New Ambassadors for Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction in South Sudan

26 participants of the Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR) graduated last August 2006 in Rumbek, South Sudan. The governor of Wullu County conducted the award ceremony.

The course was part of UNOCHA’s and Oxfam GB’s (through the Emergency Preparedness and & Response unit – ER & R) capacity building initiative to equip its partners with knowledge and skills on CMDRR. The 10-day training targeted the government of South Sudan and the partners in Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR). The International Institute of Rural Reconstruction facilitated the training on August 21-30, 2006. Participants included five state directors of the SSRRC. Others were drawn from UNOCHA, Oxfam GB, New Sudan Indigenous NGOs Network (NESI), Norwegian Church Aid, UN-WFP, Care International – South Sudan World Vision Concern Worldwide, Hope Agency for Relief and Development (HARD) amongst others.
The course consisted of learning exercises, reflections, group works, role-plays, case analysis, games, field practicum, sharing of real experiences by participants, plenary discussions and inputs from facilitators by way of providing summaries and synthesis. The field practicum was a two-day visit to Wullu village. The village is inhabited by the Dinka Agar and Jul Ber tribes that are almost always in conflict because of their “conflicting” pastoralism and agricultural lifestyles respectively. At the time of the visit, most of the people had been displaced and were living in internally displaced camps.
It is envisaged that the course’s ideas, materials and lessons generated will be instrumental in the development of the South Sudan Disaster Preparedness policy and framework.

Participants’ Speak

“The workshop was very good and relevant to the rural contexts and we wish more development and relief agencies incorporate it in their plans”.
JOHN GANG OMOT
Payam Coordinator

“The course has given me new encouragement of focusing more on the 'spirit', 'potential' and 'treasures' within the community”.
GARANG AMUUK MOU
SSRRC State Director

“I have never had such training and it will be key for the future of my community as well as my NGO”
PAX APWOYA KAMILO
Emergency and Resettlement Officer
Norwegian Church Aid

“IIRR facilitators should continue to train the whole of South Sudan States on CMDRR and invite us to conduct a risk assessment anywhere there is a risk”.
MABOR ACHOL KUER
Director of Repatriation
SSRRC-Goss Juba, Government of South Sudan

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Posted on: October 18, 2006