Women, Peace and Security Partner Exchange between the South Sudan Council of Churches and Héritiers de la Justice begins in Nairobi
From July 16-30, 2023, KAIROS Women, Peace and Security (WPS) partners- Héritiers de la Justice (HJ) from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan Council of Churches (SSCC) – are coming together for a partners’ exchange in Nairobi and South Sudan. These opportunities for global partners to gather together and connect are a vital component of the KAIROS Women, Peace and Security program as we move through this sixth and final year. They are important moments for partners to visit each other, see each others’ programs and work in context, share the significant outcomes and innovations of the WPS program and strategize about how to sustain their work together.
I write this blog from the All Africa Conference of Churches: Desmond Tutu Conference Centre in Nairobi, where I am greeting partner delegates as they arrive. Due to increased conflict and tension particularly in the eastern provinces of DRC where Héritiers de la Justice programs are located we are unable to travel to see their projects and we will be holding the first week of the South-South exchange in Nairobi. This location was chosen because it is quite accessible and familiar to both Héritiers de la Justice and South Sudan Council of Churches. Here in Nairobi the delegation is being hosted and facilitated by the Fellowship of Christian Councils in the Great Lakes and Horn of Africa (FECCLAH) which includes South Sudan and DRC churches.
The first week of the exchange in Nairobi, will be an opportunity to highlight the work and context of Héritiers de la Justice, as we are not able to travel to DRC to see this firsthand. Héritiers de la Justice has prepared a dynamic program that includes, presentation of outcomes and stories of change from their program; learnings from their experiences with economic empowerment and income generating projects for women; lessons from their grassroots programming on gender awareness and work with male allies; and recommendations on the emerging work on women, peace and security and climate change.
In Nairobi, we are excited to be meeting with the Canadian High Commissioner to share the work, impact and advocacy priorities of KAIROS and WPS partners, Héritiers de la Justice and South Sudan Council of Churches.
The program in Nairobi also includes workshops on Digital Technology and Gender and Fundraising for Women’s economic empowerment projects, topics identified by partners as high priority for their communities. These workshops will be delivered by Cecilia Mwende Maundu GenderIT Feminist Reflection on Internet Policies. We are very excited to be able to meet with the Centre for Minority Rights Development, a sister recipients of the 2022 Government of Canada Women, Peace and Security Awards for their work on the participation of different gender groups in peacebuilding and climate resilience in Kenya. We are also hoping to organize a field visit to a local women’s economic empowerment project of the National Council of Churches of Canada.
On July 23, KAIROS Héritiers de la Justice and South Sudan Council of Churches delegates head to South Sudan for a week of programming that has been developed by the leadership and program staff of the
South Sudan Council of Churches. The week will include meetings with the Canadian Embassy in South Sudan, and meetings with local women’s groups and networks including those involved in organizing monthly peace vigils. We will also travel to communities accompanied by South Sudan Council of Churches in Juba and Wau, meetings with South Sudan Council of Churches staff, program participants, leadership, and allies.
We have been working with partner staff, leadership and program participants on this exchange since the beginning of the year and it is so exciting to finally be here in Nairobi with my colleague Jane Thirikwa as partner delegates arrive, meet each other and get ready to begin the exchange.
From Héritiers de la Justice:
- Gérard Nakahuga Kwigwasa, Director of Héritiers de la Justice
- Chantal Mayanga Bilulu, Project Manager, Women, Peace and Security program
- Neema Nene Lubala, Animator and an Assistant to the Women and Children programming
- Pelagie Assengo Kingome, program participant
- Marie Base M’Nagarhi, program participant
From South Sudan Council of Churches:
- Juan Rachael Michael Roberto, Advocacy Coordinator
- Arek Malek Rual Malek, Youth Coordinator
- Proscovia James. Women’s coordinator
It is incredible to be in the room with these amazing delegates and to see the intersecting areas of their experiences and work, some are long-time staff of Héritiers de la Justice and South Sudan Council of Churches whom I have been had the pleasure of working with over the years others I am be meeting for the first time. And still others we met last year at COP 27. It is a wonderful feeling to greet everyone here in Nairobi as we continue this important and inspiring journey together.
We will endeavour to bring the voices of these delegates and the experience of this exchanges to you over the next two week through photos, social media postings and blogs. Follow us on our journey!
Background on the Women, Peace and Security program and South-South exchanges;
The KAIROS Women of Courage: Women, Peace and Security program has developed into an innovative, partner-led and transformative initiative working with global partner organizations in Africa, Latin America and the Middle East on issues of women, peace and security. The Women of Courage program continues to enable KAIROS and its partner organizations to successful implement projects that directly respond to gender-based violence, address the impact of militarized conflict and environmental degradation on women, and strengthen the capacity of women to protect human rights and the environment.
South-South Exchanges are an integral part of the Women of Courage: Women, Peace and Security program. The exchanges have been developed in collaboration with partners through careful assessment of pressing needs and intersecting priorities and will enable the partners to come together to share, strategize and strengthen their work together as women human rights defenders and peacebuilders. The exchange between partners in the DRC and South Sudan prioritizes building important links between them, facilitating mutual learning and sharing best practices on women, peace and security work in their respective countries and region.
By Rachel Warden, Partnerships Manager at KAIROS Canada
