Joyce Sebit, SNV advisor, closes the Juba Briefing meeting, with radio journalists in attendance.
On 12th July 2010, SNV Sudan launched a series of Juba Briefings as part of its government for empowerment work. Each briefing tackles a theme of relevance both to SNV’s work and of critical importance to the stable future of South Sudan.
Instead of being written by experts, they are written by young Sudanese journalists, supported by an experienced international editor, as part of capacity building the media. Journalists rarely have the resources to leave the capital or cover issues in depth. This programme enables them to do both, and most importantly to capture the views and agendas of ordinary people, to promote voice and accountability – something that policy briefings written by specialists rarely achieve.
In addition to the briefing, which is published as a hard copy, and in the press and on websites, the journalists publish additional stories in their outlets. Each briefing is accompanied by a radio journalist who broadcasts on the theme.
The first Juba Briefing July 2010.pdf is on Land Rights in Eastern Equatoria. As well as a stand alone issue, it has been serialised in the Sudan Tribune which devoted an editorial to the issue. There have been six spin off stories and five radio broadcasts. More are expected. Thanks to alliances with other agencies the briefing has reached an international audience through a number of specialist list-serves.
The Briefing was launched at a question time debate with a panel including the Land Commissioner, the State Minister for Legal Affairs, the Local Government Board and the Land Rights officer, and a participating audience of 70.
The subject of the next briefing is a closely guarded secret!