In his remark during the SSJR 2024-2026 proposal review meeting Mr. George Otwori Program Manager for South Sudan Widows and Orphans Charitable Organization (WOCO) describes how WOCO progressed steadily from a small organization to now a robust organization capable of conducting humanitarian interventions anywhere in South Sudan.

Otwori was addressing the SSJR participants when he was given an opportunity to showcase his organization’ s successes, challenges and lesson learned from the previous interventions.

“We started with little resources but have advance steadily accessing increased funding reaching out more beneficiaries, expanding our territories and growing our office in number of staff and programs” he expressed.

“The relationship has been consistent with respect, trust, accountability to each other and mutual support”. He added.

The review workshop was conducted between 19th -21st September, 2023 at Landmark Hotel in Juba, South Sudan.

He also stressed that, the organization has progressively witnessed impacts in “complementarity, capacity strengthening, innovative operating systems and leadership”

“Localization appreciated local partners as having unique and diverse experiences, local partners’ proximity to the communities was given prominence as we understood structures, long-term trust, easy of creating relationship with traders. International partners continue supporting complementarity strongly with awareness capitalization and capacity strengthening” he stressed.

WOCO has been part of SSJR partners for the last nine years and has contributed to the protection of children in the war-ravaged state of Upper Nile in South Sudan.

In his further address to the audience at the workshop, he shared the organization progress in capacity strengthening. He mentioned that, the organization has so far received training in grant management, resources mobilization, financial management, planning and budgeting, monitoring, evaluation and reporting that resulted into many benefits that include effective program implementation, good relationship with partners, retained staff, enhanced trust and diversified resources mobilization.

WOCO is working to strengthen family and household food security and livelihood by engaging programme participants in activities such as crop production, income generating activities through Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLA) in Malakal PoC, Fashoda and Melut counties.

WOCO also supports children through Mental Health and Psychosocial Support training of parents in soft skills on how to raise responsible children in the community through a community based better parenting sessions. The organization also implements other approaches, such as Team-Up, as well as “Seeds”, the Community led approach to child wellbeing currently being piloted at Malakal Protection of Civilian site in South Sudan’s Upper Nile state.

The review workshop was to gaze the experiences of the SSJR/DRA implementing partners as well as soliciting challenges that impedes smooth implementation of the projects in the locations.

The overall objective of the review meeting was to develop a South Sudan Joint Response proposal for funding for the next three years 2024-2026 respectively.