Empowered Women Influence (EWI)

Greater Tonj and Greater Gogrial – Project Summary for Donors

Overview

The Empowered Women Influence project is transforming the lives of women across Greater Tonj, South Sudan. Through advocacy, education, economic empowerment, peacebuilding, and psychological support, women are rising as leaders and changemakers in their communities.

Key Achievements

• Advocacy Impact: Women now actively participate in community discussions, influencing decisions on peace, education, and development.
• Economic Empowerment: Seed grants enabled women to start small businesses, strengthening family incomes and boosting confidence.
• Peacebuilding: Trained women serve as advocates for peace and reconciliation despite challenging security conditions.
• Psychosocial Support: Counseling services have restored hope, built resilience, and strengthened women’s voices in family and community settings.
• Girl-Child Education: Advocacy efforts have promoted the education of both boys and girls, challenging harmful cultural norms.

Voices of Change

Women have testified that EWI’s seed grants and counseling services have positively changed their lives, providing hope, dignity, and new economic opportunities.

Opportunities for Greater Impact

With additional funding, we can:

• Expand Microfinance Access: Launch structured small-loan programs to help women grow sustainable businesses
• Improve Infrastructure Access: Support community-led efforts to enhance mobility and access for women
• Strengthen Education Initiatives: Deepen our work to ensure that every boy and girl has the opportunity to attend school
• Promote Peace and Security: Develop innovative, community-based peacebuilding strategies tailored to women’s unique challenges

Together, we can amplify the voices of women and create lasting change in Greater Tonj.

EMPOWERED WOMEN INFLUENCE – SOUTH SUDAN PROJECT

Background

The Empowered Women Influence (EWI) project is a transformative initiative designed to empower women across Greater Tonj (Warrap State), equipping them to advocate for their rights, participate in decision-making, promote peacebuilding, and advance girl-child education. Through this project, women have been supported to take active leadership roles in their communities, amplifying their voices in spaces where they were traditionally marginalized.

In addition to advocacy efforts, the EWI project has also provided psychological support and counseling services to women, addressing critical issues faced within families and communities. Counseling has proven to be immensely beneficial, strengthening women's confidence and mental well-being. Women’s testimonies reveal that the seed grants provided through the project have positively impacted their lives, enabling them to start small businesses, support their families, and contribute to community development.

By promoting women's leadership, education for all children (both boys and girls), and peace initiatives, the EWI project is laying the groundwork for lasting positive change across Greater Tonj.

Project Activities for February 2025

Main Objectives:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of women’s advocacy programs in Greater Tonj
• To gather feedback from participants on the impact of advocacy efforts
• To identify best practices and areas for further growth and improvement

Key Findings

Positive Impacts:

• Increased Community Engagement: Women reported higher levels of participation in community meetings and decision-making processes
• Empowerment through Economic Initiatives: Seed grants enabled many women to start small businesses, boosting their economic independence and confidence
• Strengthened Peacebuilding Efforts: Training sessions encouraged women to act as advocates for peace and reconciliation within their communities
• Mental Health Support: Counseling services provided critical support to women, helping them cope with family and societal challenges

Community Challenges:

• Cultural Barriers: Deep-rooted cultural norms continue to limit women's ability to speak publicly, pursue education, or participate in decision-making. Women are still widely perceived as a source of wealth to be married off for dowry
• Limited Mobility: Although vehicles are available, the absence of proper roads severely restricts movement. Motorbike travel is difficult and unsafe for women, further isolating them from essential advocacy activities
• Education Challenges: There is an urgent need to ensure both boys and girls are sent to school, as many girls are still denied education in favor of early marriage
• Insecurity and Safety: Persistent insecurity prevents women from conducting peacebuilding and advocacy activities safely. Women are often restricted from traveling to towns or cities, facing negative perceptions if they do so
• Economic Barriers: While seed grants have been successful, there is a growing need for expanded programs to help women grow their businesses and achieve sustainable livelihoods

Recommendations

• Invest in Infrastructure: Advocate for improved road development to facilitate safe and effective mobility for women engaged in advocacy and peacebuilding activities
• Strengthen Education Campaigns: Continue sensitizing communities on the importance of sending both boys and girls to school, emphasizing the long-term benefits for families and society
• Enhance Peacebuilding Efforts: Design peace advocacy initiatives that take into account the security challenges women face, and develop community-based dialogue platforms that empower women's participation in peace efforts
• Promote Positive Perceptions of Women’s Leadership: Launch awareness campaigns to celebrate women's roles in public life, challenging harmful cultural norms and reinforcing positive narratives of women as leaders, peacemakers, and community builders
• Expand Counseling and Psychological Support Services: Sustain and strengthen counseling programs, recognizing their vital role in supporting women’s mental health, resilience, and active engagement in family and community life

Conclusion

The Empowered Women Influence project in Greater Tonj has made remarkable strides in promoting women's leadership, economic empowerment, peacebuilding, and education advocacy. The testimonies from women who have benefited from seed grants, training sessions, and counseling demonstrate the tangible positive impacts on individuals, families, and the broader community.

The current seed grant has been highly effective in advocating for the rights of women and children, while addressing negative societal norms and practices within Warrap State. Through psychological support, awareness-raising, peacebuilding dialogues, and engagement with community stakeholders, the project has created meaningful transformation. Women’s testimonies affirm that the counseling and dialogue sessions have provided crucial spaces for healing, empowerment, and leadership development.

We respectfully highlight an opportunity for future consideration: should additional funding become available, there is strong potential to expand into economic empowerment initiatives, such as microfinance support and structured small-business development programs. Women have expressed significant interest in these areas, recognizing that enhanced economic opportunities would build on the gains achieved through the current project. Given women's resilience and self-reliance within South Sudan’s economy, investing further in their empowerment would multiply the impact already being realized through EWI.

While challenges remain — particularly around cultural attitudes, mobility, and security — the commitment and resilience of the women involved highlight the potential for even greater achievements with additional support. Building on these successes, LAWANCI and its partners are well-positioned to expand their reach and deepen their impact.

Next Steps

1. Finalize and Disseminate Report: Share the final evaluation report with all stakeholders by May 2025
2. Strategic Planning: Develop a comprehensive strategic plan that incorporates community feedback, focusing on expanding advocacy, economic empowerment, and education efforts
3. Resource Mobilization: Seek additional funding to expand seed grants into broader microfinance programs, support infrastructure improvements, and scale up peacebuilding activities
4. Continued Capacity Building: Organize follow-up workshops and trainings based on evaluation findings to strengthen women's leadership and advocacy skills