods. A JCCP representative explained to me that it collaborates with the Salesians of Don Bosco as well. The Child Friendly Space set up by JCCP also serves as a venue for all kinds of training workshops for adults.
In addition, JCCP recently started to tie up with a South Sudanese NGO, Organisation for Nonviolence and Development (ONAD), which has for more than twenty years been promoting non-violence and peaceful coexistence through training and advocacy. It now holds workshops for various communities to tell them about conflict resolution through dialogue, not violence. The inter-tribal conflict and strife has a long history and is deep-seated in the minds of the South Sudanese people, but I hope these initiatives that make use of the Japanese NGO’s wisdom and their empirical knowledge in Africa to prop up the effort of the South Sudanese NGOs to promote reconciliation among South Sudanese.
 Child Friendly Space at the Don Bosco IDP camp |
 Workshop conducted by a local NGO, ONAD |
Other than these, AAR Japan works to improve water supply and sanitation in Eastern Equatoria and a refugee camp in Kakuma, Kenya, while ADRA Japan and World Vision Japan works for South Sudanese refugees at Gambella Camp in Ethiopia, providing clean water, improving sanitation, and facilitating formal education.
Japanese NGOs tap into their individual advantages and previous experiences in considerately responding to local needs of the people who were left out of the bulk assistance that goes into government programmes. Furthermore, they engage South Sudanese NGOs, enhance their capacity, and reach out to the grass-roots level for their assistance activities. This channel for Japan’s assistance ought to be exploited and be expanded further; for that to happen, conclusion of a peace agreement is all the more essential.
As South Sudan celebrated the fourth anniversary of independence last week, I told myself to first listen to the voices of all stakeholders and stand behind various efforts for peace, wishing that the people in this country go past the current political crisis and realize peace as soon as possible.