JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN – September 19, 2025] – A crucial meeting took place on September 18, 2025, at the NASOSS Secretariat, bringing together the Global Fund Country Team (GF CT), the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM), and

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to solidify partnership and chart the future of health programs in South Sudan. Chaired by Dr. Jane Alphonse, CCM Chair, the session focused on direct feedback, transparency, and a renewed commitment to community-led health initiatives.

Listening to the Field: The Core Purpose

Dr. Jane Alphonse, CCM Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the South Sudan AIDS Commission (SSAC), welcomed attendees, emphasizing that the meeting was not routine but a vital platform for the GF CT and CCM to hear directly from CSOs—the implementers on the ground. The GF CT reaffirmed this goal, stating their primary purpose was to listen to CSOs’ perspectives, challenges, and recommendations.

Progress and Leadership Highlights

Presentations from key CSOs underscored significant progress and persistent challenges:

• NEPWU shared its experience as a Sub-Recipient (SR), advocating for strengthened capacity building and better visibility of program results. They raised a key concern regarding the need for improved coordination between PEPFAR and Global Fund implementing partners at the facility level.
• NASOSS showcased its leadership in the national Community-Led Monitoring (CLM) framework. A major organizational milestone was the shift to routine, real-time data collection, with data collectors stationed at health facilities.
  • Advocacy Success: NASOSS highlighted its role in organizing a press conference with SSAC to counter ARV stockout rumors and convening partners to develop a position paper advocating for increased government co-financing and health budget allocation.

Addressing Critical Challenges

CSOs provided candid feedback on obstacles hindering effective service delivery, including:

• Stigma and Rights: Arrest and lack of legal support for female sex workers (FSWs), and media misuse fueling stigma and discrimination.
• Operational Constraints: Lack of peer educator training and severe limited government budget allocation to health and resource constraints impacting co-financing commitments.
• Programmatic Gaps: Weak integration of Hepatitis services with HIV programs and insufficient involvement of religious institutions.

Concrete Recommendations and Commitments

The robust discussion resulted in a unified set of recommendations for improved program implementation:

• Strengthen continuous advocacy for increased health budget allocation and co-financing efforts.
• Engage churches and religious leaders in awareness efforts.
• Integrate Hepatitis services into HIV programs.
• Ensure CSO involvement in the Global Fund’s upcoming GC8 roadmap development.
• Promote strategic media engagement to reduce stigma and ensure accurate information dissemination.

A Unified Path Forward

In closing, Dr. Jane Alphonse stressed the CCM’s commitment to prioritizing CSO space, encouraging service integration, and calling for the development of a CSO Charter to enhance coordination. Dr. Marial of SSAC reaffirmed the Commission’s dedication to serving as a CSO hub, facilitating collaborative work among organizations like NASOSS, NEPWU, SSNeP+, WISH, and AGYWN.

Key Action Points were agreed upon to solidify future collaboration:

1. Enhance CSO participation in GC8 roadmap development.
2. Strengthen capacity building and peer educator training.
3. Advocate for increased government budget allocation and co-financing.

This meeting signifies a strengthened partnership, ensuring that the voices of civil society remain at the forefront of South Sudan’s response to HIV, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.