South Sudan, which accounts for the highest number of refugees in Africa, through its National Action Plans (NAP) on women, peace, and security (WPS) commits to uplifting women’s role in sustainable peace and enabling the broad participation of women, including displaced women. The Revitalized Agreement for the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) includes a commitment to inclusivity with a clear focus on ensuring the meaningful participation of women and refugees. Uganda, Africa’s top refugee-hosting country in its 3rd NAP, incorporates the participation of refugee women in conflict prevention and resolution as a key emerging issue. It is clear that both nations and the region stand to benefit from ensuring that implementation of the revitalized peace agreement includes South Sudanese women in all their diversities. This includes those living in refugee settlements, particularly young women and women with disabilities, whose intersectional disadvantage has not precluded them from demonstrating leadership and creating impact for peace.

In this paired paper and policy brief, Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Sandra Tumwesigye scholar examines the experiences of South Sudanese women in refugee settlements in West Nile, Uganda in participating in implementing the revitalized peace agreement. She also provides policy recommendations and proposes practical measures, informed by refugee women’s perspectives, to support fulfillment of the NAPs and R-ARCSS’s clear commitment to meaningfully include women and refugees in the South Sudan peace process.