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South Sudan

CSRF Analysis: Why do chiefs matter for aid actors and conflict sensitivity? The role of chiefs in conflict-sensitive aid and peacebuilding (November 2023)

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Summary

In South Sudan, chiefs have played a key role in different fields linked to development, humanitarian aid, and state-building and peacebuilding for decades. Chiefs engage in local governance, service delivery, community mobilisation related to, for example, aid and elections, allocation of resources including aid, land and community assets, mobilisation for peace and war, conflict resolution and local justice. As such, it is critical for aid actors to better understand the role of chiefs and how aid and chiefs interact to provide conflict-sensitive aid. This analysis provides insights into the diverse roles of chiefs by referring to aid, local justice, peacebuilding, land allocation, and community mobilisation. Moreover, it gives practical recommendations for aid workers and peacebuilders.