US peace institute to fund S. Sudan research body

By Julius N. Uma

July 30, 2012 (JUBA) – The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) is providing start-up funding and advisory support for the Sudd Institute, a new, independent policy research organization based in the South Sudanese capital of Juba.

The move, according to its director for programs, will help address
the enormous challenges the new nation faces, citing internal
security, rule of law, effective governance, continuing disputes with
Sudan to the north, a host of development issues, and the need for thoughtful policy input from non-governmental groups as critical
aspects.

“We are helping to develop a South Sudanese voice to inform multiple
aspects of the policy-making process,” said Jon Temin, USIP’s director
of programs for South Sudan and Sudan.

“The South Sudan government is fighting fires on a number of fronts.
Our assistance to the Sudd Institute will help build an institution
that is able to step back and make policy recommendations,” he added.

The US further said by helping to build South Sudan’s capacity to
develop and implement policies, it will foster the country’s ability
to address the sort of instability and conflicts that have plagued
other states in transition, leading to deeper and costly international involvement.

The Sudd Institute, which was started by six South Sudanese,
officially opened on 1 May this year. Its founder members include, Jok
Madut Jok, a former USIP senior fellow and Abraham Awolich, a South
Sudanese specialist in public administration with experience in
development and governance work.

In its strategic plan, however, the Sudd anticipates that the
institute will largely focus on peace and security issues, including
rule of law, justice, security sector reform and relations with Sudan,
while also concentrating on policy ideas that foster an “inclusive,
responsive and transparent government”.

Those governance issues, it argues, go to the heart of South Sudan’s
internal security problems.

Reacting to the USIP funding, Awolich said donation is critical for
the work of the Sudd Institute, adding that many great ideas
tend to die or remain on paper only due to lack of financial capital.

Established in 1996, USIP is an independent, non-partisan conflict
management centre created by the US Congress to prevent and mitigate international conflict without resorting to violence.

(ST)