PRSP jointly hosts two-day workshop on interim governance arrangements

On 9 and 10 December 2019, International IDEA, the Edinburgh Centre for Constitutional Law (ECCL), the Global Justice Academy (GJA), in association with the Political Settlements Research Programme (PSRP) of the University of Edinburgh, and with support from the UK Department for International Development, held the sixth Edinburgh Dialogue on Post-Conflict Constitution Building. This year’s theme was ‘Interim Governance Arrangements in Post-Conflict and Fragile Settings’, with the second day entirely dedicated to Sudan’s and South Sudan’s current transitional governance arrangements. 

A total of 29 high-level experts and practitioners from around the world participated in the two-day workshop to discuss challenges of constitution building in conflict-to-peace transitions. The workshop was divided into two main sections: most of the first day comprised overviews from comparative experts and practitioners who sought to address questions and issues related to interim governance arrangements, including challenges in power-sharing arrangements. The second day focused on these challenges with special attention to Sudan and South Sudan, and where comparative research might point the way to inspiration or options to inform decision-making. Discussions between participants from Sudan and South Sudan as well as high-level international partners during this event ranged from current implementation challenges of a transitional government, the role of civil society in this transitional phase, to contentious issues in the constitution making process, and the role of international actors. 

A final policy report will include key insights as to the factors contributing to, and consequences resulting from, particular forms and types of interim governance arrangements. Policy papers arising from each of the Edinburgh Dialogues can be found here.

Photo credit: Hannah den Boer