EVE Organization for Women Development is turning knowledge into action across South Sudan. During a three-day Gender Equality and Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) workshop in Yambio, Western Equatoria State, 25 participants from local organizations left equipped with the skills, confidence, and practical tools to become grassroots champions for women’s rights.
For Lona Daniel from the Ministry of Local Government, the workshop was transformative.
“Before this training, I didn’t know about the legal frameworks that protect women’s rights,” she said. “Now I feel like an ambassador. I can educate women in rural areas and work with men to promote harmony and inclusion.”
The training, held from July 8th to 10th, 2025, introduced participants to key national and international frameworks, including UN Security Council Resolution 1325, and national gender policies. It also provided hands-on exercises on community dialogues, gender-responsive advocacy, and leveraging local media to share knowledge, even in areas with limited resources.
“Our goal was to equip participants with the skills and confidence to advocate for women’s rights. Their commitment over these three days shows that empowering grassroots leaders creates real, lasting impact.” Eva Kiongo, Senior Programs Assistant
Dominic Sabini from New Vision for Snub on Development Organization described the workshop as empowering.
“Although we’ve heard about gender equality before, this training gave us deeper insights and actionable tools. Even without funding, we can still reach our communities with this knowledge. It’s our responsibility now,” he said.
The workshop emphasized collaboration between men and women to dismantle cultural barriers and ensure women’s voices are included in decision-making. Participants left inspired to educate others, advocate for women’s rights, and strengthen inclusive governance in their communities.
According to EVE’s Program Officer, Bob Jimmy Lemi, workshops like this are central to the organization’s mission.
“By equipping participants with skills, knowledge, and confidence, we create a network of gender champions who can drive meaningful change in their communities,” he said.
UNSCR 1325 is a landmark international framework that recognizes the impact of conflict on women and girls and calls for their participation in peace building, conflict prevention, and decision-making. The WPS agenda is a global commitment to ensure that women are protected, included, and empowered in peace and security processes.
EVE has been a pioneer in localizing the WPS agenda. The organization led the process of developing the National Action Plan (NAP) for 1325 with its partners, a milestone that took five years of consultation and planning, officially adopted in 2015. The NAP provides a roadmap for implementing WPS commitments nationally, ensuring women’s meaningful participation in peace building, governance, and security initiatives across the country.
Through initiatives like this training, EVE continues to nurture local leaders, amplify the voices of women and marginalized groups, and ensure that women and girls are not left behind in South Sudan’s peace and development processes.
