Search for Common Ground in South Sudan

05/03/2026

WE ARE HIRING!!!

Are you a team building expert with skills on team collaboration, trust building and cohesion; team coaching on mental resilience, counselling and personal purpose alignment? Please apply for a short term consultancy opportunity with Search for Common Ground.
To apply, follow the link below.

https://sfrgorg.rec.pro.ukg.net/SEA1506SFCG/JobBoard/4cbb4f6e-0c88-42f6-86d6-6570baa7090b/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=7aa9e692-e0fa-40e8-bf8a-7393e3c3c84d

25/03/2025

‎Transforming Conflict into Peace: Youth Take the Lead!
‎
‎For three days, young leaders from Mangateen, the Protection of Civilians Sites (POC1 and POC3) and Jonduru gathered for a powerful Conflict Transformation Workshop focused on equipping them with the skills to mediate disputes, resolve conflicts peacefully, and promote understanding in their communities.
‎
‎The training, built on the Common Ground Approach (CGA) emphasized that conflict doesn’t have to lead to violence — it can be an opportunity for dialogue, better collaboration and positive change. Through role-playing, interactive discussions, and real-life case studies, participants learned how to handle disagreements in a way that encourages cooperation and unity instead of division and hostility.
‎
‎🎙️ "This training has helped me understand how emotions play a role in conflicts and how we can control them to prevent misunderstandings." – Yika Joy, 19, a resident of Jondoru neighbourhood in Juba.
Another participant, Deng Ngor, 17, from Mangateen said his new found skills on negotiation and conflict resolution will help him resolve conflicts in his community.
‎🎙️ "I have gained negotiation and problem-solving skills that will help me resolve issues among my peers and within my community." – Deng Ngor
‎
‎The knowledge and skills these young people have acquired will not only transform their lives but also positively impact their communities as they become agents of peace and change.
‎
‎🕊️ When young people are given the right tools and knowledge, they can drive meaningful change and build a future free from violence. Let’s continue to empower youth to lead the way!
‎
‎📢 What do you think is the role of youth in conflict transformation in your community? Share your thoughts in the comments!
‎
‎

19/03/2025

🌍 Building Peace Together in South Sudan! 🌍
We’re excited to share the success of our recent Common GroundApproach(CGA) and leadership training in Terekeka County, Central Equatoria State! Supported by GIZ. This initiative brought together 30 members of peace committees (including youth and women’s groups) and local authorities like Payam Administrators from Reggo, Muni, and Terekeka Payams, as well as the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC).

The training aimed to equip participants with the tools to identify and address conflict issues before they escalate into violence. By working hand-in-hand with local authorities, these peace committees will now lead gender-sensitive micro-projects to promote peaceful development in their communities.

This is a powerful step toward locally led peacebuilding in South Sudan! Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to empower communities to build a brighter, more peaceful future. 🌟

04/03/2025

✨ Supporting Girls, Strengthening Communities! ✨

Today, March 3, 2025, 20 girls from MAT Secondary School - Mangateen received essential hygiene materials as part of our initiative to promote adolescents’ mental health and well-being. This program, funded by the Eng Innovation Grant, will support 160 girls in eight schools across Juba, ensuring they have the resources they need to stay in school and thrive.

When girls have access to hygiene materials, education, and emotional support, they gain the confidence to pursue their dreams and become changemakers in their communities. At Search for Common Ground - South Sudan, we are committed to breaking barriers and creating an environment where every girl has the opportunity to succeed without limitations.

Join us in celebrating this milestone and advocating for a future where no girl is left behind! 💙
Search for Common Ground

13/02/2025

📻 Celebrating International Radio Day with Search for Common Ground South Sudan! 🎙️

Today, we honor the power of radio as a vital tool for peacebuilding, dialogue, and social cohesion in South Sudan. For years, radio has been at the heart of our efforts to bridge divides, foster understanding, and amplify the voices of communities across the country.

At Search for Common Ground South Sudan, we recognize that radio is more than just a medium—it’s a lifeline for many. In remote and conflict-affected areas, where access to information is limited, radio serves as a platform for education, awareness, and civic engagement. Through programs like Lugara Shabab (Youth Talk) and our peace dialogue broadcasts we empower young people, women, and marginalized groups to share their stories, address pressing community issues, and be part of the solution.

From tackling misinformation to promoting peaceful coexistence, our radio programs bring people together across ethnic, political, and social divides. They provide a space for honest conversations, conflict resolution, and collaborative problem-solving—laying the foundation for a more inclusive and peaceful South Sudan.

As we mark International Radio Day, we celebrate all journalists, producers, and community members who use radio to inform, educate, and inspire. Together, let’s continue leveraging the power of radio to shape positive narratives and build a brighter future!

🎧 How has radio impacted your life? Share your thoughts in the comments!

31/12/2024

Happy New Year to our wonderful communities, and partners in South Sudan.
🌟 As we welcome 2025, we at Search For Common Ground South Sudan are inspired to deepen our commitment to peace and reconciliation. Thank you for your unwavering support and belief in our mission. Here’s to another year of hope, healing, and harmony! 🕊️

26/12/2024

🌍⚽🏐 Sports for Peace: Promoting Youth Peace and Security agenda in South Sudan 🕊️

Search for Common Ground - South Sudan, in partnership with UNFPA South Sudan and UNESCO South Sudan, is proud to celebrate the success of the Sports for Peace initiative, which champions the Youth, Peace, and Security Agenda across South Sudan.

Through the universal language of football and volleyball, we have engaged young people in Bor, Bentiu and Malakal - fostering meaningful dialogue, unity, and resilience. These tournaments showcased the incredible potential of sports to transcend differences, build trust, and inspire collaboration for lasting peace.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the youth participants, organizers, and supporters who made this initiative possible. Together, we are harnessing the power of sports to promote peace and pave the way for a harmonious future.

These sports events directly engaged about 500 young people (including 220 young women) coming from 24 football and volleyball teams in three states of Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile. The sports activities also brought together more than 30,000 spectators who came to celebrate the talents of young people in sports.

Implemented under the "Youth Leading Peace" project, the "Sports for peace" initiative was designed to promote Youth Peace and Security (YPS) agenda in South Sudan. Thanks to funding from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund.

How do you see sports contributing to peacebuilding in your community? Share your thoughts in comments below!

28/11/2024

Wednesday, November 27, 2024 marks the last day of the Common Ground Approach training for political leaders in the Abyei Speial Administrative Area. On this day, the political leaders used the conflict analysis tools acquired from the training to analyze two of the
most contentious conflicts in the area that inude;
1. Conflict between the Ngok-Dinka and Misserya
2. Conflict between Twic and Ngok-Dinka

Using the three tools; (1) Conflict trea; (2) connectors and dividers; and (3) stakeholders and influencers' mapping tool - they were able to take a deeper look into the root causes, effects of these conict, anlayzed the connectors & dividers that either catalyze collaboration or widen gaps, and mapped the stakeholders and influencers involved in the conflict.

The training also involved developing individual and group action plans on how to address these conflicts. One of those proposals is engaging the peace champions in the names of religious leaders, chiefs, and NGOs/CBOs to lead the reconciliation process especially between Ngok and Twic.

The activity was implemented under the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund project; "Youth Leading Peace", implemented by Search for Common Ground in collaboration with UNFPA South Sudan, UNESCO South Sudan, Impact Health Organization (IHO), CIDA, and AfriYAN.

20/11/2024

🌍 Torit Town Hall Meeting
Search for Common Ground, in collaboration with CEDAR, is organizing a town hall meeting on Thursday, 21st November 2024, in Torit.

The event will bring together chiefs, government officials, CSOs, women and youth representatives, members of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) and Women Peace Network (WPN); to address conflict-related issues and develop actionable solutions for promoting peace and community safety and security.

18/10/2024

In Nimule and Pageri, peace committees and local leaders are bringing communities closer and reducing gender based violence and army conflicts.

Progress is real, even as challenges like gang crime persist. We’re seeing the power of conversation, collaboration, and hope in action.

18/10/2024

Young people only need the opportunity to realise their potential to change the world. The absence of their voices in decision-making processes around issues affecting their communities pushes them to the opposite direction which leads to negative impacts on society. Through "Youth Talk" project, Search For Common amplifies the voices of young people through media. Lomong is one of the participants who have turned their past around to help transform the young people in their communities.

“I thought I was escaping street life but here I was again, stuck with a bunch of kids who made ends meet by washing cars and selling goats,” he remembers. “I was not about that life anymore, but I still did not have a plan, no money, no job, no idea what would come next. But at least I had my...

16/10/2024

The Common Ground Approach (CGA) is a peacebuilding tool that helps community leaders and especially young leaders who are championing peace in their communities to convene communities to collaboratively address conflicts through dialogue and reduce violence. It is our trademark tool that has helped address most of the complicated violent conflicts between grassroots communities 8n South Sudan.
In Aweil, Northern Bahr El Ghazal, we trained 33 young people (including 15 young women) on CGA. Thanks to the support from UNFPA South Sudan through funding from United Nations Peacebuilding.
Project.
Search for Common Ground