Recruitment by armed groups for the ongoing conflict has a direct influence in the high numbers of abduction/trafficking occurring in Jonglei and the significant risk of separation from family found in Central Equatoria and Western Equatoria states.

Qualitative data also shows concerns for food security in the country. Informants for World Vision report that many homes in Juba could not manage to afford full meals for their families. Similar food scarcity has been reported in Mangala and in Timbura it was suggested that CVA can be used as a way to help families better access food.

Informants for Save the Children also report concerns regarding food insecurity. An expert consultant in Bor Stadium suggested that CVA can be combined with food distribution. Cases of severe malnutrition amongst children in Jonglei along with varying degrees of nutritional deficiencies have been reported too.

It is suggested that food scarcity can affect increasing levels of child labour and economic exploitation
(Children may be commonly employed as household keepers, shop sellers, or “wheelbarrow sellers” roaming on the streets).

Though child labour can be harmful and exploitative, it has also been suggested in interviews that child labour may result in “positively diminishing” the risk of food scarcity and malnutrition.

When looking at the main self-perceived child protection risks among children themselves, however, responses vary. The risk perceived as most serious by children among World Vision respondents is “abduction by Murle tribesmen”. This is followed by fears of infighting or other forms of violence and early and forced marriage, which is a risk that disproportionately affects girls. Most respondents unanimously agreed that child abduction and early and forced marriage are top protection risks affecting them.

The risk perceived as most serious by children among Save the Children respondents mentioned malnourishment, forced marriage, fighting with other boys, and rape and abduction. In most cases, children generally mentioned being physically punished by their parents.

About Joining Forces in South Sudan

Joining forces for Child Protection in Emergencies is supporting the vulnerable children with the aim of all children and adolescents affected by crisis live free from violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

World Vision international South Sudan is consortium member for the Joining Forces for Child Protection in Emergencies in Western Equatoria State – Tambura County (Source Yubu and Tambura Payam) and Central Equatorial State- Juba County (Munuki and Mangalla Payams).

Meanwhile, Save the Children International is implementing JF-CPiE in Jonglei State in Bor South County (Baidit, Jalle and Anyidi Payams) and Akobo County (Walgak, Boung, Denjok and Bilkey Payams).

The two consortium members (World Vision and Save the Children) in South Sudan are recently involved in organizing national advocacy campaign on Child Protection and food security and livelihood high level campaign.

The total budget for the Joining Forces for Child Protection in Emergencies in South Sudan is r € 1.2m + SCI € 1.2 m for duration of 2 years (July 5 th 2022 to June 2024).

What World Vision has done

In South Sudan, World Vision provided child and adolescent-friendly awareness raising sessions on key child protection risks to 6,951 children, of which 3,462 are girls, including 10 girls with disabilities and 3,489 boys, of which 9 are boys with disabilities.

Awareness sessions tackled Child Protection and Sexual and Gender-Based-Violence risks and related issues for children and adolescents, preventing recruitment, Children Associated with Armed Forces, early marriage, children rights, and Sexual and Gender Based- Violence for children and adolescents at schools.

Informational Education materials (IEC) like banners, stickers, posters and brochures with child protection and safeguarding key messages were developed and distributed to the child-friendly spaces and schools.

The project participated during special events including International African Child ‘s Day and International Women’s Day commemorations.

World Vision South Sudan has managed to distribute all the 4,000 culturally appropriate dignity kits to adolescent girls and women of reproductive age including survivors of Sexual Gender Based Violence and other vulnerable groups like persons with disabilities in the selected sites in Tambura and Juba Counties.

World Vision conducts Positive Parenting sessions to caregivers of vulnerable children and adolescents, including foster parents, parents of children living with disabilities and parents of children at risk of child marriage, on child and adolescent development, gender equality and gender equitable relationships and Child Protection risks.

What Save the Children has done

Save the Children provided psychosocial support and psychological first aid to 6,673 children and adolescents, of which 2,953 girls, including 36 girls with disabilities and 3,720 boys, of which 45 boys with disabilities. In addition, Save the Children distributed culturally appropriate dignity kits to 2,000 girls, of which 31 girls with disabilities.

From the 7 th of May to the 15th of June 2023 Save the Children conducted 2 separate radio talk shows on Radio Jonglei 95.9FM where 10,000 People were reached according to the radio coverage. The radio talk shows talked about the prevention of child and forced marriages, sexual exploitation and child neglect in Bor South County, Jonglei State.

Save the Children conducted 7 child and adolescent friendly awareness raising sessions on key child protection risks. 2,278 children, 1,039 girls, including 5 girls with disabilities and 1,239 boys, of which 14 boys with disabilities were reached. Similarly, 2,038 community members (782 Males, 1201 Females, 11 Girls and 44 Boys) were reached through child protection messages on abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence including sexual and gender-based violence through mass awareness and house-to-house awareness in Bor IDP Site, Bor stadium, Agorbar, Kondai 1 and 2 Internally Displaced Person (IDP) sites.

562 (176 Boys, 124 Girls, 132 Male, 130 Female) community members, students, stakeholders, government officials and members of different associations such as Jonglei Women’s Association, Youths and among others were reached during commemoration of the day of African Child in Bor South under the theme “The Rights of the Children in the Digital”.

60 (30 Males, 30 Females) caregivers and foster parents were graduated after having successfully completed their training on parenting without violence in Agorbar, Bor IDP site, Bor Stadium, Kondai and 2 IDP sites. Similarly, 120 (38 Male, 82 Female) caregivers and foster parents were trained on Positive discipline in Agorbar, Bor Stadium, Bor IDP Site, Kondai1 and 2 Internal Displaced Persons (IDP) Sites.

This publication was produced with the financial support of the German Humanitarian Assistance
Its contents are the sole responsibility of Joining Forces and do not necessarily reflect the views of the German Humanitarian Assistance.