What is Views from the Frontline?
Views from the Frontline (VFL) remains the largest independent global review of disaster risk reduction at the local level. In 2009, GNDR launched this ground-breaking global monitoring initiative that involved the mobilisation of over 500 organisations across 69 countries to lead a participatory local monitoring process measuring the progress of UN and governments in strengthening community resilience. In 2011, GNDR was awarded a UN Sasakawa “Letter of Commendation” in relation to VFL for shifting the emphasis of global DRR policy dialogue on the need to close the implementation gap between national policies and local practices. Building on this success, VFL was implemented worldwide again in 2011 and 2013 and has gathered to date the views of more than 85,000 stakeholders across 129 countries.
Since its launch in 2009, experience from VFL has shown that mobilising at-risk people and local actors to participate in a bottom-up monitoring process can provide an excellent means to open dialogue, raise awareness and deepen understanding of risk and promote all-of-society engagement to strengthen resilience. It has highlighted gaps between national policies and local practices, identified the need for collaboration and partnership for successful local implementation, and identified recommendations for a post-2015 DRR framework. These recommendations were subsequently used to inform GNDR’s report “Reality Check – Impact at the Frontline”, which served as GNDR’s key advocacy position leading up to and during the World Conference on DRR (WCDRR) in Sendai, Japan. As a result of these VFL recommendations, accompanied with the joint advocacy from CSOs around the world, the Sendai Framework for DRR specifically states the importance of including local actors in risk governance, and instructs states to invest in multi-stakeholder approaches.
“It is necessary to empower local authorities and local communities to reduce disaster risk, including through resources, incentives and decision-making responsibilities, as appropriate” SFDRR Paragraph 19f.
About Views from the Frontline 2019
VFL 2019 aims to strengthen the inclusion and collaboration between at- risk people, civil society and governments in the design and implementation of policies and practices to reduce risks and strengthen resilience. This is done by measuring and directly implementing actions to support progress towards achieving an inclusive ‘people-centred’ approach to resilience-building. All the global development frameworks refer to the importance of including local actors; however, they fail to recognise the importance of monitoring the targets of global frameworks; especially monitoring SFDRR targets. VFL 2019 therefore fills this gap by providing complimentary monitoring, baseline and data to help guide actors to more effectively achieve the targets of the post- 2015 development frameworks, especially the SFDRR, strengthening the accountability of governments, intergovernmental agencies and all other stakeholders to local communities and their resilience priorities.
Aims & Objectives
VFL 2019 aims to strengthen inclusion and collaboration between governments, at-risk people and civil society in risk-reduction/resilience-building policies and practices.
Its primary objectives are:
- To establish a citizen-based process to measure local progress in inclusive risk governance
- To strengthen in-country civil society monitoring, DRR and advocacy capacities
- To support establishment of local-level baselines and generate local risk information to inform policy and local plans
Scope of VFL 2019
VFL 2019 spreads across 3 years. The 3 main components of VFL 2019 include: (a) Collection of data through surveys and consultations; (b) Reflection, which helps to analyse the threats and barriers faced by the communities and identify actions towards building their resilience; and (c) Local actions which promote building resilience through planning, implementation and influencing policies and practices at the local and national levels. The survey sample will be conducted in 15 communities, with approximately: a) 10% of households randomly sampled; b) 50 individuals from vulnerable groups taking part in community focus group discussions c) 10 CSO representatives interviewed; and d) 10 local government representatives interviewed, per community.
Partner Organisations for VFL 2019
VFL 2019 will be implemented in 50 countries across Asia, the Pacific, Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa (List_of_50_countries.pdf). Implementation of the programme will be done in two phases, wherein the first phase will focus on data collection and the second phase on data analysis and use of findings. In the first phase, Partner Organisations will be responsible for data collection by using survey and consultation tools to capture the perspectives of the communities, civil societies and local government. They will also need to use the data consolidation tool SurveyGizmo to consolidate the findings and submit for analysis. In the second phase, based on the key findings of the data analysis, Partner Organisations will engage at the local level with communities to develop local action plans to address the gaps and strengthen resilience; and support the NCO where necessary to develop the national report and engage in advocacy activities at the national level.
In July 2018, GNDR invited applications for National Coordinating Organisations to implement Views from the Frontline (VFL) 2019. In September 2018, after a rigorous screening process, Huvadhoo Aid was selected as the National Coordinating Organisation for Maldives. A National Advisory Committee was set up in February 2019, and communities and respondents were identified.
Following are the identified communities wherein VFL 2019 in Maldives will be implemented:
Upper North Region
- HA. Hoarafushi
- HA. Dhidhdhoo
- HDh. Nolhivaranfaru
- Sh. Maroshi
North Region
- N. Holhudhoo
- R. Alifushi
Central & South Central Region
- Th. Thimarafushi
- L. Gan
- M. Kolhufushi
Upper South Region
- GA. Vilingili
- GDh. Madaveli
- GDh. Vaadhoo
- GDh. Gadhdhoo
- GA Gemanafushi
Addu City
- Feydhoo
Huvadhoo Aid invites applications from not-for-profit organisations to implement VFL 2019 as Partner Organisations. Please find detailed criteria and application form call-for-applications-for-partner-organisations-vfl-2019-
Please note that the selected Partner Organisation will have to pass through GNDR London’s anti-terrorism databases and its principles.
For more information, please contact.
Imad Mohamed
Executive Director
Huvadhoo Aid
Phone: 7662474, Email: imad.mhmd@gmail.com