Stepping Back Going Forward: Learnings form locally led anticipatory action in Maban South Sudan

Learnings from piloting locally led and child centered approaches to mitigate the impact of forecasted crisis in Maban, South Sudan.

This study looks at the impact of the project and present learnings on how processes for locally led and anticipatory engagement can support community resilience. The study has solely used qualitative data collection methods such as key informant interviews and focused group discussions with project stakeholders in a participatory manner.

The outcomes of the project have been determined by an approach that included first listening to and learning form the communities, and then co-developing activities with communities and other local actors, facilitating impact for their priorities by sharing technical and non-technical resources. In the project, we took a step back as implementors to support communities in reducing risks via community grants providing a low-cost approach to achieving impact with children and their families. Supporting local structures, addressing inequalities, and dynamic thinking about risk and approaches have been key factors to help shifting power and moving towards a more localized and anticipatory approach that support communities reducing risk and enhancing resilience. This have required Save the Children to mainly act as a knowledge broker, convener and facilitator.