Since July 2019, South Sudan has experienced unusually heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding, affecting an estimated 908,000 people, of whom 420,000 people are in need of immediate humanitarian assistance. Flooding has affected the states of Jonglei, Upper Nile, Warrap, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Unity, Lakes, Central and Eastern Equatoria. About 103 000 hectare of cultivated land has been damaged with an estimated loss of 97 000 tonnes of grain, 42 nutrition service centers have suspended operation, and currently assessment indicate that about USD 61.5 million is required to respond.

An estimated 46,000 people were displaced in Maiwut (33,000) and Tonj South (13,000). This aggravated the already dire situation in August when seasonal floods affected more than 364,600 people in different locations including more than 31,600 people in Akobo, Pibor and Uror counties in Jonglei, about 29,000 people in Aweil Centre County in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, about 4,000 people in Mayendit County in Unity and some 300,000 people in Gogrial West, Gogrial East and Tonj North counties in Warrap. The heavy rains destroyed shelters, crops, water sources, public infrastructure like schools and health facilities, increased the risk of water-borne diseases among communities, and rendered many roads impassable, constraining access to affected areas. (OCHA, 27 Sep 2019)[1]

Floods caused by torrential rains have worsened the living conditions of South Sudanese people in many parts of the country in the past few months. Some of the areas affected include Lafon, Torit and Kapoeta South counties in Eastern Equatoria; Ayod, Akobo, Bor South, Duk, Twic East, Pibor, Pochalla and Uror counties in Jonglei; Aweil Center and Aweil North in Northern Bahr el Ghazal; Abiemnhom, Mayom, Mayendit and Panyijiar in Unity; Maban in Upper Nile; and Gogrial East, Gogrial West and Tonj North in Warrap. (OCHA, 11 Oct 2019)[2]

According to UNHCR, unprecedented heavy flooding in South Sudan’s Maban County has affected nearly 200,000 people, including refugees and host population. (UNHCR, 18 Oct 2019)[3] Torrential rains have left wide swaths of Greater Jonglei devastated and its inhabitants displaced. With more precipitation on the forecasted horizon, there are fears that the situation may deteriorate further. Of the nearly one million people in South Sudan affected by the floods, UNICEF estimates that around 490,000 are children (UNMISS, 29 Oct 2019.)[4]

Following the declaration of the State of Emergency and given the huge challenges with regards to emergency coordination hampered by the absence of a National and State Contingency/Response Plans and of a coordination structure that is weak and with limited capacity, the Government of South Sudan through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management (MHADM) requested for UNDP support on coordination, data/information management, recovery planning, and initial recovery interventions. The CO has already responded by giving intermittent technical support and by conducting a PDNA training that will be the basis for the development of the disaster recovery framework and plan. The CO is mobilizing on supporting the Government and partners on the other aspects needed to have a more coherent and coordinated response (and with a strong capacity development orientation) to the emergency situation.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Coordination and Communication Specialist is responsible for supporting the coordination of response and recovery actions and in establishing different channels for information dissemination, and in communicating targeted and harmonized messages to the people and partners.

Key tasks

Working directly under the guidance and oversight of the Office of the Under Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, the Coordination and Communication Specialist is expected to undertake the following:

Coordination

• Support the conduct of coordination meetings, including the preparation of the agenda and relevant documentation, and in following-through with decisions taken;
• Support the analysis of the coordination mechanism and institutional architecture for emergency response and recovery and provide technical advice in enhancing the effectiveness of coordination structures and activities, as well as, the appropriateness of response activities;
• Lead the transmission of necessary data/information to the national level and support the undertaking of local level analysis and report preparation on response and recovery;
• Support the review of existing national level contingency planning and preparedness processes with a view to identifying the nature and scope of inclusion of preparedness and contingency planning.

Communication

• Develop and implement a Communication Plan;
• Produce, facilitate, and promote user-friendly public awareness materials/products/ templates in simple formats and support the preparation of situational reports, publications, etc.;
• Strategize on an effective engagement with the media and seek opportunities to enhance the reputation of MHADM, and coordinate publicity events as required;
• Facilitate and promote activities that will increase the visibility of the Government.
• Write, edit, and distribute content, including publications, press releases, website content, annual reports, speeches, and other marketing material that communicates the aspect of disaster response and recovery and of MHADM activities, products and/or services;
• Respond to media inquiries, arrange interviews, and ensure the proper dissemination of documentation - national recovery plan, national contingency plan;
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with journalists, and maintain a media database;
• Maintain records of media coverage and collate analytics and metrics; and
• Provide relevant substantive inputs to knowledge management and networking, including responding to MHADM requests for information on best practice,

Competencies

• Ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate information collection and monitor own work plan;
• Ability to work, establish and maintain strategic partnerships with government institutions, donors, civil society partners and other UN agencies;
• Excellent communication, writing skills, and analytical skills;
• Good interpersonal skills and result oriented;
• Ability to work under pressure;
• Social media savvy.

Required Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communication, Development Communication, International Development or related field.

Experience:

• At least 3 years relevant experience in a relevant coordination and communications role;
• Experience in the production of situation reports, etc. with a task of disseminating them widely through traditional media, but also in social media;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, especially desktop publishing.

Language:

• Proficiency in English is a must.