Views from the Frontline - General Call for participating organisations

“Views from the Frontline” aims at measuring progress towards implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) at the local level through the participation of different stakeholders across developing countries and regions. This independent review is being coordinated by the Global Network for Disaster Reduction (GN) in collaboration with

Keystone and implemented by civil society actors. It seeks to complement the biennial national level HFA Monitoring and Progress Review being facilitated and coordinated by the UN-ISDR. The results from the two initiatives should help to establish a clear picture of progress within the participating countries, serving to inform policy positions and recommendations for discussions at the forthcoming Global Platform for DRR in June 2009 and establish baselines to measure future progress

The GN has recently appointed the Regional and National Coordinating Organisations (R/NCOs) in those countries that have applied to join the review project and is currently conducting regional training workshops. The next stage in the process is to enlist civil society organisations with a presence at the local level to undertake the actual surveys to gather the required data. We are calling those organisations involved in the survey process “Participatory Organisations” (POs). The main role of the PO will be twofold :

1.    To administer the relevant survey questionnaire with the main respondent groups which include Local Government Officials, Civil Society Organisations and community representatives
2.    Hold community consultation meetings with all stakeholders to discuss the survey findings, draw out key recommendations and possible joint actions between the various stakeholders.

The PO will need to implement the surveys and consultations in close coordination with the National Coordinating Organisation. Each of the questionnaires will take approximately 30 minutes to complete and will be undertaken by the Participatory Organisations with the different respondent groups on a voluntary basis.

The more civil society organisations we have in this data gathering process the more credible and effective will be our work. There is probably no more compelling form of exerting influence over policy formulation and implementation then the collective force of large numbers of different civil society organisations and NGOs from different regions of the world, who share common concerns and are united in a collective action to build disaster resilient communities.

Some of the benefits of participating in the ‘Views from the Frontline’ include:
•    Opportunity for local-level perspectives to be amplified at the national and international levels
•    Focuses attention on need to strengthen local capacities
•    Opportunity to learn and share knowledge amongst peer organisations
•    Enhanced staff skills by taking part in a major action-research project designed to influence DRR policy and practice at all levels
•    Space created to engage and dialogue with local authorities to build relationships,  trust and mutual understanding
•    Part of global efforts to strengthen public accountability and mobilise resources for community-based disaster risk reduction
•    Empowering local communities to take knowledge-based action
•    Strengthen national DRR networks and build coalitions for joint actions

A broad range of civil society organisations are invited to join us as Participatory Organisations; including international NGOs with a presence at the local level; academic or research institutes; national and local NGOs; faith-based organisations; women’s associations and community-level groups – all are welcome to contribute towards this global initiative.

It’s easy to engage with this exciting and historic action-research initiative:
•    Register your interest now with the relevant National Coordinating Organisation in your country - see NCO summary for contact details.
•    Read the “Views from the Frontline” handbook (Spanish and French versions will be available soon)
•    Attend an NCO briefing in your country where the survey methodology and questionnaires will be explained
•    Undertake the actual surveys.
•    Forward the completed surveys either on-line or hard copy to your NCO
•    Support your NCO in defining policy positions and recommendations to be taken forward at local, national and international levels

A role for international as well as national Civil Society Organisations
The “Views from the Frontline” project should contribute towards a better understanding of disaster resilience at the local level, and particularly, a better understanding of progress towards implementation of the HFA within government and civil society bodies. This should open space for improved dialogue between public, civil society and community stakeholders responsible for disaster prevention in their countries and region.
 
Participation in the survey process should strengthen research, analytical and advocacy capacities amongst the project participants which in turn will contribute towards strengthening public accountability for the formulation and implementation of public policy by national and local governments. In support of these desired outcomes, preference has been given to the appointments of local / national organisations indigenous to their countries into the NCO role to encourage their participation and support their engagement with governments.

Notwithstanding the above, international organisations have a vital and complementary role in the review process:

•    Provision of Supplementary Resources: National NGOs and local CSOs have limited capacities to engage in these types of global initiatives - often related to the challenges of accessing  funding for building internal research, analytical and advocacy capabilities.

The Global Network has committed to providing a financial contribution towards the costs of the RCO and NCO roles. However, the high level of interest in the project (40 countries in 9 regions of the world) means that the available resources will need to be spread thinly.

Additional resources are required to ensure the project is effectively implemented. Accordingly the Global Network would like to ask those international organisations at the regional and country level to support the individual RCOs and NCOs to fulfil their role.  The type of support needed will vary according to individual needs but may take a variety of forms including:
o    A modest financial contribution to support coordination and the administering of the survey
o    Access to office and conferencing facilities to host training workshops
o    Manpower and technical expertise to help collate and analyse data
o    Support in the development of policy recommendations

If you are able to provide any of the above please make contact directly with the NCOs in the countries you are working - see list which provides contact details for the RCO and NCO in the participating countries.

•    Participation in the survey process: Many International NGOs have an operational presence at the local level where they are working directly with disaster-affected communities. Many are part of international networks, alliances, associations and partnerships with an extensive reach from national down to local grassroots level. Please encourage programme staff to register themselves and/or share this call and encourage others to register as Participating Organisations in the survey process. The greater the level of engagement the more robust will be the results and the more likely we are to build broad-based constituencies and coalitions for joint actions at local, national and international levels.

For more information, contact the Global Network's Chair, Marcus Oxley.

- Download the general call for Participating Organisations in pdf

- ESPAÑOL: Lea la convocatoria general para Organizaciones Partícipes en pdf

- FRANÇAIS: Lisez l'appel général pour les Organisations Participantes en pdf

- Download the handbook for Participating Organisations in pdf

- Download the list of Regional and National Coordinating Organisations in pdf