Resilience Exchange Network

Resilience Exchange Network

International and National Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs, NNGOs) in South Sudan work in all sectors across relief, recovery, rehabilitation, and development. The majority deliver humanitarian and basic services including: health, water and sanitation, education, shelter with others working in governance, human rights, civil society, and infrastructure development.

The Resilience Exchange Network was established on 1 February, 2018 following a meeting of interested INGOs to discuss issues around resilience programming, financing, delivery of humanitarian and development assistance to populations in need in South Sudan. A meeting of both INGOs and NNGOs was held on 22 February, 2018 to select a Technical Working Group and finalise terms of reference for the network. Resilience programming may be a potential solution to the increasing cost of the delivery of goods and services in an increasingly fragile context with burgeoning costs (USD 1.72 billion in 2018, increasing from USD 1.6 billion in 2017 and USD 1.3 billion in 2016).

There is a growing shift towards resilience programming and opportunities exist to ensure that communities can be supported to be more self-reliant. However, efforts and approaches to resilience are fragmented; and medium to long-term funding is limited in the South Sudan context. This is due, inter alia, to a history of cycles of violence eroding gains, the difficulty building partnerships with Government institutions at national and sub-national levels and a perception that resilience programming is not a viable option in conflict settings. There are, however, examples of successful and appropriate resilience programming which present opportunities to the current situation.

In the interests of establishing partnerships and collaboration on resilience programming, the following terms of reference (ToR) present the objectives and structure of the Resilience Exchange Network; and define the roles and responsibilities of the Technical Working Group elected to manage the activities of the Resilience Exchange Network. The ToR is non-binding, however, the Technical Working Group members have agreed to implement it with vigour and in the spirit of collaboration and partnership.

Objectives of the Resilience Exchange Network:

  • To facilitate networking and coordination of NGOs engaged in resilience programming in South Sudan.
  • To provide a platform through which NGOs share knowledge, expertise and learning on resilience programming; and potential mainstreaming of the resilience agenda within and across development and humanitarian interventions in South Sudan.
  • To provide opportunities for joint representation and communication on resilience programming with the wider humanitarian infrastructure through internal and external collaboration and engagement.

Membership and Structure of the Resilience Exchange Network:

  • The Resilience Exchange Network is open to all interested national and international NGOs.
  • All NGOs proposing themselves as members of the Resilience Exchange Network must also be members of the South Sudan NGO Forum; legally registered and operating in South Sudan.
  • The Resilience Exchange Network is coordinated by an annually elected Technical Working Group of five NGOs representatives.
  • The members of the Technical Working Group are proposed by their respective head of agency and represented at senior management level where this is delegated by the head of agency.
  • The process of annual selection of the Technical Working Group will be agreed in advance however of the five members, the Chair and one sitting member will be retained for an additional year. Three new members will be selected. This is to ensure continuity. Where a sitting member wishes to retain membership on the Technical Working Group, they may propose themselves for selection along with other nominees.

The Technical Working Group:

  • The network will be co-ordinated by the Technical Working Group within the framework of these terms of reference and will coordinate through meetings, electronic networking, etc.
  • The Technical Working Group will serve for a period of one year starting 1 March, 2018.
  • Members of the Technical Working Group will meet regularly, at least monthly, to plan the activities of the network.
  • The Technical Working Group will ensure that minutes are kept of the proceedings at all meetings of the Technical Working Group and the Network.
  • Approved Minutes and additional documentation from meetings will be shared with all NNGOs and INGOs through the NGO Forum communication channels primarily and will be shared by each agency contact point.
  • At the request of the Chair, or of three or more Technical Working Group members, a meeting of the Technical Working Group may be convened with reasonable notice, preferably five working days in advance.
  • The Chair shall preside at all meetings of the Technical Working Group. If the Chair is absent, the members of the Technical Working Group present shall choose one of their number to chair the meeting.
  • A quorum shall be three members of the Technical Working Group.
  • A member of the Technical Working Group shall cease to hold position if their organisation: (a) ceases to be a member of the NGO Forum; (b) actively withdraws from the Resilience Exchange Network; (c) the organisation‘s representative is absent without good cause from three consecutive Technical Working Group meetings; or (d) Technical Working Group decide with justification that the member agency should cease to be a member
  • The members of the Resilience Exchange Network and the Technical Working Group members may propose changes to the terms of reference which will be agreed at a general meeting. The terms of reference will then be revised and circulated with the minutes of the relevant meeting proposing the changes.

Roles and Responsibilities of the Technical Working Group

  • Coordinate the functions of the Resilience Exchange Network as outlined in this terms of reference or as proposed by members during regular meetings of the network.
  • Facilitate the formation of working groups, where relevant as the Resilience Exchange Network evolves.
  • Develop plans and circulate to members to facilitate communication of events or activities organised by the Resilience Exchange Network members or other interested parties.
  • Meet on a monthly basis, or as required to review the progress of the Network, and discuss next actions.
  • Serve as a channel for donors, government stakeholders and other actors to network with the Exchange Network members, on issues related to resilience programming, and organise general meetings as required.
  • Consult and develop shared positions on issues related to building resilience through lobbying, advocacy and influencing key stakeholders and policy formulation where this is prioritised by members.
  • Provide a platform to share and discuss the measurement of resilience programming and how this differs from conventional M&E Tools.
  • Identify the scope of resilience programming across NGOs in South Sudan; and facilitate mapping of resilience programming directly or through other means.

Members of the Technical Working Group:

Organisation Position
World Vision Chair
Goal Member
Oxfam Member
Save the Children Member
STO Member
Plan International