Preventing Climate-Induced GBV through Community-Led Innovation in Juba, South Sudan.

Addressing the Urgent Intersection of Climate Change and Gender-Based Violence

South Sudan stands at a critical crossroads where climate change and gender-based violence (GBV) intersect, creating new risks for women and girls already facing layers of vulnerability. Prolonged droughts, unpredictable floods, and resource scarcity are not only environmental challenges buy they are acting as threat multipliers that intensify protection risks, especially for women and girls.

To respond to this urgent crisis, the UNFPA South Sudan Country Office (SSCO) has launched the project “Preventing Climate-Induced GBV through Community-Led Innovation in Juba, South Sudan”. The initiative is implemented in partnership with Impact Health Organization (IHO) and Scenius Hub, focusing on the link between climate change, GBV, and community resilience.

Why This Project Matters

South Sudan’s history of conflict, fragile peace, and persistent inequality has left women and girls especially vulnerable to violence and exploitation. Now, with climate change worsening conditions through floods, droughts, and food insecurity, the risks are increasing.

Women are walking longer distances to collect water, families are displaced by floods, and livelihoods are disrupted, all of which heighten exposure to violence. According to national and international reports, more than 65% of South Sudanese women and girls have experienced sexual or physical violence, a figure likely higher in climate-stressed and displaced areas.

This project recognizes climate change as a GBV threat multiplier and seeks to confront it through innovative, community-driven approaches that put women and youth at the center of the solution.

Juba as a Microcosm for National Learning

While the project is being implemented within Juba, it has national relevance. The selected areas Gumbo/Sherikat, Jebel Market area, Gurei, and potentially IDP camps represent South Sudan’s diverse climate-related challenges and social dynamics.

• Gumbo/Sherikat: Prone to severe flooding and limited access to services.

• Jebel Market Area: Densely populated and reliant on informal livelihoods vulnerable to climate shocks.

• Gurei: Experiencing loss of livelihoods due to climate stress, leading to increased GBV risks.

• IDP Camps (Mangaten IDP): Populations at extreme risk due to displacement and overcrowding.

These settings provide a microcosm for testing and scaling community-led solutions to climate-induced GBV that can later be adapted nationwide.

Key Activities to Be Implemented in the Communities

The project will roll out a series of structured, participatory activities designed to engage, empower, and build local capacity to address climate-induced GBV:

1. Community Mobilization and Entry

• Conduct needs assessments and stakeholder mapping in each community to understand local climate vulnerabilities and GBV risks.

• Organize community sensitization and entry meetings involving traditional leaders, youth groups, and women’s representatives.

• Establish Community Selection Committees (CSCs) in each location to guide fair participant selection for all project activities.

2. Joint Community Workshops

• Facilitate workshops that bring together women, men, and youth to explore the connections between climate change and GBV.

• Discuss local coping mechanisms and brainstorm community-driven strategies for resilience and protection.

3. Community Innovation HackLab

• Host a Community Climate Innovation HackLab where participants co-design creative solutions to the challenges they identified.

• Ideas may include innovations in water access, livelihood adaptation, community safety, or awareness campaigns.

• The most promising concepts will be shortlisted by the Community Selection Committee for further support.

4. Innovation Champion Training

• Train at least 50 Community Innovation Champions drawn from across the project areas.

• Equip participants with leadership, advocacy, innovation design, and community mobilization skills to sustain local initiatives.

5. Growth Funding for Community Solutions

• Provide seed funding to two selected innovations that directly address climate-induced GBV.

• Offer technical assistance, mentorship, and business development support to help these ideas grow into viable, sustainable solutions.

6. Community Dialogues and Awareness Campaigns

• Facilitate ongoing community dialogues to discuss project progress, promote safety awareness, and mobilize community support for solutions.

• Conduct radio talk shows and media campaigns to expand outreach and share success stories from the communities.

7. Documentation and Knowledge Sharing

• Capture stories, lessons, and results from the participating localities.

• Disseminate findings and toolkits (both physical and digital) to support replication of successful interventions in other states.

  
  

Community Innovation HackLab Applications Now Open

Applications are now open for the Community Climate Innovation HackLab under the project “Preventing Climate-Induced GBV through Community-Led Innovation in Juba.” If you are a resident of any of the participating communities, you can pick up and submit your free application forms at the following locations:

🟣 Gurei

Gurei North Administrative Unit Quarter Council Office Save the Lost and Help the Needy Organisation (SLAHNO)

Contacts: 

Rev. Gisma Beneth – 0921624997 / 0922816833

Marlin Julio – 0929701126

🟢 Jebel

Gwongwoki Quarter Council Office,

Jebel / Jebel Zone

Contacts: 

Emmanuel Taban – 0922781148 / 0922165777

Viola Louis – 0922202402 / 0914367159

🟠 Sherikat Kisoro Residential Area, near Down Pub Club

Contacts: 0925204705 / 0981560032

🔵 Mangateen IDP

Camp CMC Camp Management Committee Office

Contacts:

Luka Bangoang Garfield – 0982555118

Mary Nyagane Deng – 0922204247

What’s Expected from Applicants

Those applying for the Community Innovation HackLab are expected to submit ideas that address the intersection between climate change and gender-based violence (GBV).

The HackLab seeks practical, innovative, and community-led solutions that reduce the impact of climate change while also helping prevent or respond to GBV in local contexts. Applicants should aim to propose ideas that:

• Improve community resilience to floods, droughts, or heatwaves while enhancing the safety and wellbeing of women and girls.

• Strengthen access to essential services, such as water, energy, or livelihoods, in ways that also reduce GBV risks.

• Promote awareness, protection, or economic empowerment for women and young people affected by climate-related challenges.

  
  

Applicants should be:

• Residents of Gurei, Jebel, Sherikat, or Mangateen IDP Camp

• Able to participate in training workshops, idea development sessions, and mentoring during the HackLab

• Committed to learning, testing, and improving innovative community solutions that promote climate resilience and GBV prevention

Women are strongly encouraged to apply, as their experiences, leadership, and innovation are central to building sustainable community solutions.

You do not need prior technical experience, what’s most important is your commitment, creativity, and willingness to make a difference.

Selected participants will receive training, mentorship, and incubation support from Scenius Hub, with guidance from Impact Health Organization (IHO) and UNFPA South Sudan.

⚠️ Please Note: Application forms are free of charge, and no payment is required at any stage of this process. Residents are encouraged to apply and share their innovative ideas on how communities can respond to climate change and GBV through local, sustainable solutions.