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.