Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The Kong Koc Project Phase II, a flagship peacebuilding initiative in Greater Tonj, officially launched a ten-day Training of Trainers (TOT) workshop on community policing in Tonj South County, targeting 21 police officers from Tonj South, Tonj East, Tonj North counties, and Kuajok Police Headquarters to enhance local policing capacities and foster safer communities across Warrap State’s Greater Tonj and Northern Lakes State.
Funded by the United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund, the Kong Koc Project is implemented by a consortium of seven organizations: UNDP, WFP, UNMISS, ADRA, Peace Canal, Steward Women, and TOCH. The workshop, led by UNDP, focuses on equipping participants with practical skills in crime prevention, investigation, reporting, and community safety awareness engagements.
Speaking during the opening session, UNDP Security Specialist Felix Cassim emphasized that the goal is to lay the foundation for peaceful, stable, and resilient communities in Greater Tonj.
“By empowering local police and community members to work together, we can collectively prevent crime and build a more stable future for everyone,” he stated.
Several of the participants expressed strong support for the initiative. Warrant Officer Santino Machar, a police investigator from Tonj East County, said the training is timely and relevant.
“It gives us the tools to not only respond to crime but to prevent it by working closely with our communities. We have acquired a lot of knowledge which we will take back to our communities,” he said. “There has been a lot of communal violence and crime in our communities, and this training will help us reduce the vices through crime prevention and by sensitizing our people.”
For his part, Lt. Joseph Menmen, the coordinator of Police Community Relations (PCR) at Kuajok Police Headquarters, said community policing is not just about law enforcement but about building trust.
“We came here for a training of trainers program on community policing, and I have gained a lot of knowledge about the role of trainers and the objectives of community policing,” he said. “This training has helped us understand how to engage with youth, women, and elders more effectively. It will help us train our people in community policing.”
As a direct outcome of this training, the newly trained officers will initiate localized community security forums in their respective counties. These forums will serve as platforms for dialogue between police and community members, promoting transparency, trust, and joint problem-solving on security issues.
The Kong Koc Project is a collaborative effort that actively involves all segments of society, including youth, women, elders, chiefs, and police officers. Implementing partners extended their appreciation to the government and local communities for their continued commitment to this vital initiative.
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