Who we are
Organisation for Nonviolence and Development (ONAD) is a voluntary non profit-making organization that works to resist violence, transform conflicts and build peace. Founded in 1994 by South Sudanese University students, ONAD is a legally registered entity with the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) Republic of South Sudan. The organization since its inception has worked with civil society organizations, particularly the youth, women, faith-based and traditional structures in Sudan and South Sudan to transform conflicts, and to promote nonviolent and democratic principles and practices.
Based in Juba, South Sudan, ONAD works with vulnerable groups and partners across the country to support individuals and organizations to enhance skills needed to transform violent conflicts and build bridges across ethnic, religious and political divides.
Philosophy
ONAD is established on the belief and conviction that just, peaceful and democratic societies can be achieved by people who are conscious and aware of their civil and political rights. ONAD is an organization dedicated to the cause of nonviolence. To ONAD, this means commitment to justice without the use of force that destroys or causes injury to an enemy or his/her properties. We believe a movement built on nonviolence should critically analyze injustice and work to liberate both the oppressed and the oppressor.
Our Vision is
A nonviolent and peaceful society where every person has access to basic rights and a life in dignity.
Mission
ONAD works with vulnerable people to promote nonviolent actions, good governance, gender equity and community safety through training, research and advocacy.
Core Values
Team work and responsibility, peaceful social change, equity and social justice, empowering poor people to improve their lives, honesty and transparency, participatory democracy, learn from others in humility, respect for diversity and spirit of voluntarism.
Activities
Based on strategic plan 2018-2020 ONAD strives to build a nonviolent, peaceful and democratic society through training, research and advocacy in;
1. Nonviolence and Peacebuilding (NP)
2. Governance and Civic Education (GCE)
3. Community Empowerment and Gender (CEG)
4. Research, Communications and Advocacy (RCA).
5. Internal Organisational Development (IOD) of ONAD and its Grassroots’ Partners.
What we have achieved
The organization since its establishment in 1994 has reached approximately 78,000 direct beneficiaries and more than 910,000 as indirect beneficiaries with various programs across South Sudan. The implementations of these projects by ONAD empowered beneficiaries who in turn reached others, created awareness on nonviolence, human rights, good governance principles and practice as well as community safety and gender sensitivity. External evaluations conducted in 2013 and 2018 by external evaluators revealed that project beneficiaries not only learnt together but have also taken nonviolent actions and campaigns, peaceful demonstrations, vigils, used placards, joint press releases, constructive programs, conducted outreach training and built up sustainable networks. Members of the civil society discovered and used creative means to communicate their opposition to communal conflicts and civil war and lobbied for signing and monitored peace agreements.
As of December 2018, more than 35 peace clubs have been established in Primary and Secondary Schools in Juba, Jubek State. The beneficiaries reported positive change of attitudes and behaviours as students and teachers mediated and resolved peer conflicts. “Peace club taught me to overcome hate, forgive and reconcile those who wronged me in school. I do not need to violently fight back my colleagues when wronged to as before. I dialogue, negotiate or complain to teachers instead to resolve our differences. Reported Adiet Deng from Chinese Secondary School”.
A teacher confessed “I no longer beat pupils in my school after I attended ONAD’s teachers’ debate on whether or not beating children is violence or a way to discipline them. ONAD’s peace club taught me to treat pupils with love and respect as my own children. I also learned that corporal punishment is a crime based on our national constitution. I instead used other means such as giving more educational assignment, ask the pupil to water the school garden or clean the classroom if mistaken”. This nonviolent approach to discipline pupils works better thank violent ones.
ONAD over the years provided free legal and counseling services to victims of sexual and gender based violence and other forms of violence. "My client reported of improved sleep and eating habit and that the usual neck pain has gone after we had three different sessions of trauma counseling" reported William Sebit, ONAD’s volunteer in Mvolo, Amadi State in Western Equatoria. He explained, no counsellor can heal a victim but can only help victims recover from trauma through; coaching, counselling or therapy. It is the application of a healing tools discovered during counselling that helps the victim recover”. He continued, "counselling requires a passion and love for humanity. I am happy ONAD’s workshops helped me develop this passion”
Networking
ONAD further as a result of these projects is connected with national, community based and International Non-governmental Organizations. In South Sudan, ONAD is a founding member of the South Sudanese Network for Democracy and Elections (SSuNDE), a network of over 75 community based organizations covering the whole of ten States, NGOs and Civil Forum for Peace and Democratization currently engaged pushing for an inclusive peace talks in Addis Ababa-Ethiopia. ONAD further works closely with South Sudan Peace & Reconciliation Commission (SSPRC), South Sudan Human Rights Commission (SSHRC), South Sudan Council of Churches and South Sudan Islamic Council and the Bureau for religious Affairs and the Peace Implementation Monitoring Initiatives (PIMI) among others.
Regionally, ONAD is a co-chair of Pan African Nonviolence and Peacebuilding Network (PANPEN), a coalition of more than 40 civil society organizations from across Africa as well as member of the Coalition for Peace in Africa (COPA) based in Nairobi, Kenya. The engagement enables ONAD and its partners to contribute to peace building and democratization in Africa.
Internationally, ONAD is member “with branch status” of International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR) and member of its international committee being represented by Board member and co-founder Light Aganwa. Additionally, ONAD in person of Moses John, a co-founder, presides over membership of the council of the War Resisters International (WRI) based in London, UK.
Membership
ONAD is a democratic organization, open for anyone who supports its values, vision and mission statement. Membership is open to any South Sudanese male or female, 18 years and above who subscribe to organizational principals, vision and mandates. Additionally, the current ONAD constitution 2017 allows for honorary membership to non-South Sudanese and people who have passion and are interested to support ONAD’s peace projects.
Finance
We finance our operations and programmes from membership contributions and subscription fees, consultancy work, donations, grants and financial and in-kind support from individuals and international organizations such as the Swedish Fellowship of Reconciliation (SweFOR), Saferworld UK Charity, Mennonites Central Committee (MCC) South Sudan, National Endowment for Democracy (NED) US, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), German Development Cooperation Agency (GIZ) and others.
Management
The management is composed of the General Assembly who is the highest governing body in the organization. It comprises of all registered members and the body meets once every year to discuss, approve, amend or reject narrative and financial reports and approve the general policies and organizational plans. The Board of Trustees is the second layer in organizational governance. The Board of Trustees represents the founding members who are the legal and technical advisers to the organization BUT do not have a decision making capacity.
The Board of Directors is provides the oversight to the organizational management and meets every three months to discuss the reports and management plans. The management encompasses all the contracted staff and volunteers who implement the programs of the organization on day to day basis and reports to the Board of Directors.
ONAD accounts are being audited by IDIAA LTD South Sudan. The company is a member firm of NEXIA International, a Top 10 accounting and consulting network. The company is being managed by Ian Dent (A British citizen). He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (FCA), and a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA), and holds practicing certificates with both institutes.
ONAD is accountable not only to its members and donors BUT also to its project beneficiaries.
