What We Do

Communities rarely face one challenge at a time. Community Development Centre (CDC) works alongside communities in South Sudan and Uganda to address local challenges, expand opportunities, strengthen resilience, and build peaceful and inclusive societies.

Women receive buckets at a hygiene distribution under a tree

CDC delivers integrated, community-led programmes that address these needs together, and communities shape every programme from the start.

Our work brings together humanitarian support, long-term development and peacebuilding, so that we respond to immediate needs while tackling the causes behind them.

Through community-led initiatives, strategic partnerships, capacity strengthening, and locally driven solutions, we support people to improve their livelihoods, build stronger relationships, and create lasting change.

A trader stands in his market stall stocked with grain, basins and household goods

Food Security and Livelihoods

Households need more than short-term assistance. We help farming communities grow more, protect natural resources and earn a steady income, using sustainable and climate-smart methods.

What we do

  • Climate-smart and sustainable agriculture, with farmer field schools and extension support
  • Quality seeds, tools and improved seed systems
  • Agroforestry, tree planting and natural resource management
  • Livestock, beekeeping and fish farming
  • Better food storage and reduced post-harvest losses
  • Support for farmer groups, cooperatives, agribusiness and value chains
Community members sit in a wide circle of chairs under the trees for a dialogue

Peacebuilding and Social Cohesion

Conflict disrupts lives, weakens relationships and limits opportunity. We help communities prevent conflict, rebuild trust, resolve differences and recover together, so that peace is built and sustained by the people who live it.

What we do

  • Community dialogues and peace forums
  • Conflict prevention, mediation and resolution
  • Reconciliation and community healing
  • Trauma healing and psychosocial support
  • Early warning and early response systems
  • Peace education, civic education and advocacy, including the Youth Peace Ambassadors Programme
An elder woman in a headscarf listens during a community gathering

Culture and Heritage

Culture is the foundation of identity, peace and resilience. We help communities document, protect and celebrate their traditions, languages and knowledge, and pass them to the next generation.

What we do

  • Cultural documentation and preservation
  • Indigenous knowledge systems
  • Arts and culture for peacebuilding
  • Intercultural dialogue
  • Engagement with traditional leaders
  • Promotion of local languages, traditions and identity
A community reporter records an interview with a microphone and headphones

Education and Human Development

Learning builds confidence, skills and leadership. We strengthen the abilities of individuals, communities and local institutions to shape their own futures.

What we do

  • Adult literacy programmes
  • Digital literacy and digital skills
  • Leadership development
  • Life skills and civic education
  • Community capacity building and institutional strengthening
  • Professional development and training
Young people stand in a line holding certificates in front of a thatched hut

Empowerment and Economic Opportunity

People thrive when they have skills, savings and access to opportunity. We help young people and women build practical skills, start enterprises and take part in local economies.

What we do

  • Vocational and technical skills training
  • Entrepreneurship support, mentoring and start-up support for youth and women
  • Village Savings and Loan Associations and financial literacy
  • Community microgrants and collective action
  • Market systems, employment and income generation
  • Local governance and institutional capacity strengthening
Women receive buckets at a hygiene distribution under a tree

Health and Well-being

Healthy communities are better able to recover and thrive. We promote prevention, nutrition, hygiene and mental well-being, so that families can make informed decisions about their health.

What we do

  • Community health promotion and awareness campaigns
  • Nutrition education, including maternal, infant and young child nutrition
  • Nutrition-sensitive agriculture and household kitchen gardens
  • Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)
  • Sexual and reproductive health, and HIV prevention education, counselling and testing
  • Mental health and psychosocial support

Woven Through Everything We Do

Four themes shape every programme, whatever the subject.

  • Gender Equality, Social Inclusion and Protection

    Women, girls, persons with disabilities, older people and other vulnerable groups have equal opportunity to take part and benefit. We apply child protection, safeguarding, PSEA and Do No Harm in every project.

  • Climate, Environment and Resilience

    We build climate resilience into our work through sustainable land use, tree planting, clean energy and disaster risk reduction.

  • Accountability, Learning and Innovation

    Communities take part in design, monitoring and learning, and our feedback systems and evidence help us adapt.

  • Partnership, Participation and Listening

    We listen first, respect local knowledge and build partnerships that strengthen local ownership.

Who We Work With

Our work engages:

  • Refugees, returnees, internally displaced people and host communities
  • Young people, women and community-based groups
  • Farmers, entrepreneurs and savings groups
  • Community leaders and local structures
  • Civil society organisations and development partners
  • Relevant government institutions and other stakeholders

Our Commitment

We are committed to working with communities in ways that respect local knowledge, strengthen participation, promote dignity, and encourage people to take collective action towards a better future.

In the Community. By the Community. For the Community.

See Our Work in Action

Explore our projects.

Project Portfolio