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.

Purpose of the consultancy

The Response and Recovery Coordinators are responsible for providing technical support on the coordination of response and recovery efforts on the flood emergency, as well as, to support the design and programming of risk management initiatives.

He/she will provide support in the generation and analysis of data and information and to feed them at national level to inform decision-making and in the establishment of a robust DRM database and early warning system. In particular, the Response and Recovery Coordinators will provide lead support in the conduct of PDNA assessment in their respective areas. He/She will support strategic planning functions in the development of a National Contingency Plan and the Disaster Recovery Framework and Plan, integrating risk reduction principles and approaches in recovery initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities

Working directly under the Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioners of the states, and benefiting from the guidance and oversight of the Office of the Under Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management and the UNCT-deployed International DRM Advisor, the Response and Recovery Coordinators are expected to undertake the following:

• Analyze 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;
• Support the RRC Commissioner in the conduct of coordination meetings, including the preparation of the agenda and relevant documentation, and in following-through with decisions taken;
• Lead the gathering and transmission of necessary data/information to the national level and undertake local level analysis and report preparation on response and recovery;
• Facilitate the conduct of a rapid PDNA and provide technical inputs in the development of the Disaster Recovery Framework and Plan;
• Review existing State level contingency planning and preparedness processes used by state actors with a view to identifying the nature and scope of inclusion of preparedness and contingency planning;
• Identify existing capacity gaps in emergency preparedness and contingency planning of state actors and recommend areas of support include training workshops;
• Development of targeted and locally adapted training materials for state actors and focused on increasing capacity and skills in relation to emergency preparedness and contingency planning;
• Provide relevant substantive inputs to knowledge management and networking, including responding to MHADM requests for information on best practice;
• Provide inputs for the production and dissemination of reports on MHADM and UNCT activities on DRM, emergency response, and resilience.

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

Required Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Disaster Risk Management, Emergency Response.

Experience:

• At least 2 years field experience. Knowledge and experience from disaster response operations an asset;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages.

Language:

• Efficiency in English is a must.