JAMES OKONY

Mr. James Okony Dau is a Civil Society Activist Born 1 May 1977 in Upper Nile State – South Sudan. At the age of 10 years he was conscripted to join the Red Army and trained as military personal (child solider) in 1986. He left the active military service in 2005.

He currently serves as the Chairperson of South Sudanese Network for Democracy and Elections (SSuNDE) with a membership of over 150 CSOs members, in addition he also serves as the Executive Director of National Relief and Development Corps (NRDC) and recently elected as the Treasurer of EAST and HORN of Africa Elections Observers Network and as a Member of International Association of Professional in Humanitarian Assistance and Protection (IAPHAP).He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Community Development Studies and Master Degree in Peace and Development in Juba University, Institute for Peace, Development and Security Studies.

He is currently pursuing a PhD. in Strategy and International Security at the Center for Diplomatic and Strategic Studies (CEDS) in Paris, France. He has worked across political, religious and ethnic lines to champion economic development, humanitarian assistance, education, and intercultural and interfaith cooperation for the most vulnerable people across South Sudan. For the past 10 years, he has worked with influential leaders and on-the-ground program managers on projects to foster peace, reconciliation and economic progress.

He has also worked as National Project Coordinator and National Coordinator with United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and International Labour Organization (ILO) respectively with the Project Peace building fund to increase food access for internally displaced people. Conducted research on Civil Society and Governance Processes in Fragile States in Upper Nile with CARE, August, 2012, research on Conflict Mapping Motives in Upper Nile with The International Peace Information Service (IPIS, October 2013 and SUPPORT TO THE LASU REFUGEE SETTLEMENT AND THE HOST COMMUNITY YEI COUNTY, CENTRAL EQUATORIA July 2015. Also work for implementation of humanitarian and emergency response programs interventions including: Flood Mitigation and Recovery Project in Manyo County, Upper Nile State (RRR/MedAir/Unicef), Assistance to influx of returnees and Internally Displaced People (IDPs – ICCO), Assistance to Internal Displaced People Response – (WFP/UNCEF/OLS) and Seeds Emergency Response Project (Vulnerable residents, IDPs and Returnees).