We hear about women crossing borders to engage armed young men, former warriors becoming peace champions, efforts to recover raided cattle before violence escalates, a market in Malakal helping rebuild relationships between communities, and a reconciliation in Eastern Equatoria where traditional ritual and the church came together in a way nobody quite expected.

From those stories, the conversation goes wider: What does “resilience” really mean? Have we overlooked the knowledge and institutions that already exist in communities? Why do so many peacebuilding interventions start with outside ideas rather than what is already working? And if international funding keeps shrinking, what would genuinely sustainable peacebuilding look like?

We also get into the role of government, the limits of dialogue, flexible funding, localisation, donor risk and trust – and why sometimes the people funding peacebuilding might need to let go of a little more control.

And we finish by putting everyone on the spot: if the international community left South Sudan tomorrow, would the country be better or worse off in ten years?

A wide-ranging conversation about peace, power, community and what years of doing this work have taught us.

(And don't be alarmed if Rob seems a bit under the influence towards the end. A slight issue with the sound recording that needed to be dressed up)

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