GBV / SGBV
Preventing and responding to gender-based violence through community dialogue and survivor support.
Ask about thisWomen-led non-profit, registered 2017 (RRC No. 2820)
Empowering Women
Transforming Communities
Itwak Women Empowerment Organization works with rural communities in Eastern Equatoria State to advance women's rights, peace, food security, education and sustainable development across South Sudan.
10
Thematic areas
2017
Year registered
0
Staff and volunteers
2017
Registered with RRC
Who we areItwak Women
Itwak Women
Empowerment Organization
IWEO is a women-led non-governmental, non-profit organization registered with the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission in 2017 under the South Sudan NGO Act, with registration number 2820 at the national level.
Our formation was sparked by the need for evidence-based interventions that accelerate sustainable development in South Sudan. We work to promote food security and livelihood, child protection, good governance, human and women's rights, peace building through community negotiations, civic education, water and sanitation, girl child education, and HIV/AIDS awareness.
We apply constructive and targeted strategic communication at all levels to catalyze behavior change that results in stronger ownership, better implementation capacity, and improved livelihoods for the people of South Sudan.
Explore our programsOur Vision
Transformed women and rural communities for sustainable development in South Sudan and beyond.
Our Mission
To promote the needs of vulnerable women and develop strategies that are owned and driven by rural communities for sustainable economic development.
Our Goal
To accelerate socio-economic development of rural communities through evidence-based interventions.
Core values
What drives us
Six values guide our decisions, our relationships with communities, and the way we deliver our work.
Professionalism
We believe in evidence-based interventions through research, surveys and literature reviews.
Equality, equity and justice
Ensuring that everyone, regardless of sex, age, class or religion, has equal opportunity for expression and for utilizing their potential.
Integrity
We believe in being accountable for the effectiveness of our actions and open in our judgment and communication with others.
Partnerships
We believe in partnership with state government institutions, UN agencies, civil society organizations, international NGOs, academia and other development players for effective service delivery.
Responsibility
We deliberately strengthen the capacity and initiatives intended to advance the status of everyone in South Sudan.
Collective action
We believe in working together as a movement without reservations, in confronting the developmental challenges in rural areas.
Thematic areas
Our Programs
Ten thematic areas of work, all built around one idea: rural women and girls should shape the decisions that affect their lives.
Food Security and Livelihood
Supporting rural farmers with productive skills, cooperatives and value chain development.
Ask about thisWomen Empowerment
Building women's participation in decision making, peace processes and income generation.
Ask about thisEducation
Championing girl child education and removing the barriers that push girls out of school.
Ask about thisHealth
Improving access to basic health information and services, especially for women and children.
Ask about thisHIV / AIDS and Reproductive Health
Raising awareness on HIV/AIDS and improving reproductive health knowledge for women and youth.
Ask about thisWater and Sanitation
Educating communities on water use, hygiene and sanitation to protect health and dignity.
Ask about thisPeace Building and Conflict Mitigation
Bringing conflicting communities together through dialogue, reconciliation and women's leadership.
Ask about thisAdvocacy on UNSCR 1325
Advocating for women's participation in peace and security decisions, as called for in UN Security Council Resolution 1325.
Ask about thisHuman Rights
Counselling and supporting victims of human rights violations, and promoting civic education.
Ask about thisNot sure which program fits your community?
Tell us what you are seeing on the ground. Every conversation starts with listening, and we will point you to the right team.
What we set out to do
Objectives and strategy
Our strategic intent is to lay a foundation that empowers women and girls through community research, advocacy and empowerment, within South Sudan and beyond.
We advocate and run evidence-based interventions for sustainable development, working with government, partners and communities to build ownership from design to execution.
Our philosophy
IWEO prides itself on evidence-based interventions through research, surveys and assessments for the successful completion of its projects.
Our objectives
- 1Advocate and lobby on gender equality.
- 2Educate communities on water, hygiene and sanitation programs.
- 3Promote the role of women in decision making and peace processes.
- 4Encourage and promote women farmers' cooperatives, village saving and income generating activities.
- 5Counsel and support victims of human rights violations.
- 6Provide voters' civic education.
- 7Provide psycho-social support for survivors.
- 8Promote peace building and reconciliation among conflicting communities in South Sudan.
Our projects
Work on the ground
A selection of projects delivered with communities across Eastern Equatoria State.
Peace
Tirangore
Tirangore Peace Dialogue
Signs of reconciliation emerged from the peace dialogue IWEO conducted between conflicting communities in Tirangore, Eastern Equatoria.
Education
Torit and Hatire
Girl Education Survey and Child Compensation
Our survey found many girls drop out of school due to early and forced marriage and girl child compensation. Reports confirmed several cases, including a seven year old girl, in Torit and Hatire payams.
Training
Women and youth
Peace Building and Conflict Management Training
IWEO conducted training on the role of women and youth in peace building and conflict management, targeting women's groups and youth unions.
Livelihood
Value chain
Women Economic Empowerment Project
IWEO engaged communities in income generating activities, including cassava and groundnut production under an added value chain program.
GBV
Pota Payam, 2022
GBV Awareness on Early and Forced Marriage
IWEO raised awareness on harmful traditional practices around early and forced marriage in Pota Payam, Kapoeta South County in 2022, and on radio Sigata 89 FM.
Our impact
Making a difference
Real numbers from our work across Eastern Equatoria State. Every figure below is a person who showed up, spoke up, or learned something new.
10
Thematic areas
2017
Year registered
0
Staff and volunteers
2
States covered
Resources
Documents, tools and answers
Reports, facilitation tools and media material for partners, journalists and anyone who wants to understand our work better.
Publications and reports
IWEO Annual Report 2025
What we did across Central and Eastern Equatoria, with numbers and lessons learned.
Request a copyChild Marriage Brief
A short brief on why child marriage persists and what communities are doing about it.
Request a copyQuestions people ask
We work across Central and Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan, with our main office at Bisho Residence along the Torit-Juba Highway. Our projects are concentrated in Torit, Hatire, Tirangore, Mangateen and Kapoeta South County.
Yes. IWEO is registered with the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission under the South Sudan NGO Act, with registration number 2820 at the national level, since 2017.
IWEO has a General Assembly as its supreme governing body, a Board of Directors with seven directors appointed for three-year terms, and a Secretariat led by an Executive Director with four departments.
Send us a short note about your organization and what you have in mind. We usually reply within a week and will suggest a call if there is a fit.
Head to the Get Involved section and send us a message telling us what you can offer, whether that is time, skills, materials or funding. We will match it to something useful.
Get involved
Help us empower women
There are three simple ways to stand with women and girls in South Sudan. Pick the one that fits you best.
Support
Your contribution helps us run sessions, reach more communities and keep girls in school.
- Fund a dialogue session for a whole community
- Cover school materials for girls
- Support transport for rural outreach
Volunteer
Give your time and skills, whether that is facilitation, translation, design or fieldwork.
- Facilitate community dialogue sessions
- Translate materials into local languages
- Help with design, media or fieldwork
Partner
Work with us to reach more communities and make programmes stronger together.
- Co-design programmes with our team
- Share data, tools and referrals
- Joint advocacy on women's rights
Get in touch
Let's work together
Whether you want to support, volunteer, partner or simply learn more about our work, we would love to hear from you.
Visit us
Bisho Residence
Along Torit-Juba Highway
Eastern Equatoria State
South Sudan
Working hours
Mon to Fri8:00 – 17:00
Saturday9:00 – 13:00
SundayClosed