Summary
Humanitarian action that promotes peace and addresses the root causes of conflict as part of a broader crisis-response model is crucial to enhancing food security and community resilience in South Sudan. In the conflict-prone Upper Nile state, the Humanitarian Response (HR) Project of the Malakal branch of the South Sudan Red Cross (SSRC) has the potential to promote peaceful coexistence and social cohesion.
However, any possible peace impact of the project is currently a positive side effect, rather than an intentional response to or consequence of openings for peacebuilding.

Four theories of change can guide intentional peace promotion through the SSRC’s humanitarian action. The first relates to stronger livelihood opportunities and keeping children in school. The second concerns enhanced connectedness between diverse
ethnicities and communities through conflict-sensitive volunteerism. The third consists in helping the transition of socialized programme volunteers into leadership roles for greater transformational impacts. The fourth involves vertical and horizontal integration with broader development and peacebuilding efforts. Social cohesion could increase if the HR Project has measurable impact in these four areas.

The following actionable recommendations for the SSRC would strengthen its peacebuilding impact while upholding the fundamental principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement. They concern project design, partnership and advocacy efforts, project processes, and the intentional prevention of conflict and promotion of peace as part of humanitarian action.

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