LocationsUNDP launches ‘Pathway to Community Reintegration’ to support displacement-affected communities in Western Bahr el Ghazal, South Sudan
February 25, 2026
Hon. Rudolf Andrea – State Minister of Cabinet Affairs, and Acting Governor together with UNDP South Sudan Resident Representative Dr. Mohamed Abchir at the launch of the Project.
Wau, South Sudan – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched a new initiative, Pathway to Community Reintegration in South Sudan, to strengthen local governance, reduce community violence and advance durable solutions for people affected by displacement in Western Bahr el Ghazal State, with support from the Funding Window, a multi-donor fund mechanism to accelerate development.
The Government of South Sudan has adopted the National Durable Solutions Strategy and Action Plan 2024–2028, which prioritizes voluntary return, local integration and resettlement of displacement-affected populations, while building resilience and strengthening local institutions. UNDP’s new project directly supports these national priorities by reinforcing sub-national governance, promoting peaceful coexistence and enabling sustainable reintegration.
Western Bahr el Ghazal is among the States that hosts large numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees and returnees. This has increased pressure on basic services, land and local governance systems, and heightened the risk of tensions and violence at community level. The project will empower local governance to strengthen coordination mechanisms for area-based development solutions, aligned with the South Sudan National Durable Solutions Strategy; and it will execute community violence reduction initiatives to foster concrete results in conflict prevention, with also a focus on protection and fight against gender-based violence.
“This project is about moving from short-term humanitarian assistance towards long-term, community-owned solutions,” said Dr. Mohamed Abchir, UNDP Resident Representative in South Sudan. “By strengthening local governance, reducing community violence and supporting inclusive reintegration, we aim to help communities rebuild trust, restore livelihoods and lay the foundations for lasting peace and development.”
Audience at the project launch
Who will benefit?
The project targets a wide range of displacement-affected and vulnerable groups, including Internally displaced persons, refugees and returnees, Host communities, Women and adolescent girls, Youth, including youth at risk, Persons with disabilities, Former combatants, Women Associated with Armed Forces and Groups (WAAFAG), Survivors of conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence (CRSV). In total, the project aims to reach 70,000 beneficiaries, and to strengthen the capacities of three sub-national institutions for inclusive planning, coordination and service delivery.
Strategic objective and geographic focus
The overall objective is to strengthen local governance capacities and reduce community-level violence in order to enable sustainable reintegration and durable solutions for displacement-affected populations. The primary initial focus area is Western Bahr el Ghazal State, with interventions targeting payams that host high numbers of IDPs, returnees and refugees.
An integrated, area-based approach
The project applies UNDP’s area-based leadership and portfolio approach, operating across the humanitarian–development–peace nexus to support the transition from emergency assistance to sustainable development at community level. Key components include:
Strengthening local governance and planning systems; Supporting state and local authorities to coordinate, plan and deliver inclusive services.
Community violence reduction and social cohesion; Supporting peace committees and community structures to prevent and manage conflicts and promote peaceful reintegration.
Inclusive reintegration and livelihoods support; Providing skills, livelihoods and income-generating opportunities to displacement-affected populations and host communities.
Survivor-centred protection and gender-responsive programming; Ensuring that interventions are sensitive to the needs and rights of women, girls and survivors of CRSV, in line with international ethical and safety standards.
Climate-resilient local infrastructure; Supporting small-scale, climate-resilient infrastructure to improve access to services and strengthen community resilience.
Audience at the project launch
Under the project, UNDP expects to:
Strengthen local governance for inclusive integration: Reach 70,000 people and three sub-national institutions with improved governance coordination, planning and delivery capacities.
Foster community violence reduction and peaceful reintegration: Support peace committees, psychosocial community volunteers and cooperative members – totaling 600 individuals – with mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) and livelihoods interventions.
Advance survivor-centered support: Ensure that at least 100 CRSV survivors and WAAFAG access protection and services through a survivor-centered and rights-based approach, in line with international standards.
Collaborative Partnerships
Implementation of the Pathway to Community Reintegration project is coordinated closely with relevant UN agencies, The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), State and local authorities in Western Bahr el Ghazal, and Civil society organizations (CSOs) and Community-based partners. These partnerships are essential to ensuring that interventions are locally led, conflict-sensitive and aligned with national and state priorities.
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About UNDP in South Sudan
UNDP works with the Government of South Sudan, local authorities, civil society and international partners to support peacebuilding, strengthen institutions, promote inclusive governance, advance sustainable livelihoods and build resilience to shocks and crises.
