ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND.

Women for Justice and Equality is a feminist advocacy organization working towards strengthening and advocating for the rights of women in marginalized communities in the republic of South Sudan. It grew out of a group of grassroots women, migrants straggling with in 2016. The organization was formerly known as Islamic Development and Relief Agency (IDRA), IDRA involved in the protection of women and girls rights and hoping to grow into a vibrant advocacy movement for the rights of women and girls across Africa in future.

WOJE is legally registered as a National Non-governmental organization with the Relief and Rehabilitation commission (RRC) of the Republic of South Sudan under the Reg No: 1972.

Women and girls in South Sudan live in an unjust community where gender Inequality and human rights remain a dream especially women and girls rights repeatedly violated and continues to hold back women from enjoying their full rights in society.

WOJE Program Focus

• Policy Advocacy
• Transitional Justice
• Economic Empowerment
• Gender based violence (FGM & Early Marriages)
• Health (SRHR, HIV, TB)
• Women Peace and Security with a focus on Protection and prevention pillars.

 Vision: 

• We envision a community where Justice and Equality make up the fabric of communities.

Mission Statement 

• WOJE exist to promote transitional Justice and economic environment for women as well as preventing harmful practices and violence against women and girls through Gender-responsive Collaborative and Participatory approaches.

Goal: To Improve transitional justice system and practices right from the grassroots level that support fair, Responsive Gender focused judicial processes that promote women effective participation in decision making and improved economic status of South Sudan women and Girls by December 2025.

Core Values: WOJE fundamental values includes Integrity, Professionalism, Teamwork, Equality, Equity, Community Participation, and Respect for stakeholders, Sincerity, honesty, and reality.

Aims and Objectives

The objectives for which WOJE is established are:

1. To protect and promote Women rights and justice at the grassroots by advocating for Women Rights and Gender Justice at the grassroots of communities to challenge the influence of anti- women rights agenda in South Sudan
2. To bring out lived realities of traditional norms and practices affecting women and girls in their growth and participation in development in South Sudan. 
3. To fight harmful traditional practices affecting women such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
4. To promote women economic empowerment through livelihoods support and life skills trainings to Women and girls in the community.
5. To fight HIV/AIDS and STIs through Sexual Reproductive Health education including TB and WASH related interventions.
6. To carry out emergency response program, through distribution of Food and other NFIs difficult areas within South Sudan.

WOJE Scope of programmatic experience and expertise

Women for Justice and Equality (WOJE), has over five (5) year track record in community engagement through;

• Protection of women and girls against Sexual Gender Based Violence through provision of paralegal support, awareness, access to justice and documentation of cases of violence against women and girls.  
• Policy advocacy through participation in the development and review of laws and policies.
• Sexual reproductive health rights through sexuality education for young women, girls and boys in and out of school, HIV prevention programs and FGM prevention among communities through awareness creation, counselling and referrals for treatment enrolment and formation of support groups in communities. 
• Monitoring of the implementation of the CEDAW through sensitization of communities about the CEDAW, shadow reports to the UNSC e.g. To the 80^th session on the absence of the family laws to protect women… and representation of women at different platforms…
• Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), Education, SRHR and TB, Social Cohesion, economic empowerment and gender equality including empowerment interventions with a focus on grassroots women inclusion and participation in Women Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action programming across five states (CES, EES, WBGS, NBS, Jongolei and Abyei administrative area).

WOJE Program Achievements.

• WOJE carried out Hygiene campaigns, in Conflict affected communities in Terekeka between 2019-2020, with the support from the government of Belgium through Islamic Relief South Sudan of 120,000 USD and benefited 16,249 targeted beneficiaries through distribution of Non-food items, cash for work, construction of a swart system, latrines and repaired 2 latrines and 3 boreholes. Besides, WOJE Formed and trained community water management committee to manage the SWAT system. 
• Sexual Reproductive Health (SHR) with support from UNFPA worth 8,000 USD, WOJE carried out Awareness on Family planning / contraceptives and reached 120 beneficiaries in Juba, held sensitization workshop to community leaders, law makers, religious leaders, Distributed condoms to female sex workers as well as Sexuality education for young people in and out of schools in 2020 in Hai Zande, Kabo, Hai Baraka, gumbo Sherikate. 
• HIV/AIDS Programming: WOJE Carried out HIV prevention project with the support from BOD contributions of 3,500,000 SSP to targeted 1,753 clients through Counseling, referral for treatment and Awareness raising in communities of and also Formed support groups for grassroots women leaving with HIV and provided economic empowerment such as Small Business Skill Development in Kajo-Keji, Juba and terekeka from 2018 to date.

• Under Emergency Response Program– Flood response with the support from Islamic Relief Canada worth 50,000 USD,  WOJE  Distributed  NFIs in Mangala county of Central Equatoria State which included Buckets, soap, water treatment tablets and jericans to 8500 beneficiaries, carrying GBV awareness, and Hygiene campaigns in 2020. 
• In addition, WOJE responded to flood and conflict affected populations in Jongolei (Bor), Malakal, CES (Kajokeji), Eastern equatoria (Magwi) and distributed 2,500 clothes, soap with the support from BOD contributions since 2018 to date.

• Through WOJE Women economic empowerment with the support from business people contributions in 2021, with a total of 12,000 USD, the organization was able to train 350 women on small business skills and micro finance and also procured and distributed 5 sewing machines to support women in Terekeka county- Kuda Payam.
• On Policy advocacy, WOJE Submitted a shadow report to the United Nations Security Council-(UNSC) 80th session from 2019 to date, and also Reviewed the Election Act, Public Finance Management Act, Electoral Commission Act, ANTI GBV ACT and also represents the CSOs on the steering committee for the family laws in the Republic of South Sudan supported by UNDP and spear headed by the ministry of Gender child and social welfare. 
• Besides, WOJE is carrying out Advocacy for the enactment of the ANTI GBV ACT and family laws, to 650 women and 150 men through Awareness raising on family laws and conducting Lobby meetings with stakeholders from 2020 to date. 
• In response to Prevention of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in communities with support from Urgent Action Fund worth 12,000 USD, WOJE carried out Awareness raising, psychosocial support to 120 women and girls’ survivors of FGM in effort to Prevent FGM in communities, in Juba and Wau counties, the organization extended its support to 250 beneficiaries, trained 50 women on FGM prevention and also established community Watch Dogs of 25 members each for juba and Wau in 2021 up to date.
• On Prevention of GBV in communities with support from members contributions totaling to 1,560,000 SSP, the organization reached 650 beneficiaries and Distributed   sanitary pads  to 250 students in Terekeka,  and Provided  para-legal support to 5 survivors of GBV (6 successful and 8 pending judgment in the GBV court). Besides, WOJE has Documented 367 GBV cases in the communities, and Led 2 demonstrations against sexual abuse of minors as well as conducted Mentorship of 130 girls in 4 schools in Juba City including holding Radio Talk Shows at different local Radio Stations such as Miraya and Sama FMs from 2019 to date.
• WOJE Carried out Covid19 prevention in communities with the support from MTN South Sudan that benefited 1500 households in Juba and Awiel through the distribution of hand washing soap, sanitizers, masks and messages on Covid 19 prevention measures.  
• WOJE conducted Awareness and sensitization of Muslim women on family laws and Gender Based Violence, with support from Eve Organization and funds from leaders of peace benefitted 50 women with the messages. 
• WOJE carried out Community mobilization and support to stop displacement and demolition of houses in Gurei north payam of central equatorial state and the first ever CSO that mobilized the community especially women to sue the local government to the court for forceful displacement and grabbing of people’s land.
• WOJE is currently participating in the advocacy for the East African reproductive health policy at the region through lobbies, community awareness and online campaigns.

• Staffing

Organizational Staff capacity: 

WOJE has 7 technical staff in Juba who provides Technical support to the field level staff / volunteers in the different field offices Kajo Keji, Terekeka, Mangala, Raja, Wau, Torit etc. The staffs are composed of Both International and National team with specialized trainings, Project Design and Implementation, in the different sectors. 

Specifically, WOJE has gender specialist who ensures gender mainstreaming and women empowerment, an Agronomist who handles the FSL sector and Professional Accountant with Diploma in accountancy with over 5 years of hands on experience. WOJE partnership officer with experience in marketing with over 10 years’ experience and the programme specialist has over 10 years’ experience in project design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting to donors. 

• Organogram (find attached in the annex)

1. Partnerships:

• Long-term Partnerships: Partnerships with other NGOs, UN agencies, Governments and donors which are of continued nature and are still continuing at the time of preparing this profile.
  • Short-term Partnerships: Partnerships done in the past for specific time period.

WOJE work towards the realization of its goal and objectives in partnership with other agencies with similar thematic areas to attain shared goals. WOJE has made effort to network with

Islamic Relief Worldwide, UNFPA South Sudan, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Gender (CES and National), Ministry of education, URGENT Action Fund, UNWOMEN, SSWC, NASOSS, NGO Forum, SSHRD, SSR, EANNASO, AYA, Musawa, Equality Now, SIHA network, impunity watch, AWID, Justice and peace, Shelter city, WO=MEN, Humanitus, government of Netherlands, European end FGM network, protect defenders, SSHRD, Tearfund, Redr, Leads University, Belgium government…

WOJE partnered with the Belgium government, Islamic Relief, Tear fund, leads university, Redr UK in the bridge builders project that supported IDPs and host communities in Terekeka, Lenkangok, Kuda, Terekeka in 2019 to 2020, integrated livelihoods and WASH response to conflict affected communities.

In addition, WOJE partnered with Islamic Relief Canada and implemented an Emergency response for flood affected communities in Mangala and Terekeka in 2021 and Urgent Action Fund Africa and implemented GBV/ FGM prevention project in Juba and Wau in 2022. 

WOJE Target Population (Categories)

WOJE works with different grassroots conflict affected communities of women and girls including survivors of Sexual gender based violence, FGM survivors, women and girls leaving with disabilities, women leaving with HIV, IDPs and host communities. Since its establishment, it has empowered and supported more than 5000 women and girls in different ways including sexuality, Gender rights and economic empowerment, leadership, HIV prevention, and menstrual hygiene management. 

Organization Project implementation Methodology

WOJE applies Gender-responsive Collaborative and Participatory approaches through a unique collaborative approach on the prevention of human rights violations by working to elevate gender equality.

WOJE strongly follows a human rights-based approach as a framework that helps define the results and the process by which results are achieved under the Results based Management framework as well as carrying out   advocacy by  engaging  with a diverse range of duty bearers at local level to defend and protect inclusive development, equality, democratic and civil space for intervention and rights holders in the efforts to save lives, build resilient communities and fight extreme inequalities and these interventions  are linked to  humanitarian, development and peace building approaches geared towards  addressing the root causes of vulnerability, fragility and conflict achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030. 

 Organizational Sources of Fund: 

The organization has been receiving grants and donations both short and long term from different source including Islamic Relief, UNFPA, UAF, CARE, Musawa, Eve Organization as well as contribution from the Board Members.

Organization Success Record/ Lessons learnt

1) Follow-up, WOJE investigates and conducts frequent assessments and community consultations on FGM existence in the Republic of South Sudan especially in Juba and Wau counties.

Young men intake of family planning in JUBA, Kwajoke, YEI and Sexual abuse cases in court eg. The case of a girl that was sexually abused, impregnated and imposed an abortion without her consent and married to another man by the abuser.

2. Success record:  

a) WOJE carried out Community mobilization and organizing campaigns for the advocacy for women rights and the justice for survivors e.g. the case of a young lady (Name withheld) that was sexually abused by a religious leader in Juba and forced to do  an abortion and married her off without her consent. 

• WOJE is a Champion of family law advocacy (Submitted a shadow report to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) that resulted into the drafting of a Family Law for South

Sudan, pending completion)

• WOJE is the only Anti- Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) lead advocacy organization in the Republic of South Sudan, that was able to conduct trainings on FGM to grassroots community, identified survivors and formed taskforces of 25 members each for Juba and Wau) Counties. 

e)  WOJE is known for Humanitarian response e.g. flood response in Mangala and the conflict affected response in Terekeka in the difficult part of South Sudan 

Terekeka office – 1 table and 2 chairs 

Kajo keji office – 2 tables and 6 chairs 

Wau office – 1 table and 1 chair 

Communication: Access to GSM (mobile), Land line, INTERNET, and availability of relevant equipment

VIII. Subscriptions:

Humanitarian code of conduct in relation to its staff, SPHERE standards and safeguarding Policy, Copies of the CEDAW and the Maputo protocol that guides the staff in office and communities in their day to day delivery of Humanitarian work.