Supporting Transition to Enduring Peace in Sudan (STEPS)

September 2004 - August 2005

Sudan's transition to peace is expected to proceed through three distinct operational phases:

• The present through the end of the six-month Pre-Interim period
• The first half of the Interim period, at the end of which elections are anticipated
• The second half of the Interim Period, which will presumably incorporate a referendum in the south

Pact's approach

Funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the program focuses on the overarching goal for Sudan during the Pre-Interim Period: to lay the foundation for a stable, peaceful and democratic southern Sudan established through inclusion and participation of an empowered citizenry.

Key objectives of the program include:

• Reduction of conflict, promotion of social cohesion, and creation of an improved environment for peace through support to Sudanese-designed Cluster Plans.
• Resolution of critical issues expected to arise during the transition process in three contested areas – Abyei, Nuba and Funj – with special emphasis on land reform and other peace and governance issues.
• Greater access to justice and security, with special emphasis on the interface between rule-of-law institutions and civil society as well as interim justice and security arrangements while rule-of-law institutions emerge.
• Good governance and civil society strengthening through support to key local partners.
• Production of critical lessons learned from the approach and practice of conflict reduction and peace building activities; with an emphasis on the activities undertaken with the support of Pact with a view to promoting better practice for Sudan in general.

Interim results

• The Pact-supported cross-line meeting between the Sudanic Group (Fertit), the Luo and Dinka ethnic communities was the first major cross-line meeting of its kind since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and the restart of the north-south conflict in 1983. The conference, facilitated by Hope Agency for Relief and Development, attracted over 400 official participants from the three communities.
• Pact, alongside Christian Aid and the New Sudan Council of Churches, supported establishment of a stronger presence on both sides of the Wunlit border between the Dinka and Nuer communities by initiating the establishment of offices and provision of resources for the Wunlit Peace Council.
• The National Working Group for Civic Education facilitated the Peace Protocol Dissemination Project. Four hundred disseminators and trainers from Nairobi and South Sudan joined in the effort to disseminate information on the Peace Protocols signed in May 2004 between the Government of Sudan (GoS) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM). The dissemination plan covered 60 counties in five regions of southern Sudan.
• Pact, in partnership with the Nuba Relief, Rehabilitation and Development Organization facilitated a training for potential parliamentarians to aid in empowering the Nuba people to participate in local government. Fifty-four participants—women, farmers, civil society, soldiers and intellectuals—were trained in parliamentary techniques to prepare them to objectively debate the implementation of the CPA and for integration into the state government in South Kordofan.
• The Relief Organization of Fazugli organized a 14-day parliamentarian training for members of the National Liberation Council. The workshop covered the key elements for basic understanding and competency in parliamentary procedures and strategies.
• Pact, with Catholic Relief Services and UNDP collaboration, supported development of the SPLM Local Government Framework. Planning meetings brought together the local government technical team with some key county secretaries and SPLM Commissioners to draft the Local Government Framework and discuss its operationalization.
• Pact assisted the Joint Assessment Mission (JAM ) process by supporting a rule of law meeting in Rumbek to plan for the development of rule of law institutions in Sudan and to address wider governance issues. This meeting brought together major SPLM actors from various institutions to discuss the way forward for these institutions and civil society.
• Pact assisted the JAM process by supporting a RoL meeting in Rumbek to plan for the development of RoL institutions in Sudan and address the wider governance issues. This meeting brought together major SPLM actors in various RoL institutions to discuss the way forward for these institutions and civil society. The meeting addressed the longer-term JAM requirements for donor assistance, as well as internal SPLM coordination structures.