Strengthening the Peace Process in South Sudan (StrePP)

After years of civil war (2013-2018) in South Sudan, the main conflict parties signed an updated version of the peace agreement, the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) in September 2018, mediated by the regional organization Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). The opposition"s return to Juba and its entry into the transitional government of national unity has officially started the transition phase of South Sudan"s peace process, which is expected to end after three years with national elections and the adoption of a new constitution. The greatest political challenges in this phase include both the unification of the various armed groups closely linked to the conflict parties into a unified security sector and the transformation of the political system into a federal structure. During the transition phase, the transitional institutions established under the peace treaty play an important role. Of central importance is the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC) which monitors the implementation of the agreement and, in the event of delays, makes suggestions to the government on how to proceed. However, R-JMEC"s technical and human resources to support the peace and transition process in the area of police reform, which is central to the peace process, are limited. In addition, efforts to reform South Sudan"s security sector focus primarily on the military and the numerous armed groups. The police, on the other hand, possess few organizational and technical capacities and resources. Nonetheless, building an effective police force that functions according to the rule of law is essential if it is to ensure the human security of the citizens of South Sudan in the long-term. On behalf of the German Federal Foreign Office (AA), the GIZ-project "Strengthening the Peace Process in South Sudan" (StrePP) supports R-JMEC in the area of police reform. Active support in reforming South Sudan"s police not only contributes to combating (transnational) threats and strengthening the trust in the state security actors, but it also has a positive impact on peace and security in the country and in the region. The GIZ-project "Strengthening the Peace Process in South Sudan (StrePP) consists of two fields of action. In Field of Action 1, R-JMEC"s staff and technical capacities are strengthened concerning the provision of expert advice on institutional police reform through the provision of one Security Adviser Policing. The tendered service package mainly encompasses the services of a Security Adviser Policing to R-JMEC. He/ She shall be responsible for providing advice in the area of police reform in the transitioning process and shall work closely with the R-JMEC Security Working Committee. Moreover, the tendered work package entails monitoring tasks regarding the implementation of the police unification and police reform. A very close coordination with the Deputy Chief of Staff of R-JMEC needs to be ensured.