Vol. 1 No. 1 (2023)

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Navigating Peace and Participation: A Mixed Methods Study of Women’s Agency in Post-Conflict South Sudan (2021–2026)

Alice Lowe, Catholic University of South Sudan Achol Deng, Bahr el Ghazal University, Wau Eleanor Simpson, Department of Advanced Studies, Bahr el Ghazal University, Wau
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18354011
Published: January 23, 2026

Abstract

This mixed-methods study investigates the manifestations and efficacy of women’s political agency in post-conflict South Sudan between 2021 and 2026. It addresses a critical gap in understanding how women navigate a restrictive socio-political landscape to influence peacebuilding and governance, despite mandated inclusion under the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement. Employing a sequential explanatory design, the research began with a survey of 350 women across three states, followed by in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 45 key informants, including women leaders, activists, and policymakers. Quantitative data identified predominant patterns of participation, whilst qualitative narratives elucidated lived experiences and strategic manoeuvres. The findings demonstrate that women’s agency is exercised primarily through informal networks, grassroots mobilisation, and strategic advocacy, often circumventing formal, male-dominated institutions. A key contradiction is revealed between official rhetoric supporting inclusion and its practical implementation, which is undermined by entrenched patriarchal norms and resource constraints. The study contends that recognising and strengthening these informal avenues is paramount for achieving gender-inclusive peace. Its significance lies in centring South Sudanese women’s own strategies, challenging externally imposed frameworks, and providing evidence-based recommendations for translating policy commitments into substantive participation.

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How to Cite

Alice Lowe, Achol Deng, Eleanor Simpson (2026). Navigating Peace and Participation: A Mixed Methods Study of Women’s Agency in Post-Conflict South Sudan (2021–2026). African Journal of Women’s Studies, Vol. 1 No. 1 (2023), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18354011
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Keywords

Women’s agencyPost-conflict reconstructionHorn of AfricaPolitical participationMixed methods researchGender and peacebuildingSouth Sudan

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