Overview : - Background
Following four decades of civil war, South Sudan’s independence in July 2011 was met with international goodwill focused on putting the country on a development trajectory that finally brings about food security, health, education, and economic growth and development. However, a resumption of civil war in 2013 hindered the country’s road to economic development. The protracted conflict has created a humanitarian crisis in the country that has left tens of thousands of people dead, displaced millions more, and worsened food insecurity in the country. Livelihoods have further been battered by the effects of climate change due to more frequent and prolonged droughts and floods as well as pest infestations. In 2017, a growing concern about the eroding coping capacity of people, communities and institutions in South Sudan led development partners to pause and reflect on their efforts and the growing vulnerability. In October 2017, a consultation among donors, Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) and United Nations (UN) agencies noted that in spite of billions of dollars of food and other humanitarian and development assistance, food insecurity in South Sudan steadily increased over the period 2015–2017. And, while conflict and economic challenges have largely driven the country’s dramatic increase in food insecurity, health risks, exposure to heightened climate variabilities, lack of access to information and services and some social norms are contributing significantly to the erosion of household and community resilience and associated vulnerability to hunger, with women and children being disproportionately affected. Recognizing that individual donor or sectoral efforts were not changing the situation, it was concluded that development partners must find a new way of working – one which moves beyond coordination towards strategic integration and convergence. A call was therefore issued to direct development and humanitarian assistance towards protecting and building resilience of people, communities and institutions, and increasing attention to tackle the drivers of vulnerability. The year 2018 began with elevated attention to resilience as a primary objective for development and humanitarian efforts. The year ended with substantial progress made in laying the foundation for advancing integrated efforts to build resilience in South Sudan. The prospect for renewed peace through the Revitalized Peace Agreement signed in September 2018, gives reason for cautious optimism that real change and meaningful progress can be made in improving the lives and livelihoods of South Sudanese people, communities and institutions. Going forward, a first step to reducing vulnerability and sustainable recovery will be building the resilience of people to absorb shocks, adapt to shocks in the existing context, and transform their communities to be socially cohesive. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works to support the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS). The R-ARCSS provides for strengthening national institutions, stabilizing the economy, and entrenching peace and social cohesion. One of the key challenges in anticipation of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) will be a strong base of research evidence to inform investments in delivering the promise of the R-ARCSS for both the Government and its partners. It is in this context that UNDP is seeking for the services of an international research firm to partner with in delivering the critical research evidence needed. Call for Proposal Addressed to: Attention: Procurement and Supply Chain Specialist Reference: International Research Firm to establish an evidence in support of resilience-building and in the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan Proposals should be received by UNDP no later than 10th December 2019 at 11.30 AM (Juba time) Via Emails; aicha.cherif@undp.org and jose.manzano@undp.org | 
