South Sudan Programme Inclusive Decisions at Local Level (IDEAL) The main focus of IDEAL South Sudan is to strengthen the governance capacity of local governments to play their role in the delivery of basic services in the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector. The programme focuses on three counties in (former) Eastern Equatoria State. In a fragile context wherein politicians and officials are largely appointed instead of elected, development has stagnated and violent intercommunal clashes and criminality are occurring on a daily basis, basic service delivery is one of the few ways in which the local government can establish legitimacy and contribute to social cohesion. However, the insufficient capacity of the local government to fulfil its role shapes highly unreliable, ineffective and exclusive or non-participatory service delivery. 

While the Local Government Act calls for participative planning starting from boma and payam level, in practice no skills and funds are available at the county level to involve bomas and payams properly. The 2007 Water Policy promotes community management of water resources and services, but in reality water management is still centralised at county level; counties are the owners of all WASH infrastructure and are unable to manage the upkeep. County staff have limited skills for community interaction. Communication is top-down, finances are limited and there is no downward accountability. While many people working in local government personally feel that interventions should benefit the community, they only feel professional accountability to their superiors and donors. The resulting lack of ownership in communities leads to vandalism of water points, poor operation, no preventive maintenance, and continued poor sanitation. 

IDEAL South Sudan will therefore work on the capacity of local government to  provide participatory service delivery in the WASH sector that is responsive to community needs, as well as gender and conflict sensitive. The programme will involve the political leadership and community representatives next to the technical county staff in order to foster community outreach and political commitment to service delivery.

Using this strategy, social cohesion is fostered through (1) better trust in government and (2) better service delivery. Focusing on WASH provides a concrete channel through which to do so; the resulting improved connections and trust can lead to increased government legitimacy and community participation in other areas of service delivery, potentially causing positive spill-over effects. The IDEAL South Sudan Programme will work towards achieving the following outputs:
* Output 1.1 WASH departments’ and CRWSBs’  basic skills and knowledge in relation to their own roles and responsibilities has increased.
* Output 1.2 CRWSBs’ capability to fulfill their coordination and monitoring role and support the WASH departments is strengthened.
* Output 1.3 The capability of the WASH departments and CRWSBs to support WMCs in their role of contributing to operations & maintenance of WASH facilities is strengthened.
* Output 1.4 The WASH departments and CRWSBs are sensitized and capabilities are strengthened to provide gender sensitive WASH services.
* Output 2.1 The capability of WASH departments and CRWSBs to implement participatory outreach programmes is strengthened.
* Output 2.2 The capability of CRWSBs and WASH departments to promote the involvement of WMC’s in decision making processes on WASH services is strengthened.
* Output 2.3 County Executive Councils are sensitized on community needs and their strategic leadership capability is improved for promoting inclusive and participatory decision making
* Output 2.4 WASH departments’ and CRWSBs’ capability in inclusive planning and budgeting for WASH service delivery is strengthened.
* Output 2.5 WASH departments, CRWSBs and County Executive Councils sensitized and capabilities strengthened on the inclusion of gender in their decision making processes
* Output 3.1 The capability of County Executive Councils to identify relevant government and other (e.g. NGO, private sector) stakeholders has improved
* Output 3.2 The capability of County Executive Councils to engage in intergovernmental relations and maintain relations with other stakeholders has improved
* Output 3.3 The capability of County Executive Councils to lobby on operational space (mandate) and resources (financial, material and human) has improved The impact of the overall IDEAL programme is: The stronger social contract between local governments and citizens has enhanced local governments' capacity to cope with fragility risks.

The outcomes for the IDEAL South Sudan programme are:
* Outcome 1: The provision of WASH services, by the target counties, is more effective and responsive.
* Outcome 2: Decision-making processes, on WASH services delivery, in target counties, are more inclusive and participatory.
* Outcome 3: The County Executive Councils contribute to an improved policy and institutional environment for the counties to provide community-owned WASH services in the target counties. The target group for the IDEAL South Sudan programme consists of three local governments (counties) from (former) Eastern Equatoria State: Kapoeta North County, Kapoeta East County and Kapoeta South County.