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Initiative for Legal Aid (ILA)

Independent National Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) · Republic of South Sudan

Breaking Barriers.Building Justice.

Advancing access to justice, human rights and accountable institutions in South Sudan.

Our workOur impactPartner with ILA

Head office in Juba, working nationally across the Republic of South Sudan

Who we are

An independent national organisation for justice in South Sudan

The Initiative for Legal Aid (ILA) is an independent national civil society organization established to promote access to justice, protect and advance human rights, strengthen the rule of law, and contribute to good governance, peacebuilding, and sustainable development in the Republic of South Sudan.

About ILAVision & mission

ILA serves as both a legal service provider and a development organization by combining legal aid, human rights advocacy, civic education, research, institutional development, policy engagement, peacebuilding, and community empowerment within an integrated programming framework.

The challenge

Justice remains out of reach for many South Sudanese

Women, children, persons with disabilities, displaced people, detainees and low-income households face legal, financial, geographical and institutional barriers to justice.

ILA was established as a response to these realities.

Justice is not a privilege reserved for those with financial means or social influence, but a universal and fundamental human right guaranteed to every individual without discrimination.

Initiative for Legal Aid — organisational profile

What we do

Eight integrated programmes

ILA combines direct legal assistance with advocacy, research, institutional strengthening, civic education, peacebuilding and community engagement — addressing both immediate legal needs and the structural causes of injustice.

All programmes

Our impact

What we measure

ILA reports against the indicators below. Figures are published only once they have been verified and signed off internally.

  • Figure to be verified

    People reached

    Individuals reached through legal aid, legal awareness and community outreach activities.

  • Figure to be verified

    Legal consultations

    Legal advice and counselling sessions provided to individuals seeking assistance.

  • Figure to be verified

    Cases handled

    Legal aid cases opened and managed by ILA legal staff.

  • Figure to be verified

    Cases resolved

    Cases concluded through representation, mediation or alternative dispute resolution.

Verified figures for these indicators are being compiled and will be published here with the reporting period they cover. See all indicators

An ILA legal officer seated beside a client during a legal aid consultation at the ILA office in Juba.
Legal aid consultation at the ILA office, Juba. Client identity withheld.

Flagship programme

Access to Justice & Legal Aid

The Access to Justice and Legal Aid Programme seeks to bridge this gap by providing accessible, affordable, timely, and high-quality legal services to individuals and communities who would otherwise be unable to protect or enforce their rights.

  • Free and subsidized legal representation
  • Legal advice and legal counselling
  • Court representation and litigation support
  • Strategic litigation for public interest cases
  • Legal documentation assistance
  • Case management and follow-up
Explore the programme

From the communities we serve

Legal aid in practice

Photographs and recordings from ILA's legal aid consultations and community legal awareness sessions.

Video testimony from an ILA legal aid client

A recorded testimony from a person supported through ILA's legal aid services.

An ILA legal officer and a client seated together at the ILA office.
Legal aid support at the ILA office, Juba.
An ILA representative and a community member shaking hands while seated.
Concluding a legal aid consultation.
An ILA representative in conversation with a client at the ILA office.
Client consultation, ILA office.
An ILA representative meeting a community member seeking legal assistance.
Meeting a community member seeking legal assistance.
ILA staff addressing seated participants during a community legal awareness session.
Community legal awareness session.
Community participants seated during an ILA legal awareness session.
Participants at a community legal awareness session.
Participants attending an ILA community legal awareness session.
Legal awareness outreach.
Community members attending an ILA legal awareness session.
Legal awareness outreach.
Participants seated in a training room during an ILA leadership and human rights training session.
Leadership and human rights training.

Captions describe only what is visible. ILA does not publish the identity, contact details or case information of any person who has received legal assistance.

Leadership

The people who lead ILA

ILA is directed by a Board of Directors accountable to the General Assembly, and managed day to day by the Executive Director and senior programme staff.

Governance & leadership

Organisational structure

A clear line of accountability

From the General Assembly through the Board of Directors and Executive Director, down to the legal officers and community paralegals who meet clients each day.

View the organogram

  1. General Assembly

    All Members

  2. Board of Directors

    Chairperson

  3. Executive Director

  4. Legal Aid & Access to Justice Unit

    Shown in full on the organogram

Knowledge Centre

ILA conducts legal, policy and socio-economic research to identify emerging justice challenges and inform national dialogue on legal and governance reforms. Reports, research, policy briefs and legal resources will be published here as they are released.

Visit the Knowledge Centre

Accountability & Policies

ILA maintains institutional policies covering safeguarding, PSEA, conduct, anti-fraud, procurement, financial management, data protection and risk.

  • Governance
  • Child Protection
  • Code of Conduct
  • Anti-Fraud, Corruption and Whistleblowing
  • Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
  • Legal Aid Services
  • Data Protection and Privacy
  • Information and Communication Technology
Accountability centre

Why ILA

What partners can expect

ILA offers a credible, professional and reliable platform for collaboration in advancing justice, human rights and sustainable development in South Sudan.

  • Strong Institutional Commitment

    A steadfast commitment to justice, human rights, the rule of law, democratic governance, and ethical service delivery.

  • Professional Legal Expertise

    A multidisciplinary team of qualified legal practitioners, human rights specialists, governance experts, researchers, programme managers, and development professionals.

  • Deep Contextual Understanding

    Comprehensive knowledge of South Sudan's legal framework, governance environment, cultural diversity, conflict dynamics, and community realities, enabling context-sensitive interventions.

Who ILA works with

ILA builds partnerships across the following categories of institution. Named partners and donors are published only once a formal relationship is confirmed.

  • National Government Institutions
  • State and Local Government Authorities
  • The Judiciary
  • Prosecution Authorities
  • The South Sudan Bar Association
  • Law Enforcement Agencies
  • Correctional and Prison Services
  • Human Rights Institutions
  • See all categories

Support ILA

Help remove the barriers that keep people from justice

ILA works with government institutions, development partners, civil society, academia and communities to widen access to justice in South Sudan. We welcome enquiries from organisations wishing to collaborate.

Partner with ILAContact ILA