Justice Africa is already working to convene an inclusive civil society conference in Juba, or another suitable location, in May 2011 to assist civil society to better define their new challenges and to work together in a progressive and cohesive manner. This conference will pose the question: How does Southern Sudanese civil society define its role in the future? It is envisioned that the convention would aim to bring 15 representatives from each of the 10 States in the South, with a total of around 200 delegates. Representation would include civil society organizations including women and youth groups, media, academics and intellectuals, religious leaders and organizations, opinion leaders, the business community and political party representatives. Additional stakeholders will be invited to the convention to supplement the main participants including selected senior government representatives, partner INGO representatives and donors, as well as selected civil society actors from the East Africa and from Northern Sudan.

It is envisioned that a process of enquiry, debate and consensus will be necessary, and take the form of the following themes:

1) Tracing the History of Civil Society in Southern Sudan

2) Civil Society Concepts and Experiences from around the World

3) South Sudan as a New State: what is ‘Vision South Sudan’?

-Political Dispensation and Democratisation

-Governance and the Constitutional Review Process

-Nation Building and Consolidation of Peace

-Development

4) Civil Society in South Sudan: a Vision for a Greater Civil Society Community

-The question of legitimacy and representation of civil society leadership and groups

-The role of civil society in the coming period

-The strengths, weaknesses, challenges and opportunities for civil society

-Creating a conducive environment for civil society engagement

5) Civil Society Relations

-Internal relations and linkages within civil society

-Relations with the Government of South Sudan

-Regional relations, including relations with the North

-Relations with Partners and Donors

The initiative for this convention came from Southern Sudanese civil society community: it was raised recently by two communities of civil society: one in Juba and one in Torit, where activists felt it was important that civil society began to mobilise itself as a national force. The convention is being planned and convened by key civil society stakeholders in partnership with Justice Africa. The prime planning agency is the Southern Sudan Civil Society Referendum Taskforce. The committee comprises of nine members, each of whom is an Executive Head of a lead national civil society in Southern Sudan. It has been agreed that additional civil society leaders will be incorporated into this committee in order to ensure appropriate representation and legitimacy as conveners of this event to become the Civil Society Convention Steering Committee.