Job Title

Humanitarian, Development, Peace and Private Sector analysis consultant

Location: Juba, South Sudan

Reporting to: CSRF Director

Contract: Consultant – Short term

Timeframe: February – March 2025

Humanitarian, Development, Peace and the interaction with the Private Sector

in South Sudan – Analysis and Outreach

Introduction

The Conflict Sensitivity Resource Facility (CSRF) supports the aid community in South Sudan, with support from the British, Swiss and Dutch donor missions alongside the EU, through provision of technical analysis, services and advice in integrating conflict-sensitive principles and practices into donor strategies and donor-funded programming in South Sudan. Conflict sensitivity is a programming approach that emphasises strong contextual analysis and programmatic flexibility to minimise aid’s negative consequences and maximise positive impacts. Conflict sensitivity is particularly important in volatile, conflict-affected contexts where inadequate understanding of conflict dynamics can lead to donors and implementing partners inadvertently exacerbating the conflict.

Background

There is a looming ‘development paradox’ at the heart of the aid sector in South Sudan. On the one hand, international diplomats and donors have been increasingly frustrated at the short-term sticking plasters to respond to over forty years of humanitarian need in South Sudan. There is a search for ‘durable solutions’ to protracted displacement, ‘HDP Nexus’ approaches to improve coherence, and more pressure on ‘development actors’ to cover gaps resulting from humanitarian cuts.

On the other hand, many diplomats and donors are themselves reluctant to invest in longer-term approaches. The perceived failure of huge developmental investments in the CPA years (2005-11) and early independence (2011-13) to promote responsive governance and sustainable service delivery is one reason behind this. Donors are also unwilling to support and channel resources through state structures until they see the Government of South Sudan implement financial management reforms and invest its own resources.

However, development has not stopped in South Sudan. It rumbles on, manifested variously as new high-rise buildings, tarmacked roads, mobile phone masts, the extension of electricity grids, mineral extraction, whilst the majority of the oil exploration is on hold. It often follows the contours of aid operations, though is rarely funded directly through aid programming. So who is doing this ‘development and private sector engagement’ and what does this mean for the aid sector?

Objective

• Analyse and map development and private sector partnerships and recommend conflict sensitive new opportunities

Research Questions

• Who are the main private sector organisations, networks and practices in South Sudan, and how can they be usefully categorised into actor groups?
• How are these actor groups contributing to peace and conflict in South Sudan, if at all?
• How do international aid actors (directly or indirectly) engage with these actor groups and what is the estimated scale of this engagement (e.g. in terms of programming, procurement etc.)?
• What lessons have been identified over the past few decades about the opportunities, risks and dilemmas for international aid actors to engage these actor groups effectively?
• What ideas and options are there for international aid actors working across the HDP Nexus to engage these actor groups in ways that avoid doing harm and enhance their contribution to sustainable peace?
• Map the private sector actors
  • Some research and analysis articles are references in the round table draft below, however there are new articles and these can be searched in the CSRF research repository Repositories – csrf-southsudan noting that CSRF will launch a new website in January 2025*. The CSRF Research and Analysis Manager dotim@csrf-southsudan.org if you require support to search additional articles
• Design a Roundtable – with the CSRF Outreach and Convening team below, to look at conflict sensitivity risks and opportunities of engagement between the Private Sector and the Humanitarian, Development and Peace initiatives in 2025 – 2026
  • This roundtable will convene representatives from donors, UN agencies, INGOs, NNGOs, private sector and researchers to pursue the following objectives (as already outlined above, there may be additions based on findings from your analysis):
    • Build an improved understanding of how private sector and other non-aid actors are contributing to development in South Sudan, and the implications for peace and conflict;
    • Share experience and lessons on how international aid actors have been able to contribute towards peace over the past two decades;
    • Share ideas and identify entry points for how the international aid sector can engage the private sector in a way that avoids doing harm and contributes to peace;
    • Strengthen connections between international aid actors working on the humanitarian, peace and development pillars to encourage greater coordination and collaboration to strengthen collective impact.
  • Key outputs
    • Draft an updated Terms of Reference for a roundtable; identify participants; draft agenda and facilitation guide; prepare PPT presentation; co-facilitate discussion; produce written summary of the event?

Relevance

Intended Audience

The CSRF seeks to produce research that is relevant for the aid sector (donors, UN, INGOs, NNGOs). Engagement at the round table will also include Private Sector actors and Government representatives.

Methodology and location of work

• Remote desk based
• Juba, South Sudan

Process and output

This activity will put a strong emphasis on “process” alongside “product.” Relevant literature should be reviewed for relevance to the current context, while interviews and focus group discussions should be conducted with strict adherence to conflict sensitivity. CSRF also uses its research process to build strong engagement among participants – donors, practitioners, analysts and communities. The consultant will be expected to develop a plan for the process in cooperation with the CSRF team. Such a plan might include:

• Develop a research structure and key focus areas – such as methodology and relevant literature.
• Engage with a selected reference group of aid actors
• Review of background literature (including unpublished ‘grey’ literature obtained through stakeholders and interviewees) and existing mapping
• Interviews and focus group discussion with specific key informants (donor agencies, government authorities, private sector representatives, civil society and community representatives, etc.)
• Submission of the first draft discussion paper including mapping (15 pages including recommendations)
• Roundtable
• Time slots for discussion and feedback
• Revisions and further final review
• Submission of the final draft research paper including mapping (15 pages including recommendations), to the CSRF.

Timeline

The research is expected to take approx. 25 days of work, to commence mid February 2025 with the final product ideally due by mid-March 2025.

Requirements

The CSRF is looking to contract consultants with the following profile:

• Excellent understanding of the context of South Sudan, especially in relation to the aid sector
• Research and/or practitioner experience relevant to the subject matter (e.g. HDP and private sector engagement and procurement etc).
• Good understanding of conflict and gender sensitivity principles and practice in South Sudan
• Strong network of relevant key relationships and informants in the HDP and private sector in South Sudan
• Experience conducting reviews of large volume of documents and data
• Demonstrated ability to handle and communicate sensitive information
• Demonstrated ability to produce clear, quality written content in English
• Ability to travel and interact with the aid sector and private sector in South Sudan
• Self-driven ability of problem-solving, in order to complete the work within the expected timeframe.

Important to note

• The CSRF understands the challenges with accessing some of the target locations. The CSRF practises an adaptive management approach, and therefore, will work to support the consultant tasked with this research throughout the process, including making necessary adjustments as and when the need arises.
• Cognizant of the challenges that may be associated with this research, consultants are encouraged to identify one other ‘support consultant’.
• Where pairs are involved, the CSRF strongly encourages at least one of the consultants to be a South Sudanese citizen. Female South Sudanese researchers are strongly encouraged.

To apply

• Applicants should submit a cover letter that explains their interest, skills, proposed approach, relevant expertise and availability in doing the work described, as well as a daily rate.
• Include your CV which should include at least two references and at least two examples of previous research or analysis (ideally where the applicant is the lead author). You can provide links where CSRF can find such previous research or analyses.
• CSRF recommends a team of researchers with women and South Sudanese nationals with experience in private sector engagement in South Sudan

Please send your expression of interest to info@csrf-southsudan.org or hand delivery to Saferworld main Office in Hai Jerusalem (next to Plan International).

Deadline for applications is 24th February 2025, 4:30pm CAT info@csrf-southsudan.org. A decision will be made on 25th February 2025 by 4:30pm CAT.

How to Apply:

To apply

• Applicants should submit a cover letter that explains their interest, skills, proposed approach, relevant expertise and availability in doing the work described, as well as a daily rate.
• Include your CV which should include at least two references and at least two examples of previous research or analysis (ideally where the applicant is the lead author). You can provide links where CSRF can find such previous research or analyses.
• CSRF recommends a team of researchers with women and South Sudanese nationals with experience in private sector engagement in South Sudan

Please send your expression of interest to info@csrf-southsudan.org or hand delivery to Saferworld main Office in Hai Jerusalem (next to Plan International).

Deadline for applications is 24th February 2025, 4:30pm CAT info@csrf-southsudan.org. A decision will be made on 25th February 2025 by 4:30pm CAT.