1.1 Background of AMDISS
Association for Media Development In South Sudan (AMDISS) was formed in 2003 before the
Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) of 2005. AMDISS was formed by South Sudanese journalists in
the diaspora who are editors and owners of the leading media outlets for the then Southern Sudan, it
started as a network through the internet/emails and it is a membership-based organization. There was
no physical office at the time. Between 2004 and 2006, AMDISS held several consultative meetings with
stakeholders. It met the leadership of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) in Nairobi in
2004 and articulated its position that was well received by the leading South Sudan political leadership.
It then moved and signed declarations e.g the Rumbek declaration 2005 and the Khartoum declaration
2007 for its inception and mandate.
AMDISS moved to Juba and set up an office in 2007. It established a secretariat and hired full-time staff
such as the Executive Director, MDI Principal, Media Development Officer, Communication and
Advocacy, Research, Finance, and other support staff. AMDISS was registered as an NGO in 2009 by the
then Ministry of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development of Southern Sudan. Today the AMDISS
office is headquartered at the Media Development Institute (MDI) in South Sudan’s capital city Juba,
located 150m Kokora Road Off- UNDP junction opposite Aron International Hotel.

1.2 Why AMDISS was formed:
AMDISS was formed to help address the news and information void in the country and to address the
lack of capacity by local journalists to report on the issues of human rights, good governance, freedom
of expression and democracy. A poor understanding of the role and responsibilities of the media by
those in government in South Sudan was also an issue AMDISS was determined to address and this still
remains as one of the priorities.
in 2015, AMDISS started offering a nine-month training and mentorship program at MDI to improve the
skills of local journalists and also to help to advocate for the country’s media policy framework and
media laws.
1.3 What we do:
o Training of journalists, media professionals and media stakeholders
o Dialogue forum with media stakeholders
o Advocacy for press freedom and freedom of expression