Donors Visit Yei to Review Peace Projects and Assess Local Impact

(YEI RIVER COUNTY) – A high level delegation representing donor countries to the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund, alongside officials from South Sudan’s National Ministry of Peace Building, visited Yei River County this week.

The purpose of the visit was to assess the progress and impact of peacebuilding projects in the area, which has experienced cycles of violence and displacement in recent years.

The delegation met with the Commissioner of Yei River County, Hon. Emmanuel Taban Seme, to discuss how ongoing efforts supported by the UN’s Reconciliation, Stabilisation and Resilience Trust Fund (RSRTF) are contributing to stability and reconciliation on the ground.

The fund, a multi-partner initiative, supports locally led peace efforts across South Sudan, particularly in areas recovering from conflict.

Muhammad Almasri, the Monitoring and Reporting Officer for the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund, explained the mission’s objectives.

“We will meet and interact with government stakeholders, community leaders, youth and women groups to confirm how peace projects have impacted and changed the lives of people in Yei,” he said.

Also part of the delegation was Mr Deng John Dkuei, Senior Inspector for Peace Monitoring at the National Ministry of Peace Building. He noted the importance of field visits in improving programme effectiveness.

“These visits provide an opportunity to assess project progress, identify challenges and make necessary adjustments to achieve the intended peacebuilding goals,” he stated.

Local authorities have praised the RSRTF’s role in helping rebuild trust within communities. Commissioner Emmanuel Taban Seme highlighted the fund’s support in addressing long-standing issues.

“The RSRTF project has effectively supported peacebuilding efforts, promoted reconciliation, and addressed the root causes of other minor conflicts in Yei,” he said.

Yei River County, located in Central Equatoria State, was among the areas most affected by the 2016 conflict in South Sudan. Tens of thousands of residents fled to Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo during that time.

Although relative calm has returned, many communities are still in recovery and require support for reintegration, infrastructure, and basic services.

The UN Peacebuilding Fund and RSRTF supported projects aim to strengthen local peace structures and promote dialogue among communities.

The projects seek to reduce tensions and improve social cohesion at the grassroots level by engaging youth, women and traditional leaders.

No financial figures were disclosed during the visit. However, many of the programmes funded through the RSRTF are implemented in coordination with local civil society groups and community based organisations, which deliver training in mediation, conflict resolution  and trauma healing.

Though not specifically mentioned in this visit, RSRTF-funded projects in other parts of the country often range in the hundreds of millions of South Sudanese Pounds.