Workshop for Children led groups to support them participate in the Budget Sector Working Groups (BSWG)
On 27th May, 2023. CRC conducted a workshop in Juba for 4 children-led groups to support them in participating in the Budget Sector Working Groups (BSWG). The workshop was attended by 20 child rights club members, matrons and patrons from St. Lawrence Primary School, Angel Palace Primary School, CMS Primary School, and Elite High School,, including the CRC secretariat, Chairperson, media and Right2Grow Consortium Manager from Save the Children International. As a result of the workshop the children learned the effects of malnutrition on children, learned the budgeting process in South Sudan, became more familiar with actions and steps for children’s involvement in budgeting and developed their expressed views in a position paper for budget advocacy to be presented by their representatives during the parliamentarians’ engagement meeting to disseminate budget policy brief in July 2023.
Parliamentarians and Stakeholders’ Engagement Meeting on National Budget Analysis 2023 in Juba, South Sudan
On July 8, 2023, Child Right Coalition, with support from Save the Children International and Right2Grow Consortium, conducted a national budget analysis parliamentarians and stakeholders’ engagement meeting attended by 74 members of parliament, 5 representatives from line ministries, 7 R2G consortium partners, 7 CSOs, 5 children, and 8 media houses. This was the second national budget advocacy engagement with parliamentarians and line ministries.
During the engagement meeting, Child Rights Coalition and Save the Children International presented the second national budget policy brief for 2023 and the situation of malnutrition in South Sudan, respectively. Following the plenary discussion by the parliamentarians and stakeholders on the gaps Identified in the national budget an outcome statement attached herein was agreed upon by parliamentarians and stakeholders to be put into consideration during the budget discussion in parliament.
As a result, the parliamentarians considered four recommendations from the outcome statement during the second stage of the national budget reading in the parliament on 24th July 2023. These recommendations are attached herein the document marked in yellow colour.
South Sudan Budget Monitoring and Expenditure Tracking Two-Day Training in Juba, South Sudan.
The Child Rights Civil Society Coalition, in collaboration with the Centre for Economic Governance and Accountability in Africa and with support from Save the Children International, conducted a two-day training on South Sudan Budget Monitoring and Expenditure Tracking from July 24th to 25th, 2023, in Juba, South Sudan. The training was attended by 12 Child Rights Coalition member organizations, 7 Rights2Grow Consortium members, 3 SUN Movement members, and 4 Media houses.
The purpose of the training was to provide technical skills and knowledge for CSOs to monitor and analyse the national government budget, generate evidence gaps, and regularly engage with local governments in programming and financial planning to effectively address undernutrition of children under the age of five in a multi-sectoral, gender-sensitive, and inclusive way.
During the training, the participants learned about budget monitoring and expenditure tracking (BMET) concepts and applications, understood the country’s budget process and how to engage with or influence it, gained quick insights into budget analysis and expenditure tracking skills, understood the relevance and importance of developing and engaging with a budget advocacy strategy, and learned to develop a budget advocacy agenda, advocacy messages, and campaigns.
The participants were awarded certificates for BMET introduction and will continue to practice budget analysis in four small groups to fully become experts and be able to do budget analysis next year and beyond the Right2Grow Project period.
Dissemination of the national budget policy brief 2022/2023 in Upper Nile and Jonglei State
On August 24th, 2023, the Child Right Coalition, with support from Save the Children International, organized a national budget policy brief dissemination in Bor, Jonglei State. The half-day meeting was attended by 45 participants: MPs (state constituencies), state and county authorities, local governments, community leaders, women and youth groups, CBOs, and CSOs.
The Child Rights Coalition shared the findings of the budget analysis and the situation of malnutrition in South Sudan with Jonglei State, one of the affected areas in the last three years. The purpose of the meeting was to share national budget evidence generation with all stakeholders’/duty bearers and to confirm whether the government budget allocations translated into services at the community level in FY 2022–2023.
The government representatives and stakeholders were informed for the first time about the government’s allocations and expenditures on food security, nutrition, and WASH. The community representatives shared their feedback based on the budget evidence generations and were responded to by the state government representatives. Attached herein are the minutes and the position paper of the Bor Community developed during the budget dissemination meeting.
Budget Policy Brief Dissemination in Melut, Upper Nile State
Child Rights Civil Society Coalition with support from Save the Children International in collaboration with the World Vision organized a half day dissemination workshop in Melut, Upper Nile state on October 3, 2023, and shared evidence generation for national budget analysis on food security, nutrition, and WASH with 28 participants from government departments at the county level: health, finance & planning, agriculture and food security, water resource and irrigation, Melut County Authority, Melut local government, Melut Community Leaders, Melut Women Groups, Melut Youth Groups, Melut CBOs & CSOs, and media.
Anchored on the theme: ‘Budgeting for the Future: Getting to understand the South Sudanese budgets for food security, nutrition, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in South Sudan National Budgets’. The participants discussed the evidence gaps of budget analysis 2023 and developed a position paper attached herein and nominated two Community Representatives to participate in budget dialogue with government at the national level.
Media Engagement /Development of Media Materials/Radio Programmes.
On November 8th, 2023, the Child Rights Civil Society Coalition, with support from the Centre for Economic Governance and Accountability in Africa and Save the Children International, organized a one-day media engagement at the Palm Africa Hotel in Juba, South Sudan. The workshop was attended by 20 journalists from national media houses.
The purpose of the training was to provide technical skills and knowledge for journalists to develop media materials and radio programs in order to report on food security, nutrition, and the WASH situation in line with the national budget analysis for 2023.
The national budget policy brief was disseminated to journalists with the outcomes of the CSOs advocacy during the budget process, and they were given a chance to reflect on the progress made and gaps observed to inform media reporting and monitoring, as well as to compare the current approved budget of 2023–2024 with the country’s malnutrition situation. The participants recommended that the CRC provide space and opportunity to hold media forums with government officials immediately after the national budget is passed to make the budget evidence generation useful in their reporting. Attached is the minutes’ document of the media engagement.
CSO’s Policy Advocacy Training
Child Rights Civil Society Coalition, with support from the Centre for Economic Governance and Accountability in Africa and Save the Children International, in collaboration with the Right2Grow Consortium Partners, conducted a two-day training for CSO’s on policy advocacy from November 14th–15th, 2023, at Crown Hotel in Juba, South Sudan. The training was attended by 26 CSOs. The aim of the training was to strengthen CSOs advocacy skills and knowledge to regularly influence government budget allocations, policies, and laws, including child rights and governance issues at state and national levels, using the community voice.
The CSOs received full training on advocacy, the national budget process, the roles of civil society, and how to work in the shrinking civic space in a hostile political environment. The CSOs were also introduced to the Bridge4Voice approach, a Right2Grow common advocacy strategy to ensure that local voices are amplified for high-level policy impact, both locally and internationally. Attached is the minutes of the CSO policy advocacy training.
Budget Dialogue Between CSOs, Children, Community and Government for an Inclusive Budgeting Process, Accountability and Service Delivery.
On December 2nd, 2023, The Child Rights Civil Society Coalition, with support from the Centre for Economic Governance and Accountability in Africa, World Vision, and Save the Children International, in collaboration with the Right2Grow Consortium Partners, organized a half-day national budget dialogue between the government and two communities on food security, nutrition, and WASH in Juba, South Sudan. The purpose of the national budget dialogue was to bridge the existing gaps, create a platform for communities to present their challenges, solutions, and priorities to the parliamentarians and line ministries on service delivery as per the evidence generation of national budget analyses 2023 on food security, nutrition, and WASH, and to understand the government priorities and commitments in line with the FY 2023–2024 national budget.
The budget dialogue was attended by 65 participants: national parliamentarians, the Council of States, representatives of local communities (community leaders), the national parliamentarian specialized committee on finance and planning, and other parliamentarian specialized committees supporting line ministries, women, children, unions of persons with disabilities, youth groups, CBOs, the CSO’s coalition on budget, and R2G and SUN Movement Consortium members. However, the service delivery line of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Ministry of Water Resource and Irrigation, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning missed out after confirmation to participate in the dialogue.
Anchored on the theme: Bridging the Gaps for Zero Malnutrition and Better Access to Quality Services. The communities from Bor and Melut, who were informed about the national budget analysis presented their position papers developed during the budget policy brief dissemination in the two locations. The women-led organizations in Juba also shared their position papers after the training on the national budget process, budget tracking, and monitoring. Attached is the outcome statement of the national budget dialogue, minutes and the position papers presented for reference.
Right2Grow Exchange Learning and Capacity Sharing with CSBAG, Uganda.
The Child Rights Civil Society Coalition has participated in the Uganda CSOs retreat to analyse the national budget framework paper for FY 2024–25 conducted by the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG). The budget analysis lasted for two days, from January 4th–5th, 2024, at the Esella Country Hotel, Kampala, Uganda. The retreat was attended by the Chairperson of the Child Rights Coalition, the National Coordinator, and the Advocacy and Communication Officer. The aim of the exchange learning was to enhance CSOs budget advocacy skills and knowledge regarding Uganda BMET best practices and to understand CSOs collaborative mechanisms in overall Uganda budget analysis.
During the budget analysis, Child Rights Coalition South Sudan learned that all CSOs in Uganda across the country come together in one place to review the National Budget Framework Paper for Uganda FY2024/25 and identify CSO key advocacy issues and recommendations; do an overview of the budget analysis process and structure of position papers; and CSOs are categorized according to their sectors of interest to analyse budget information and develop position papers in line with National Development Plan Programmes and sectors.
The team has also learned about an inclusive budget analysis that involves international organizations and government representatives from the line ministries who provide technical support to the CSOs. The CSBAG only coordinates and facilitates the budget analysis retreat, and all the expertise comes from the CSOs. After all position papers are developed, presented, and validated, each group submits their position paper to their sector committee in the parliament for adoption and subsequently follows up to understand the number of issues considered by the parliament.
Child Marriage and Safe School Declaration Advocacy in Lakes State, South Sudan
The South Sudan Human Rights Commission in collaboration with Child Rights Coalition with support from Save the Children International officially made a follow up visit to Rumbek, Lakes State from July 18 to July 20, 2023. The team conducted a two days follow up meeting with the Governor of Lakes State, Leadership of armed forces, Ministry of Education, Ministry of local government, Judiciary, and school administrations to understand whether the armed forces evacuated the schools under their occupation as provided by Safe School declaration guideline for South Sudan.
The delegation also discussed with Governor child rights violations issues as part of child rights monitoring and reporting, and the support needed from the HRC/CRC toward implementation of recently passed state child marriage Act that criminalizes child marriage in Lakes State and agreed on how to enhance cooperation with a view of complementing national and state efforts on the promotion and protection of child rights and herein is the outcome of the visit in the minutes.
Meetings Between CSOs and Government on Key Child Rights Issues in South Sudan
The Child Rights Coalition, with Support from Save the Children International, organized a meeting on May 31, 2023, between CSOs and the government and discussed key child rights issues, which include the final ratification of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, the marriageable age petition pending a decision in the Supreme Court, the establishment of an independent child commission, parliamentarians’ child rights lobby groups, and receiving feedback from the high-level delegation of government who attended the UN Committee of Experts on the Rights of the Child session on South Sudan in Geneva in 2022.
The CSOs and government representatives discussed and agreed on concrete actions for advocacy to engage the government authorities to effect change in the lives of children. The discussion enhanced collaboration and coordination among CSOs, child-line ministries, and members of parliament.
The meeting was attended by 30 Participants from government-line ministries: Gender, Child, and Social Welfare; Ministry of Education; Ministry of Health; Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Ministry of Justice; Parliamentarians; Office of the Vice President; Human Rights Commission; Inter-Ministerial Human Rights Task Force; CSOs; Media; UNICEF; Save The Children International; and Plan International.
Commemoration of the African Child Day at Juba Home Orphanage on June 16, 2023
The DAC was organized by the National Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare in collaboration with Child Rights Civil Society, UNICEF and INNGOs Child led organizations on June 16 2023 in Juba, South Sudan under the national theme “The Rights of Children in a Digital Environment in South Sudan”. The celebration was attended by the NMGCSW Hon. Aya Benjamin, Acting Undersecretary NMGCSW Ms. Regina Ossa Lullo, UNICEF Chief of Child Protection Mr. Bardeen, Plan International Country Director Mr. Mohamed Khamal, Ministry of Defence Child Protection Unit Maj Gen. Chaplin Khamis, Child Rights Coalition chairperson Mr. Marko Madut Garang, DG. Administration and Finance Mr. Joseph Loro MGCSW and Ex. Director for Women and Equity Madam. The children procession was done by Children Scouts Band, and they were from Primary and Secondary schools.
The Day of the African Child (DAC) is commemorated every year on June 16 by Member States of the African Union (AU) and its Partners. In 1991, the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the OAU instituted the DAC in memory of the June 16 student uprising in Soweto, South Africa. At that time, students marched in protest against the poor quality of education they received and demanded to be taught in their national languages.
The DAC serves to commemorate these children and the brave action they took in defence of their rights. The DAC thus celebrates the children of Africa and calls for serious introspection and commitment towards addressing the numerous challenges facing children across the continent. The celebration should be contextualized by Member States as a build-up to the realization of the rights of children from the family/community level to the national and international levels.
The DAC further presents an opportunity to reflect on the realities of children in Africa. It allows caregivers to focus on the work of all actors committed to the rights of children on the continent and consolidate their efforts in addressing the obstacles to realizing the rights of children. The DAC also provides an occasion for Government Institutions and international communities to renew their on-going commitments towards improving the plight of the marginalized in general and, in particular, vulnerable children, and raising awareness. These Government institutions and international communities, as well as CSOs, organize activities and programs to improve the situation of all children and to include those who require special care.
The Theme for this year, as outlined by the African Union Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, is “The Rights of the Child in the Digital Environment”. Herein are Schools and Home Orphanages that were present during the day as follows:
The arrival of the procession was welcomed by the Acting Undersecretary NMGCSW Ms. Regina Ossa Lullo, UNICEF Chief of Child Protection Mr. Bardeen, Plan International Country Director Mr. Mohamed Khamal, Ministry of Defense Child Protection Unit Maj Gen.Chaplin Khamis, Child Rights Coalition chairperson Mr. Marko Madut Garang, DG. Administration and Finance Mr. Joseph Loro, MGCSW and Ex. Director for Women and Equity, Madam.
Virtual Meeting for the formation of Eastern Africa Regional Child-Led Initiative
On December 13, 2023, the Child Rights Civil Society Coalition hosted children’s participation in a virtual meeting convened by Eastern Africa Child Rights Network (EACRN) for children under a program of Child-led Initiative aimed at advancing children’s engagement at the Pan African and Regional Governance platforms. The main purpose of the virtual meeting was to convene representative(s) of national child led initiatives across the region to form a regional child-led network. The program united, empowered, and guided children during the development of regional advocacy action plan to be implemented in 2024 and to be led by the representatives of the newly formed network.
