For immediate release - November 14, 2007

Grass roots leaders will explore new tools to advocate for the participation of civil society in the democratic process

Yei, Central Equatoria State — At this moment of great debate about the implementation of the CPA, ensuring civil society voices are heard is paramount. Over 300 people, representing grass roots community leaders and county-level authorities from across southern Sudan and the Three Areas (Abyei Area, Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile), will get together to analyze the need and impact of advocacy. They will convene at a conference under the theme 'Strengthening civic participation through skills for advocacy for a democratic transition in Sudan,' which will take place from the 26th to the 30th of November in Abyei. Building on the experience acquired in previous conferences, participants will study the tools and channels within their reach to engage in effective advocacy.

This meeting is the fourth in a series of six Civil Society Exchange Conferences, organized twice a year by Mercy Corps through its Localizing Institutional Capacity in Sudan (LINCS) program. The first conference took place in Kurmuk (Blue Nile State) and was a first contact between civic actors supported by the LINCS program, coming from different regions across Southern Sudan and the Three Areas. The second conference, in Yei (Central Equatoria State), provided an opportunity for civil society leaders to share their previous outreach and public awareness experience. The third conference was held in Malualkon (Northern Bahr El Ghazal State), and focused on supporting the creation of coalitions.

In the upcoming conference in Abyei, participants will go one step further and will improve their advocacy skills. In addition to acquiring new techniques for effective participation, attendees will have a chance to network with other civil and governance leaders. The debate and information exchange coming from this conference will promote learning, mutual accountability and collective action.

Mercy Corps works to foster a healthy and active civil society in Sudan, through its LINCS program. The organization supports 70 partner civil society organizations working in the local communities across 6 regions and 15 counties.

Supported with funds from USAID, this conference is organized by Mercy Corps and the International Rescue Committee (IRC), in partnership with the National Democratic Institute (NDI).

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For further information, please contact Veena Sampathkumar, Chief of Party, LINCS Program, Mercy Corps vsampathkumar@sd.mercycorps.org, +88216 4333 8880 / +256 477 124 523

For any kind of media request, please contact Rodrigo Ordóñez, Communications Officer, Mercy Corps rordonez@sd.mercycorps.org, +256 477 138 381 / +88216 5026 2790