South Sudan’s education system has long been plagued by political instability, economic hardship, and weak governance structures. Since gaining independence, the country has struggled to meet its developmental needs, with education consistently taking a back seat. Rural communities, especially, face numerous challenges, such as long distances to schools, lack of basic infrastructure, and a shortage of trained teachers.

The political environment has made the task even more difficult. Civil society organizations face heavy surveillance and must secure government approval to hold meetings or engage in advocacy activities. Laws such as the NGO Act of 2016 and the National Security Service Act Amendment Bill of 2023 have further restricted civic engagement, giving the government excessive power over CSOs’ operations (Amnesty International, 2024).

Resilience in a Risky Political Landscape

To navigate this complex political landscape, the National Education Coalition has employed a diplomatic and non-confrontational approach, focusing on constructive dialogue and collaboration. 

“By positioning ourselves as partners in development rather than adversaries, we can gain access to important decision-making platforms and build trust with government officials. This non-confrontational method has proven effective,” 

says National Coordinator, Dr. Ador Riak Nyiel. 

In a political environment that can be volatile and unpredictable, the coalition has focused on adaptability and resilience. When direct advocacy becomes too risky, the coalition shifts its approach, leveraging international pressure to influence policy without putting its members at risk. This resilience has been key to maintaining the momentum for education reform, allowing the NEC to continue driving change, even when faced with shifting political dynamics.

“In all our policy dialogue workshops, we in the secretariat of the coalition, have always guided our members to appreciate the advocacy context in which we operate. The basis of our approach is guided by our principle of 'keep to your mandate, focus on education and always refer to the legal policy frameworks and commitments’ in all your advocacy engagement,”

 said Alex D. D. Morjakole, the Director of Programs. 

Dr. Ador Riak Nyiel sees a direct link from the coalition’s approach and advocacy strategies and the series of reforms that have begun to reshape the education landscape in South Sudan. These include the continued involvement of the National Education Coalition in government programs, educational project monitoring visits, and monthly meetings of the coalition members involving government representatives. 

Four Pillars of Impact

The overall tactic of dialogue and collaboration is followed by four approaches that Dr. Ador Riak Nyiel identifies as key for the National Education Coalitions way of working.

One is the building of strategic collaboration and partnerships with key decision makers in the ministry of General Education and Instruction. This strategic networking not only helped protect its efforts from political backlash but also amplified its voice, allowing the NEC to push for meaningful reforms with greater influence.

Another is evidence-based advocacy and policy research. By gathering and presenting compelling data on issues such as school enrollment, and socio-economic barriers, the coalition has created a strong narrative that resonates with policymakers. For example, following the public announcement by the president of the republic of South Sudan early February in 2023 in which the president reiterated the provision of the education act on ‘free and compulsory education’, the coalition partners conducted a series of consultations on the implementation. 

“During these consultations we found that communities and education authorities felt the need for meticulous preparation in terms of adequate resourcing of the education sector; inputs that were presented to the Ministry of General Education and Instruction,” 

says Dr. Nyiel.

Engaging in existing policy forums and dialogues is a third pillar. Given the existing constraints on the role of civil society, existing platforms like the Local Education Group (LEG) and the Education Donor Group (EdoG) give the Coalition unique opportunities to connect directly with government officials and donors and offer an opportunity to advocate for e.g. the inclusion of civil society in planning, implementation, and monitoring of education programs.

Equally important has been the NEC’s ability to mobilize public support. By using community forums, radio programs, social media campaigns, and grassroots advocacy, the coalition has engaged local communities, and seen this broad-based public support become a powerful force pushing education reform higher on the national agenda.

Power in the People

Through these strategies, the NEC has been part of creating meaningful change in South Sudan. As noted by Dr. Nyiel, some of the most notable impacts being: 

• The creation of a Locally Led Advocacy Platforms at the community level for civil society to actively participate in decision-making. This has empowered local communities, allowing them to play a more active role in shaping the future of education in South Sudan.
• The NEC has also been successful in pushing for the localization of education initiatives to ensure that reforms are better aligned with the specific needs of local communities.
• Furthermore, the NEC has worked to build the capacity of member organizations and empower local entities with the tools, knowledge, and leadership skills required to advocate for education reform on their own.

“The NEC’s success in advocating for education reform in South Sudan serves as a powerful example of how strategic, evidence-based advocacy can lead to meaningful change, even in politically and economically challenging environments. Through coalition-building, non-confrontational engagement, and resilience, the Coalition has been able to navigate South Sudan’s restrictive political landscape and achieve important milestones in education policy,” 

says Richard Olong, Programme Manager, Education Out Loud.