Global Educational Research Journal

Investing in Women, Peace and Security in South Sudan: Strengthening Financing Mechanisms for Sustainable Peace

Abstract

Women’s meaningful participation in peace and security processes is essential for achieving sustainable peace and inclusive governance. However, despite South Sudan’s commitments to the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda through United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, national policy frameworks, and the Second South Sudan National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (SSNAP II: 2024–2029), implementation continues to face significant financing challenges. This policy brief examines the current financing landscape of the WPS agenda in South Sudan, highlighting gaps in domestic resource allocation, donor dependency, institutional capacity, and the translation of policy commitments into practical investments. Evidence shows that limited and unpredictable financing has weakened the implementation of women’s participation, protection, and leadership initiatives in conflict prevention and peacebuilding. While public financial management reforms and gender-responsive budgeting provide important opportunities for strengthening financing, challenges remain in ensuring that gender priorities are reflected in annual budgets and actual expenditure. The brief argues that investing in women’s peace and security initiatives is not only a gender equality obligation but also a strategic investment in national stability and recovery. Sustainable financing requires stronger government ownership, the integration of WPS priorities into national budgets, improved coordination among development partners, predictable funding for women-led organisations, and strengthened accountability mechanisms. The brief recommends increasing domestic financing for WPS commitments, adopting gender-responsive budgeting across government institutions, improving tracking of WPS-related expenditures, and creating flexible financing mechanisms that enable women’s organisations to contribute effectively to peacebuilding efforts.

Keywords: Women, Peace and Security (WPS); Financing for Peacebuilding; Gender-Responsive Budgeting; Public Financial Management; South Sudan; Women’s Participation; Peace and Security