Flooding in Twic East County, Jonglei State, South Sudan, represents a recurring socio-environmental challenge with profound implications for livelihoods, food security, and community resilience. This study investigates the socio-economic impacts of flooding on households and evaluates the effectiveness of existing flood management strategies. A mixedmethods approach was employed, combining household surveys (n = 100), key informant interviews, and focus group discussions across five payams: Pakeer, Ajuong, Nyuak, Kongor, and Lith. Findings indicate widespread livelihood disruption, including crop loss (82%), livestock mortality (65%), and displacement (67%). Female-headed households were disproportionately affected, exhibiting higher post-flood food insecurity. Households employed adaptive strategies such as temporary relocation, livelihood diversification, and reliance on humanitarian aid, reflecting locally informed resilience. Analysis of flood management initiatives revealed that community-led interventions, particularly dyke maintenance and early warning systems, significantly improved perceived effectiveness and reduced evacuation times.
Regression analysis identified community participation, prior flood experience, and access to early warning systems as significant predictors of adaptive capacity. The study reframes flooding as a socio-ecological process shaped by the interaction of environmental exposure, institutional support, and community agency. Policy implications underscore the need for integrated, participatory flood management strategies that combine structural and non-structural interventions, targeted social protection, and inclusive governance. These insights contribute to disaster risk reduction scholarship and provide actionable guidance for enhancing community resilience in flood-prone regions of South Sudan.
Keywords: flooding impacts, flood management, community resilience, food security, socio-economic impact, disaster risk reduction, Twic East County, South Sudan.