Projects

Short Description:

Overall goal

The aim of OCHA in South Sudan is that interventions of humanitarian organisations that participate in OCHA-led coordination mechanisms are well coordinated and based on robust and timely evidence. Advocacy for humanitarian access, the respect of humanitarian principles and for the protection of people in need is effective.

Expected results

R1. Improved coordination and support to joint needs assessments, joint strategic response planning, and joint monitoring and reporting of collective results;

R2. Reinforced operational support to humanitarian leaders, with enhanced quality of contextual analysis, improved quality and timeliness of information, and strengthened context-specific coordination mechanisms;

R3. Improved engagement across the humanitarian system around the protection of affected people, with improved protection coordination, sustained analysis, monitoring and advocacy on humanitarian access, and system readiness.

Target group / Beneficiaries

The 2020 HRP encompasses projects to be undertaken by 217 organisations - 11 UN agencies, 63 international NGOs and 143 national NGOs. More organisations are delivering humanitarian assistance in South Sudan outside the HRP, including partners such as the Red Cross Movemnet and Doctors Without Borders, with whom OCHA collaborates and coordinates closely.

Indirect beneficiaries are the estimated 5.6 million people targeted for humanitarian assistance in 2020 and same amount in in 2021 provided the HRPs are fully funded. The number of direct beneficiaries will stay in over 217 organisations The Austrian funding will roughly benefit 3,732 people each year. The 2021 HRP document is not finalized yet, and will be submitted as soon it is available.

Activities

R1A1. Convene, chair and minute all meetings and facilitate all processes of the ICCG to enhance synergies and maximise impact of the humanitarian response;

R1A2. Ensure that when new response requirements and/or competing priorities arise, collective decision are taken to prioritize the use of common services (i.e. UNHAS and Logistics Cluster services);

R2A1. Preparation of context updates for HCT;

R2A2. Facilitate planning and undertaking of IRNAs in locations prioritised by ICWG, including mobilisation of inter-agency staff, liaison and briefing regarding security, coordination of logistical arrangements, and timely production and circulation of corresponding Reports;

R3A1. Convene and facilitate the access working group, maintaining a register of key strategic access issues and associated facts for the preparation of access snapshots and to inform high level engagement by the HC/HCT;

R3A2. Undertake access negotiations with all parties to the conflict in order to facilitate humanitarian partners’ operations and their security in contested locations, advocating with relevant interlocutors to remove access constraints for safe, unhindered and immediate access, and support security of their operations;

R3A3. Ensure protection, including from gender-based violence, is central to HC and HCT messaging by drafting relevant statements and key messages, and incorporating protection-related concerns in the HRP and information products;

R3A4. Convene regular meetings of the Civil Military Advisory Group (CMAG) as an advisory forum to humanitarian partners on best practice in relation to UN Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination that emphasizes the principles of separation and distinction between humanitarian and military activities, as well as OCHA participation and action related to MCDA meetings.

Context

As the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan enters its eighth year, approximately two thirds of the

population need some form of humanitarian assistance. Years of conflict, subnational violence,

food insecurity, severe flooding and now the COVID-19 pandemic have led to increased vulnerabilities

among the population. Conflict, economic crisis, flooding and disease outbreaks will remain key drivers of Humanitarian needs in South Sudan. Limited progress in the peace agreement and political and security tensions are expected to continue in 2021. Protection issues, including gender based violence, remain a concern. It is expected that the internally displaced people (IDPs) will remain in the newly transitioned IDP camps (formerly PoC sites) and host communities because of a lack of basic services in their areas of origin. Food insecurity is anticipated to deteriorate in 2021 compared to 2020, driven by insecurity, COVID-19 impacts, floods, continued economic crisis, and sharp increases in food prices.

The number of South Sudanese people who will need food assistance at the peak of the lean season in 2021 is estimated to increase substantially, pending IPC findings. The highest Levels of food security are concentrated in areas affected by recurring shocks, such as violence and floods, including in Jonglei, Upper Nile, Unity, Lakes and Warrap states. Limited availability of and access to basic WASH services and poor vaccination coverage are likely to cause disease outbreaks as COVID-19 continues to put additional pressure on an overstretched health system.