This program is designed to focus on issues of political and economic governance. It seeks to promote and facilitate the development of good democratic practices and governance in South Sudan. This program seeks to enhance methods by which citizens are empowered, and can increase their capacity to engage with and contribute to the governance of their state.

Promotion of good governance and the democratic process are key objectives of SSIDP. This program is therefore designed to formulate research methods, both quantitative and qualitative, and the collection and analysis of crucial data. The program seeks to find ways and means by which the legislative process can be enhanced through constructive public participation. It also provides a comprehensive situation analysis in terms of public, civil society, and government perceptions and practices, resulting in the formulation of strategies aimed at enhancing democratic processes in South Sudan.

Executive-Legislature relationship is one area of focus, as relationship between these two branches of government is vital to healthy government structures. Legislature derives its legitimacy and weight through public participation, thus enhancing and improves the weight of legislature and its oversight function. Hence, there is every need for the active participation of civil society organizations, local governments, and all mechanisms through, or by which the public can engage with the legislative process. The main aim of working with both civil society organizations and government is to achieve the goals of poverty reduction, and fighting corruption. The program therefore seeks the input, participation, and guidance of the local partners and people, thereby encouraging a sense of process ownership that will contribute to the long-term sustainable democracy.

In this way, the program seeks to encourage ordinary citizens, civil society, and the business community to engage with their legislatures and other democratic institutions. The program ensures that, on the one hand, legislators are informed of the issues and, or circumstances affecting their constituencies, and on the other hand, the legislators are thereby empowered to communicate these issues or circumstances to the appropriate and relevant authorities. This program will from time to time, also assess public participation, and formulate strategies to enhance public participation, and participates in the implementation of activities designed to have a lasting impact on the decision-making process in South Sudan. The main theme here is to encourage the development of modes, means, and mechanisms that contribute towards effective, responsive and democratic governance.

In the field of local government, the program seeks to empower Counties and the communities therein, to create an effective and responsible local government that is accountable. It will carry out policy research and advise the Counties on good policies. In doing this, the program shall formulate proper decentralization policies and advise the Counties on issues of decentralization. It will engage in the training of Councilors and officials, as well as any other County Council Committee members. This program also promotes open and accountable national, state, and local government executives and independent legislatures.

It works and carries out advocacy and lobbying at national, state, and local levels. It shall intervene and responds to local government legislation by making submissions, and holding seminars for stakeholders. The goal here is to clarify vision, mission, and strategic planning in order that local government can be more focused and responsive to priorities. Notwithstanding the above, this program implements the following objectives:

• Raising up community leaders
• Educating citizens to be aware of their political, civil and other rights through civic education.
• Deal with enlightenment of civil society, public and private institutions, and governments on democratic governance.
• Publication and production of materials and literature on political governance and issues related to good constitutional democracy and governance.
• It shall engage in citizen leadership training
• Active citizenship training
• Institutional capacity building.