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Roleofcivilsocietyplatformsincoordinatingdisasterriskreductionandpost-emergencyinterventionsResearchreport,findings,anddraftproposalsfortoolkit14thMay2020

1. Executivesummary...................................................................................................................22. Introduction..............................................................................................................................3

1a.InitialfindingsregardingDRR,responseandrecoveryorientationofplatforms....................31b.ProfilingtheorientationofForusandGNDRplatformstoDRR,responseandrecovery........31c.Consultationwithplatformsinlinewiththestatedobjective:‘Toresearchtheroleofcivilsocietyleadersincoordinatingdisasterriskreductionandpostemergencyinterventions’........3

3. Methodology.............................................................................................................................44. Limitationsofthereport...........................................................................................................65. CaseStudies..............................................................................................................................7

5a.Distinctionbetweenrolesinintensiveandextensivedisasters..............................................75b.Coordinationandcommunicationsrolesinintensivedisasters..............................................75c.Managingrelationswithgovernmentandinternationalactors..............................................75d.Ensuringthatresponseleadstosustainablerecoveryafterintensivedisasters.....................75e.Limitedawarenessofthenatureandimpactofextensivedisastersonlocalpopulations.....85f.Theroleofplatformsandmembersingatheringandsharinglocalknowledgeofextensivedisasters.........................................................................................................................................85g.Theneedtoadvocateforeffectiveresponsetoextensivedisasters.......................................85h.Resourcemobilisationforextensivedisasters........................................................................8

6. Findings.....................................................................................................................................95a.SummaryofFindings...............................................................................................................95b.ObservationsonFindings......................................................................................................12

7. Discussion................................................................................................................................138. ProposalsforToolkitproduction.............................................................................................15

8a.ToolkitContentOutline.........................................................................................................15Formatforaccessingthetoolkit..................................................................................................16

9. Nextsteps:Timetableforcompletionoftoolkit.....................................................................1710. Conclusion...........................................................................................................................17Annexes............................................................................................................................................18

Annex1:Hypothesesinformingconsultationphase...................................................................19Annex2:DraftCaseStudies.........................................................................................................21

CaseStudy1:Inthewakeofthewar:StrengtheningCivilSocietyrespondingtodisastersinColumbia.................................................................................................................................21CaseStudy2:Dhaka,Bangladesh:Respondingtoeverydaydisastersincityslums...............28CaseStudy3:India:TopDownandBottomUpresponsestodisasters..................................31CaseStudy5:Mali-civilsocietyinthefiringline-theconsequencesofconflict..................34CaseStudy5:Nepal-Facingtheearthquake-civilsocietyfacingintensivedisaster.............37Casestudy6.Uganda:linkingdisasterresponsefromlocaltogovernmentlevelthroughpartnerships............................................................................................................................40

Annex3:Findingswithsupportingdata......................................................................................43Annex4:Toolkitmicrositedesignsuggestions............................................................................56Annex5:NoteonCOVID-19........................................................................................................58Annex6:Tablecross-referencingfindingstocasestudies..........................................................59Annex7:Contactdates................................................................................................................60

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1. Executivesummary

Thisreportisproducedinlinewiththeprojectspecificationasagreedintherevisionof18thDecember2019.(Stage10:‘Productionofresearchreport,findings,anddraftproposalsfortoolkitandpresentationtoSteeringgroup’).Initialresearchforthisprojectrecognisedthatmanyplatformsdonothaveanexplicitfocusondisasterriskreduction,responseandrecovery.Researchalsosuggestedthatanimportantentrypointforsuchplatformsmightbetherelevanceofaddressingthesmallscaleextensive‘everydaydisasters’whichunderminedevelopmentgainsfromtheirworkinsustainabledevelopmentandclimatechangeadaptation.FurtherconsultationthroughquestionnaireshighlightedthecomparativeemphasesofCSOplatformswhoaremembersofForuswithGNDRplatformswhohaveamoreexplicitfocusonDRR,responseandrecovery.ThisresearchresultedinhypothesesconcerningtheopportunitiesandchallengesforplatformsinrespondingtodisastersandthesehypothesesformedthebasisofconsultationswithplatformmemberstogatherricherexperientiallearningfromtheirworkAnalysisofalltheaboveresearchandcomplementarydeskresearchresultedinproductionofaseriesofsixcasestudiesillustratingdiversecontextsandcivilsocietyactionsinrelationtodisasters.Ithighlightedchallengesofsecuringcivilsocietyidentityandparticipation,thevalueofpartnerships,coordinationandcollaboration,andtheimportanceoffoundingactionandadvocacyonlocalknowledge,needsandpriorities.Theanalysisgeneratedaseriesoffindingsrelatingtoplatformrolesinintensiveandextensivedisasters,whichinintensivedisastershighlighteffectivecoordination,collaborationandcommunicationsbetweenallactors,thechallengesofCSOexclusionfromtheseprocessesandtheroleCSOplatformsplayinstrengtheningCSOinclusionindisasterresponse.InextensivedisastercontextsfindingsemphasisedthevalueoflocalknowledgeandpeertopeerlearningbetweenCSOs.ItwasalsofoundthatCSOplatformsplayanimportantroleinadvocacybasedonthisknowledgeandthateffectiveDRRunderpinsintegratedapproachestodevelopment.FinallyCSOPlatformsalsoplayasignificantroleincapacitydevelopmentforintegratedapproaches.ThereportproposesastructureandcontentsforatoolkittosupportCSOPlatformsineffectivedisasterriskreduction,responseanddelivery.Thisisderivedfromthefindingsoftheresearch,identifyingtopicsrelevanttoplatforms.Theseareoutlinedandawebmicrositegivingflexibleandtailoredaccesstothecontentisproposed,complementedwiththefacilitytodownloadofflineversionsofthecontent.Anunderlyingthemeoftheresearchisthatwhilemanyplatformsdonotseethemselvesasconcernedwithdisasterriskreduction,responseandrecoveryinthisfocusisrelevanttoanintegratedapproachtodevelopment,underpinningworkinsustainabledevelopmentandclimatechangeadaptation.

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2. IntroductionFromprojectinceptionthisprojecthasproceededthroughanumberofresearchstagesrespondingtotheoriginaltermsofreferenceandoriginalagreedproposalfromInventingFutures 1a.InitialfindingsregardingDRR,responseandrecoveryorientationofplatforms Theprojectdesignwasrevisedafterinitialdeskresearch1inthelightofresearchfindingsthatthemajorityofForusmemberplatformsdidnothaveanexplicitfocusonDRR,responseorrecoveryfromdisasters.Theapproachwasthereforerevisedtoprofilethebroaderactivityofplatforms,recognisingthattheiractivitiesinsustainabledevelopment,climatechangeadaptation,civilsocietystrengtheningetc.mayincludeimplicitexamplesofinvolvementinDRR,responseandrecoveryandthatthesemightaddressextensive(or‘everyday’disasters)whichleadtoasignificantproportionoflosses,aswellasthemorevisibleintensivedisasters.WealsoagreedtoconsultGNDRplatformsaswellasForusplatforms,giventhattheformerweremorelikelytohavespecificexperienceofDRR,responseandrecovery. 1b.ProfilingtheorientationofForusandGNDRplatformstoDRR,responseandrecovery Thereportbuildsonthepreviousreport‘IdentificationandProfilingofPlatforms’(12thFebruary2020).Thisreportwasbasedonquestionnaireconsultationof35organisationsandfoundthatwhilemanyplatformsdonotdemonstratespecificemphasisonDRR–theconcernofthisstudy–theydoconsiderthreatstodevelopment.Climatechangeisadominantconcerninmanycontexts,andindeedisprioritisedbyanumberofGNDRplatforms,andthenexusofclimatechangeandDRRisalsoconsideredbyseveralplatforms.SustainableDevelopment,ClimateChange,PovertyandDRRinterlock.Italsonotedthatmanyplatformsemphasisecoordination.Theimportanceofsharedactionandsupportvariesdependingonthegroupofplatforms,relatedtotheirrespectivemissions.Learningbetweenplatformswhoseworkingmethodsarecontrastedinthiswaymayaidunderstandingofhowthesedifferentmethodscanberelevanttoallplatforms.Finally,theexamplecomparisonanddialoguebetweenNFNandtheGNDRNepaleseplatforms(ledbyNSET)suggestsinsightsandhorizontallearningbetweenthesetwoorganisationsprovidingbroaderinsightsintostrategiesandtacticsforeffectivecoordinationandmobilisationofmemberCSOs;whetherinnarrowlydefinedDRRandresponseormorebroadlydefinedreductionoferosionofdevelopmentgains. 1c.Consultationwithplatformsinlinewiththestatedobjective:‘Toresearchtheroleofcivilsocietyleadersincoordinatingdisasterriskreductionandpostemergencyinterventions’2 Theaimatthisstageoftheprojectwastoconsultwithbetween10and20organisations3inordertogatherricherqualitativecasestudymaterialprovidinginformationinlinewiththe 1DeskResearchandGeographicalFocus:SubmissiontoSteeringCommittee.11thDecember20192Contract:22ndNovember2019.Page5.

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projectobjective.ThisstagehasbeenundertakenwithadaptationsresultingfromtheconstraintsoftheCOVID-19pandemic4,whichmadethegroupwebinarapproachoriginallyenvisagedlogisticallyimpossible,sothatinmostcasesmaterialwasgatheredthroughindividualconsultations.Wewereabletoconsultwith18ofthe22potentialparticipantsagreedwiththeForussecretariat(13March2020).Ineachcasewehadatleastonediscussionofapproximately1hourdurationwhichwasrecordedandtranscribed.Inseveralcaseswehadfollow-upcommunicationsandinonecasewereabletoorganiseafurtherdiscussionbetweentwoorganisationsinColumbia.Thedetailofthisapproachappearsinthemethodologybelowandfindingsfromthisphasefollow.

3. MethodologyThemethodologyisdesignedtoaddresstheobjectiveasstatedintheToRfortheproject:'Theobjectiveofthisprojectistoresearchtheroleofcivilsocietyleadersincoordinatingdisasterriskreductionandpost-emergencyinterventions"Itmeetsthisobjectivethroughaparticipatoryactionresearchapproachwithcivilsocietyleaders,emphasisingtheactivecontributionsofallparticipantsinpresentingaccountsofactions,sharedcriticalreflectionontheseandco-creationofknowledgefromexperience.Theresearchisentirelyqualitativeinnatureandahybridgroundedtheoryapproachhasbeenadopted.Inanentirelygroundedapproachnohypothesesareestablishedandobservationsandtheoriesemergefromthequalitativedatagatheringandanalysis.5Howeverinrealitynoresearchishypothesisfreeandlearningproceedsiterativelythroughsingle,doubleandtriplelooplearning.6Inparticipatoryactionresearchanimportantelementisiterativeconsultationofparticipantsor‘memberchecking’7.Thisprojecthasthereforeadoptedahybridapproachwherehypotheseshaveformedthebasisofinvestigation,butaremodifiedinresponsetothedatagatheredateachstage.ForexampleaninitialhypothesiswasthatplatformmemberswouldprovideinformationonDRR,responseandrecovery.Howeverdeskconsultationfoundthisnot,generally,tobethecase.Thisandotherfactorsledtoevolutionofanewhypothesisinvolvinginvestigationof 3Contract:22ndNovember2019.P8.Agreedrevisedproposalsof18December2019specify‘approximately20organisations’(P2)4SeenoteonCOVID-19inAnnex5GLASER,B.andSTRAUSS,A.(1967)TheDiscoveryofGroundedTheory:StrategiesForQualitativeResearch.NewYork:Aldine.STRAUSS,A.CORBIN,J.(1990)Basicsofqualitativeresearch:Groundedtheoryproceduresandtechniques.ThousandOaks,US:SagePublications.6ARGYRIS,C&SCHON,D.(1974)TheoryinPractice.Increasingprofessionaleffectiveness.SanFrancisco,CA:Jossey-Bass.7YIN,R.(2003).CaseStudyResearchDesignandMethods(3rdedn.)ThousandOaks.US:Sage.(page97)

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implicitinvolvementsinDRR,responseandrecoverywhichwasinvestigatedduringthequestionnairephase.Thisledtofurtherdevelopmentofhypothesesasabasisforfurtherconsultations,whichwereexpressedforinternalusebytheresearchersintwoconceptualdiagrams(SeeAnnex1:Hypothesesinformingconsultationphase).Thesediagramsexpressedinterrelationshipsidentifiedintheinitialphasesoftheresearch,andwereusedbytheresearcherstosensitisethemtothemestobeexploredinconsultations,withoutconstrainingthemfromexploringthetopicsandthemesemergingduringconsultations.Consultationswerebasedonrecordedskypecallswithparticipants,inmostcasesone-to-one(seesection5,‘Limitations’).InonecaseathreewayconversationwasarrangedbetweentheresearcherandtwoparticipantorganisationsinColumbia.AnattempttohaveatheewayconversationwithCCODandtheCercledesDroitsdel’HommeetdeDéveloppementinCongoBrazzavillefailed,althoughonetooneconversationscontinue.Theparticipatingorganisationsaredetailedbelow: Forusplatforms GNDRplatforms CountryVANI UDYAMA India PREDES PeruASONOG Honduras

CCONG FundaciónAzimuth. ColumbiaUNNGOF Deniva,HumanitarianPlatform UgandaNFN NSET NepalCCOAIB RwandaCCOD CercledesDroitsdel’Homme

etdeDéveloppementCongo

NAHAB

ParticipatoryDevelopmentActionProgram.

Bangladesh

FECONG AFAD Mali

ArecordofthescheduleofrecordingsisincludedinAnnex7.Therecordingsofconsultationsweretranscribed,initiallyusingmachinetranscriptionsoftwareandthenmanuallycheckedandrevised.WherenecessarytheywerealsotranslatedsothattheresearchphasecouldbeconductedinEnglish.SelectedcountrycontextswereusedasabasisfordrawingonconversationswithparticipantsinthosecountriesandcomplementaryresearchdatatoproduceaseriesofsixcasestudiesdepictingCSOplatformexperiencesinrelationtointensiveandextensivedisasters(SeeAnnex2:Casestudies). Thenextphaseofhypothesisgenerationwasbasedoncomparativequalitativeanalysisofallconversations,employinganinformalcodingmethod8,leadingtoaseriesoffindings,detailedbelowinsection5,whichformthebasisofproposalsfortoolkitproduction

8YIN,R.(2003).CaseStudyResearchDesignandMethods(3rdedn.)ThousandOaks.US:Sage.(page110)

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answeringtheprojectobjectiveToresearchtheroleofcivilsocietyleadersincoordinatingdisasterriskreductionandpostemergencyinterventions,byproducinga‘bestpracticessharingtool’basedontheaimoftheresearch:‘tounderstandwhichfactorsledtosuccessfulcoordinationbetweennationalcivilsocietyorganizationspriorto,during,andafterdisasters.Thiswillinclude(butisnotlimitedto):

• governancestructures• prevention/mitigationactions• modesofcommunication• nationalprogramsputinplace• partnershipsformed• policiesorlegislationdraftedandimplementedbylocalandnationalgovernments’9

Theresearchmethodologywillcontinuetobebasedonthisiterativelooplearningapproach,researchingwithparticipants,asthefindingsandcontentproposalsareinturnofferedtoparticipantsforfeedback.

4. Limitationsofthereport Aprincipleoftheresearchwas‘researchwith’ratherthan‘researchfor’andthisapproachisfelttobevalidandrelevantindevelopingpeertopeerlearningfrompractitioners.Thefollowinglimitationstothereportareidentified:

1. Participativeresearchisvaluableinexaminingcomplexphenomenaanddrawingonexperientiallearning.Howeveritisdependentonrelativelylimitedsamplingcomparedwithquantitativemethodsandisalsodependentonanalysisandinterpretation.Neverthelessaqualitativemethodsuchasisemployedhereismosteffectivewherethedataiscomplexinnatureratherthansimpleandcausal.

2. TheDRRorientationofparticipantswaslimitedandthisrestrictedthecontributionsofForusmembersinparticular.HowevertheresearchrecognisedthataDRRorientationwasimplicitinbroaderdevelopmentworksostudywasextended,withafocusoneverydaydisastersalongsideintensivedisasters.

3. TheCOVID-19pandemiccoincidedwiththeresearchperiod,withamajorityofparticipantsinlockdownandoftenexperiencinglimitedcommunicationsasaresult.Makingcontactwasthereforemoretime-consumingthanexpectedandthelogisticalchallengesofconnectingtwoormoreparticipantssimultaneouslyledtomostconsultationsbeingone-to-one.SeethenoteonCOVID-19inAnnex5

9Contract:22ndNovember2019.P6

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5. CaseStudies InformationfromconsultationsconductedwithForusandGNDRplatforms,combinedwithdeskresearchwasusedtocomposeaseriesofsixcasestudies(SeeAnnex2forthefullstudies):1:Columbia-Inthewakeofthewar:StrengtheningCivilSocietyrespondingtodisasters2:Dhaka,Bangladesh-Respondingtoeverydaydisastersincityslums3:India-TopDownandBottomUpresponsestodisasters4:Mali-civilsocietyinthefiringline-theconsequencesofconflict5:Nepal-Facingtheearthquake-civilsocietyfacingintensivedisaster6.Uganda-linkingdisasterresponsefromlocaltogovernmentlevelthroughpartnershipsThecaseshighlightanumberofthemesrelatingtotherolesofplatformsindisasterswhichareanalysedinfurtherdepthinthefindings(Section6): 5a.Distinctionbetweenrolesinintensiveandextensivedisasters Inintensivedisasters,suchasthosediscussedintheNepalandUgandacases,CSOsbecomepartofaresponseinvolvingnationalandinternationalactors.Incontrastinthecaseofextensive,everydaydisasterslittleornoattentionispaidbysuchactorsandtherolesofCSOplatforms,asintheColumbiaandDhakaexamples,arequitedifferent. 5b.Coordinationandcommunicationsrolesinintensivedisasters IntensivedisastersdemandrapidandcoordinatedresponsewhichemphasisestheabilityofCSOplatformstocreateeffectivecoordinationandcommunicationatallscales,nationaltolocal.Themulti-organisationstructureinUgandaisanexampleofthis,asisthewidereachoftheIndianCSOPlatform 5c.Managingrelationswithgovernmentandinternationalactors Whilerelationshipswithgovernmentandinternationalactorsareoftenconstructivetherearealsochallenges.TheworkoftheCSOPlatforminBangladeshillustratestheneedtoestablishequitablerelationshipswithinternationalactors,asdoestheemphasisoftheCSOPlatforminColumbiaonstrengtheningrelationshipswithgovernment.ThechallengesfacedbyCSOsinMaliindistinguishingbetweensecurityandhumanitarianactionandtheriskstheyfaceasaresultareaveryparticularexampleofchallengesfacedinsecuringcivilsocietyspace. 5d.Ensuringthatresponseleadstosustainablerecoveryafterintensivedisasters Whilstanintensivedisasterunlocksemergencyresponse,asinNepal,IndiaandUganda,longtermcommitmenttosustainablerecoveryisoftenweakerandthecomplementary‘topdown’and‘bottomup’rolesdepictedintheIndiacaseillustratethenecessityforsustainablerecoveryaswellasshorttermresponse

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5e.LimitedawarenessofthenatureandimpactofextensivedisastersonlocalpopulationsThesmallscale‘everydaydisasters’experiencedinmanycontextsareoftennotwellunderstood.TheUgandanandMalianVFLstudies,andtheexperienceofurbaninformalpopulationsintheslumsofDhakademonstratetheprevalentimpactofsuchdisasters5f.TheroleofplatformsandmembersingatheringandsharinglocalknowledgeofextensivedisastersThecasestudiesshowhowplatformsandtheirmembersareabletoengagelocally,gatheringandsharinglocalinformation,inColumbia,Nepal,MaliandUgandaforexample,asaprerequisiteforbothappropriateactionandadvocacy5g.TheneedtoadvocateforeffectiveresponsetoextensivedisastersKnowledgegatheredandaggregatedbyplatformsthroughlocalinvolvementsandthroughformalprogrammessuchasViewsfromtheFrontlineisthebasisformakinginvisibleeverydaydisastersvisible,asemphasisedbytheColumbian,BangladeshiandUgandanplatformsforexample.5h.Resourcemobilisationforextensivedisasters

Awayfromthepublicityandcrisisofanintensivedisasterresourcesaremuchhardertoattractforintegratedresponsestoeverydaydisasters.TheNepaleseGNDRplatformacknowledgesthechallengeofsecuringresourceswhicharenotprojectisedortime-limitedandthisisechoedbytheColumbianandMalianplatforms,forexample.ThesecasesdepictparticularcontextsandtheiterationsbetweenCSOplatformsandotheractorsfacingthechallengesofbothintensiveandextensivedisasters.Theconversationswhichformedthefoundationsofthesecasestudieswerequalitativelyanalysed,alongwithcontributionsfromplatformsinRwanda,RepublicofCongo,PeruandHonduras.Thisanalysisledtothedetailedfindingspresentedinthefollowingsection.

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6. Findings ThefindingsdocumentedinthereportarebasedontheconsultationscarriedoutduringMarch-May2020(detailedinsection4.ContactrecordsinAnnex7)Findingsfromtheconsultationsaresupplementedbythepreviousdeskresearchandquestionnaireconsultationwith35organisations,andbyotherrelevantresourcesincludinginparticulartheGNDR‘CoherenceCookbook’(2019).13findingsaresummarisedundertitleswhichemergedfromthequalitativeanalysisoftranscriptsanddraftcasestudies(SeeAnnex3):

1. CapacitybuildingofCSOsbeforeintensivedisasters.2. Knowledgebrokeringbetweenactorsforintensivedisasters3. Communicationsandintensivedisasters4. Managingtheinfluxofexternalactors–‘Surge’inintensivedisasters5. Managingresourceflowsinintensivedisasters6. ManagerelationshipsbetweenCSOsandNationalandLocalgovernmentfor

intensivedisasters7. Supportsustainablerecoverylongtermafterintensivedisasters8. Placeanemphasisongathering,aggregatingandsharinglocalknowledgetoaddress

everydaydisasters9. PeertopeerknowledgesharingunlockingexperiencefromindividualCSOin

addressingeverydaydisasters10. Advocacytolocalandnationalgovernmentandinternationalactorsforsupportfor

everydaydisasters11. Resourcemobilisationforeverydaydisasters12. IntegratingDisastersandDevelopmentasaresponsetoeverydaydisasters13. Capacitybuildingforlocalactioninresponsetoeverydaydisasters

5a.SummaryofFindings Thefindingsaresetoutbelow.Findings1-7pertaintointensivedisastersandfindings8-13toextensiveor‘everyday’disastersasithasbeenfoundthattherolesofCSOPlatformsandmembersarequitedifferentinthetwocontexts.Moredetailonthefindingsisprovided,includingsupportingdatasummariesdrawnfromtranscripts,casestudiesandcomplementaryresearchwhichunderpineachfindinginAnnex3.

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1. CapacitybuildingofCSOsbeforeintensivedisasters.

2. Knowledgebrokeringbetweenactorsforintensivedisasters

3. Communicationsandintensivedisasters

4. Managingtheinfluxofexternalactors–‘Surge’inintensivedisasters

5. Managingresourceflowsinintensivedisasters

Finding:InordertostrengthenCSOsresponseinintensivedisasters,capacitybuildingbeforetheeventisvital,butoftenunder-resourced.Platformsaddressthischallengewithanemphasisoncapacitybuildingtoimprovetheabilityoftheirmemberstoactascredibleactors,formpartnerships,accessresourcesandparticipateinclustersandothergroupings

Finding:CSOsoftenhavelimitedaccesstoknowledge.Platformscaninitiatemappingandsurveyingactivities,createcollaborationsandhubstostrengthenknowledgesharingandalsosupportformalisationofknowledgeintrainingresourcesandevents

Finding:Communicationsbeforedisastersneedtobedevelopedtoensurethatallrelevantactorsarewellconnectedandthatotheropportunitiesforcommunicationsandinfluence,forexampleviathemediaareexploited.Duringadisasterthispreparationneedstobecomplementedwithtechnicalsolutionstoensurethatcommunicationsarenotdisrupted,andalsothatcommunitiesthemselvesareincludedincommunicationsandguidance

Finding:WhenanintensivedisasterstrikeslocalCSOsareoften‘swamped’bythelarge-scaleresponseincludinginternationalactors,butthiscreatesproblemswhentheinitialsurgeiscompleteandcontinuingresponseandrecoveryislefttotheselocalorganisations.Platformscanstrengthenrelationshipsandlocalpartnershipsaswellastakingadvantageofemphasisonlocalisationtotransformsurgeresponse

Finding:AccesstoresourcesisachallengeforCSOsandplatformsplayimportantrolesinnegotiatingfundingwithgovernment,INGOs,otherdonorsandprivateenterprise,improvingtheapplicationoffundingtomatchlocalprioritiesandneeds

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6. ManagerelationshipsbetweenCSOsandNationalandLocalgovernmentforintensivedisasters

7. Supportsustainablerecoverylongtermafterintensivedisasters

8. Placeanemphasisongathering,aggregatingandsharinglocal

knowledgetoaddresseverydaydisasters

9. Peertopeerknowledgesharingunlockingexperiencefromindividual

CSOSinaddressingeverydaydisasters

10. Advocacytolocalandnationalgovernmentandinternationalactors

forsupportforeverydaydisasters

.

Finding:‘Everydaydisasters’arecomplexandvaluableinformationaboutthemisoftenfoundlocallyfromcommunitiesandlocalCSOsworkingwiththem.Organisingandcommunicatingthisinformationisanimportantfirststepforactionandrelationshipswithexternalactorswhohavelimitedunderstandingoflocalcontextsneedtobecarefullymanaged,ensuringlocalvoicesareheard

Finding:Concerningeverydaydisasters,relevantactionableknowledgeoftencomesfromlocalexperienceandisheldbyCSOs.PlatformscanplayanimportantroleincreatingopportunitiesforthatknowledgetobesharedbetweenCSOsandathigherlevels

Finding:Theneedsandprioritiesoflocalpopulationsareoften‘invisible’inlocalandnationalgovernmentplanningandpolicyandwhereeverydaydisastersareconcerneditisimportantthatthisknowledgeismadevisible.CSOplatformscanplayanimportantadvocacyrolehereconcerningeverydaydisasters

Finding:Effectivecoordinationdependsonbuildinggoodrelationshipswithlocalandnationalgovernmentbeforedisasterstrikes.Platformscanengageatgovernmentleveltobuildrelationshipsandinstitutionsforgingtrustandunderstanding,makingaclear‘valueoffer’fromCSOstogovernment

Finding:Theintensityoftheresponseandrecoveryphaseofanintensivedisastercanobscuretheneedforrecoverytobebasedon‘buildingbackbetter’whichisadevelopmentalandintegratedapproach.PlatformscanstrengthentheroleofCSOstopursuelong-termsustainabledevelopmentandlivelihoodresiliencewhichensuresthatcommunities‘bounceforward’afteradisaster

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11. Resourcemobilisationforeverydaydisasters

12. IntegratingDisastersandDevelopmentasaresponsetoeveryday

disasters

13. Capacitybuildingforlocalactioninresponsetoeverydaydisasters

5b.ObservationsonFindingsFindingsconcerningintensivedisasters(Findings1-7)–eventswhichresultinlargescaledisruptionandtypicallyinvokeemergencylegislation–indicatethateffectivecoordination,collaborationandcommunicationsbetweenallactorsisparamount.CSOsaresometimesexcludedfromtheseprocessesandCSOplatformsplayanimportantroleinstrengtheningtheinclusionandparticipationofCSOsindisasterresponse.Asanadjuncttoimmediateresponse,capacitybuildingofCSOsbeforedisastersisessentialaswhenthedisasterhappensitistoolatetoundertakethis.Evidencealsoshowsthatwhilstimmediateresponsemaybeeffectivelimitedconsiderationisgiventolongtermsustainablerecoverywhichwouldresultin‘bounceforward’ratherthan‘bounceback’andCSOplatformsandtheirmembersplayakeypartinbothadvocacyandactionforsustainablerecovery.Findingsconcerningextensivedisasters(Findings8-13)indicatethatlocalknowledgeandpeertopeerlearningbetweenCSOsarebothimportantinunderstandingextensivedisastersasthesearetypicallycontextspecific,multi-causalandarealsomuchlessvisiblethanintensivedisasters.CSOPlatformscanplayanimportantroleinmakinglocalneedsandprioritiesmorevisibletolocalandnationalgovernmentthroughadvocacyandcanalsopressforresourceprovision.ThoughmanyCSOplatformsdonotexplicitlyfocusondisasterriskreduction,responseandrecoveryitisimportanttorecognisethateffectiveDRRunderpinsintegratedapproachestodevelopmentandshouldthereforeformacomponentofsustainabledevelopment.CSOPlatformsalsoplayaroleincapacitydevelopmentforintegratedapproaches. Atablecross-referencingthefindingstothecasestudiesisincludedinAnnex6.

Finding:Muchhumanitarianfundingiscontrolledbyinternationalactorsandprojectized.Appropriatefundingforresponsetoeverydaydisastersneedstobelocallyaccessibleandflexible,basedonmechanismstopoolanddistributelocalfunds.

Finding:CapacitybuildingcanimproveoperationalresponseofCSOs.Importantlyitcanalsoimprovethevisibility,credibilityandinfluenceofCSOsthroughimprovingaccountabilityandgovernance.

Finding:Integratedapproachestodevelopmentwhichincludedisasterriskreductioncanstrengthensustainabledevelopment.EnablingthisrequirestacklingthechallengesofprojectbasedfundingandalsoforgingpartnershipssuchthatCSOscancollaborateinintegratedapproaches

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7. DiscussionObservationsonthecasestudiesandfindingshavebeenmadeinsections5and6above.Thisfurtherdiscussionisframedbythequestion‘Whatdothecasestudiesandfindingsindicatewouldberelevantelementsofatoolkittosupportacivilsocietyleaderplatforminemergencyprevention/mitigationandemergencies10’Theinitialresearchphase11foundthatamajorityofForusmembersdonothaveanexplicitfocusonDRR,responseandrecovery,andthereforethetoolkitshouldbegenerallyproducedinaformaccessibletoawiderangeofuserswithoutsuchspecialistknowledge,andshouldalsoprovidematerialgivinganoutlineofconcepts,terminologyetc.relatingtoDRR,responseandrecoverytodisasters.Thisresearchphasealsodistinguishedbetweenintensivedisasters,whichinmanyregionsareinfrequentandnotpartofthe‘everydaybusiness’ofCSOs,andextensive‘everydaydisasters’increasinglyrecognisedashavingamorepersistentimpactonthelivesandlivelihoodsofvulnerablepopulations.ConsideringCSOplatformrolesinrelationtobothtypeswasthereforeproposed.Thesecondresearchphase,basedonquestionnaireconsultationof35participantsfromForusandGNDRplatforms12,isdiscussedinsection1bofthisreport.Itfoundthatmanyplatformshaveaprimaryconcernforaddressingsustainabledevelopmentandclimatechangeadaptation.ItthereforesuggestedthatanentrypointforatoolkitmightdrawonthesignificanceoftheDRR/SustainableDevelopment/ClimateChangeAdaptationnexus,makingthepointthatforplatformsnotconcernedwithintensivedisastersanunderstandingofDRR,responseandrecoveryinrelationtoextensive,‘everyday’disasterswasneverthelessimportantaswithoutthisdevelopmentgainstendtobeerodedbytheshocksandstressesofsuchdisasters.Thisunderstandingmightalsobeanelementofthetoolkit.Thethirdresearchphasebasedonconsultationswithparticipantsandqualitativeanalysisofthesediscussionshasgeneratedcasestudiesanddetailedfindingswhichconcerncoordinationandcommunicationsinthecaseofintensivedisasters.EnablingfactorsalsoincludestrengtheningCivilSocietyrecognitionandrolesamongthemanynationalandinternationalactorswhoengageinintensivedisastersandchampioningsustainablerecoveryratherthanjustshortresponse.RegardingextensivedisastersithighlightstheroleofCSOsandPlatformsingathering,usingandadvocatingonthebasisoflocalknowledge,needsandpriorities.PlatformsalsohavearoleinstrengtheningthecapacitiesandidentityofCSOs,particularlywheregovernmentsandotheractorsundervalueorevenunderminecivilsociety.Thefindings(Section6andAnnex3)formthebasisforaseriesofspecificresourcesinthetoolkitprovidingguidanceonthetopicsidentifiedinthosefindings

10Contract.22ndNovember2019.p7.11DeskResearchandGeographicalFocus:SubmissiontoSteeringCommittee.11thDecember201912‘IdentificationandProfilingofPlatforms’(12thFebruary2020)

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Insummarythecasestudiesandfindingssuggestthatthetoolkitshouldbedesignedtobeaccessibletonon-specialists,shouldprovidematerialgivingorientationondisasterriskreduction,responseandrecovery,shouldmeettheneedsofthoseaddressingintensivedisasters,andalsoofthosemoretypicallyconcernedwitheverydaydisasters,andshouldprovidematerialreflectingthekeyfindingsidentifiedabove.

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8. ProposalsforToolkitproduction 8a.ToolkitContentOutline

• Thecontentisspecifiedbelow,followedbyaproposalfordeliveringthecontentviaamicrositeaswellasfordownloadasPDFs.

• Inthecontentoutlinebelowsectionsnumbered1,2etc.areseparatesectionsandsectionsnumbereda,b,cetc.areseparatesections.EachindividualsectionisawebpagewithacorrespondingdownloadablePDF.Eachsectionwillbebetween400-1000wordsapprox.

Section1:‘TheDisastersPrimer’:OrientationonDRR,responseandrecoveryfornon-specialists

• DoDisastersMatter?• DisastersandDevelopment• DisastersandDevelopmentarelinked• CivilSocietyPlatformsandLargeScaleDisasters• CivilSocietyPlatformsandsmallerscaleandslowerdevelopingdisasters• Reducingtheimpactofdisasters• Mobilisingcommunitiesandengaginggovernments• Integratedaction

Section2:PlatformsrespondingtoDisasters.Whatactioncantheytake?

• Rolesincludecoordination,knowledgegatheringandsharing,advocacyandinfluencing,bridge-buildingbetweendifferentactorsandcoordinatingsharedactions

• Theserolesaredifferentinrespondingtodifferentdisastertypes:Intensive,ExtensiveandSlowOnset

Section3:PlatformrolesinresponsetointensivedisastersSection3a.CapacitybuildingofCSOspre-disaster.MuchevidenceshowsthisisoftenlackingandmeansCSOshavelimitedcapacitywhendisasterstrikesSection3b.Knowledgebrokeringbetweenactors–matchingupneeds,priorities,resources,personnel,etc.Section3c.Communications–bridge-builderensuringallvoicesareheardandimportantinformationreachesthosewhoneeditSection3d.Managingtheinfluxofexternalactors–‘Surge’–toensuretheyengageproperlywithlocalcontexts,andsupportlocalactorsratherthanswampingthemSection3e.Managingresourceflows:InfluencingtheprovisionofresourcestoensuretheymeetneedsappropriatelySection3f.ManagerelationshipsbetweenCSOsandNationalandLocalgovernmenttoensurecoordinatedactionandgiveCSOsavoice

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Section3g.Supportsustainablerecoverylongterm–afterthesurgesupportisoftenshorttermandonthegroundCSOsneedsupporttomaintainlongertermrecoveryresultingin‘buildingbackbetter’Section4:PlatformrolesinresponsetoeverydayandslowonsetdisastersSection4a.Placeanemphasisongathering,aggregatingandsharinglocalknowledgeasthestartingpointforunderstandingpriorities,needsandactionstoaddresseverydaydisasters(i.e.activitiessuchasVFL)Section4b.PeertopeerknowledgesharingunlockingexperiencefromindividualCSOSandsharingittostrengthenallSection4c.Advocacytolocalandnationalgovernmentandinternationalactorsforsupportforthese‘undertheradar’disastersSection4d.Resourcemobilisation:ActingtoaccessresourcestosupportlocalactorsandlocalcommunitiesinresilientlivelihoodbuildingtocounteracteverydaydisastersSection4e.Integratingdisastersanddevelopment:integratingactionondisasterriskreductionandmanagementwithactiononclimatechangeadaptationtosupportsustainabledevelopmentSection4f.Capacitybuildingforlocalaction.ProvidingknowledgeandorganisationaldevelopmentsupporttoenablelocalCSOStoacteffectivelySupportingsections

• Howthistoolkitwasdeveloped• Howtousethetoolkit• Aboutus• Contactus• Glossaryofterms

Formatforaccessingthetoolkit

• Weproposeasuiteofwebpagesasthemainaccesstothetoolkit.Thismayformamicro-siteaspartoftheForuswebsite

• Thefrontpagewillallowuserstoaccessthespecificinformationrelevanttotheminconcisesections

• Themainmaterialwillbesupportedbyaglossaryofalltermsandshortsummariesofkeyfeaturesofthecontributingplatforms

• Therewillberichhyperlinksineachsectionlinkinguserstootherrelevantsections,theglossaryandinformationoncontributingplatforms

• Therewillalsobeapulldownmenuallowinguserstoposequestionsrelevanttothemandbedirectedtorelevantsections

• AllsectionswillalsobedownloadableasPDFs• ThesitewillbeavailableinEnglish,SpanishandFrench

Seemock-upofpossibleformatforthehomepageofthetoolkitmicrositeinAnnex4

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9. Nextsteps:Timetableforcompletionoftoolkit Aspreviouslydiscussedtherehavebeenanumberofdelaystotheprogressoftheproject.Asthebudgetandresourceinputarefixeditisnotpossibletoflexiblyextendtheprojectandafixedtimetableisimportanttomanagingtheproject.Theresearchersoffertomovethedeadlinebackfrom26thJuneto17thJuly.13. ProducereportanddraftandpresenttoSG(10) 15/05SummaryversionoftoolkitcontentoutlineandsupportingreportproducedandcirculatedtoarangeofCSOplatformpractitioners(‘expertgroup’)forcommentoncontentandformat(11)

20/05

FeedbackonreportreceivedfromSG 22/05FeedbackreceivedfromconsultationtoCSOpractitionersandsharedwithSteeringGroup.(12.13)(Researcherswillproceedduringthisperiodwithdevelopingthetoolkitcontent,revisingitifnecessaryinlinewithfeedbackreceivedfrompractitioners)

27/05

FulltoolkitcontentproducedandpresentedtoSG(14,15) 29/05

FeedbackfromSG(16) 05/06PresentationoffinaldrafttoSteeringCommittee((17) 10/06Translation(18)

26/06

DesignandArtwork(19) 10/07

Contingencytimeallowance 17/07

10. Conclusion

Theresearchconductedinthisprojecthasrevealedawiderangeofexpertiseandgoodpracticeamongparticipatingplatforms.Thishasbeenformalisedinfindingswhichunderpinproposalsforatoolkittosupportplatformsinrespondingtobothintensiveandextensivedisasters.Italsoshowsthatmanyplatformsarenon-specialistsinthisareaandthatmaterialdevelopedfromtheresearchmustbeaccessibleandrelevanttonon-specialists.FinallyithighlightstheopportunityforplatformstostrengthentheirabilitytopromotesustainabledevelopmentandclimatechangeadaptationbydevelopingtheircapacitytointegrateDRRtoprotectdevelopmentgainsandstrengthenlivelihoodresilience.

13AnychangetothecontractperiodmustbeagreedbybothpartiesinwritingperContract.22ndNov2019,p1.

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Annexes

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Annex1:Hypothesesinformingconsultationphase

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Annex2:DraftCaseStudies CaseStudy1:Inthewakeofthewar:StrengtheningCivilSocietyrespondingtodisastersinColumbia Organisations:CCONG,NationalCSOPlatform,ForusMember.FundacionAzimuth(FA),regionallybasedCSO,GNDRmember.

Introduction:InthewakeofthewarThepeopleofColumbialivedthroughfiftyyearsofcivilwar,suggestedbysometobetriggeredinitiallybylandreformstakingawaysmallfarmstocreatelargecorporateenterprises;leadingtotheemergenceoftheleft-winggroupFARCandinresponserightwingparamilitariessuchasAUP.Peacewasonlygenerallyrestoredafterthisfiftyyearperiodofcivilwar,oppressionandatrocitiesin2017.Thiscasestudydoesn’tattempttodocumentthisbackground14,butsimplynotesitascontextalongwithstarkstatisticsincludingthedeathof220,000peoplebetween1958and2013,andtheinternaldisplacementofoverfivemillionciviliansbetween1985and2012.15DuringandsincethisperiodColumbiahaspossessedavibrantcivilsocietywhichhasbeenintimatelyengagedwithhumanrights,justiceandpovertyalleviationissuesoverthatperiod.16Oneestimateisthattherewereatotalof296,467CSOsinthecountryin2016,equatingtooneCSOforevery163inhabitants,thehighestnumberofregisteredCSOspercapitaintheAmericas,savetheUnitedStates17. 14Thefollowinglinksfromdiversesourcesofferaccountsoftheperiodofthewar:https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/colombias-civil-conflicthttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-19390164https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/01/colombia-civil%20war-farc-guerillas-peace/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombian_conflict15GMH.BASTAYA!Colombia:MemoriesofWarandDignity,Bogotá,CNMH,2016http://www.centrodememoriahistorica.gov.co/descargas/informes2016/basta-ya-ingles/BASTA-YA-ingles.pdf16Seethefollowinglinksforinformationontheroleofcivilsociety:https://www.wola.org/analysis/civil-society-is-colombias-best-bet-for-constructing-peace/https://www.devex.com/news/wave-of-killings-threatens-civil-society-work-in-colombia-9143517THECIVILSOCIETYOFCOLOMBIAVanC.EvansPh.Dthesis2016Indianahttps://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/46964685.pdf

Civil Society in Columbia has been embroiled in the long-running crisis of the civil war and its consequences including internal displacement and consequent poverty and insecurity. Civil Society platforms and members recognise the challenges of forging positive relationships with government, establishing their ‘value offer’ and gathering and communicating local knowledge of needs and priorities in response to both intensive and everyday disasters

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CivilSocietyrespondingtodisastersinColumbia

CCONGisthenationalCSOplatforminthecountry.FAisaregionallybasedCSOandmemberoftheGNDRnetwork.AftermeetingindividuallywithInventingFuturesresearcherLucyFigueroa,theymettogethertodiscussthechallengesofcivilsocietyatdifferentscalesrespondingtodisastersinthecountry,recognisingthatmuchoftheirworkhasbeenshapedbythedisastersofconflict,massacres,landminesandinternaldisplacementaswellasothereventssuchasfloods,earthquakesandvolcaniceruptionswhichthecountryarealsoexposedto.LucyspokewithLilianaRodriguezBurgos,theSecretaryGeneralofCCONGandwithClaudiaCastillo,theGeneraldirectorofFA.Thiscasestudyhasbeenpresentedasaneditedaccountofthediscussion,reflectingtheinteractionbetweenthenationalperspectiveofLilianaatCCONGandthelocalactionperspectiveofClaudiaatFA.IntheindividualconversationswithCCONGandFA,recurringthemeswerethoseofthevisibilityandinfluenceofCivilSocietyinthecountry,itsabilitytoengagewithgovernmentandbeseenasarelevantactor,anditsabilitytounderstandneedsandprioritiesatlocallevel.Thesethemesformthebasisofsomeofthequestionsinthefollowingconversation.StrengtheningRecognitionofCivilSociety

Q:‘WhatareyourrespectiveconcernsaboutthevisibilityoflocalCSOSandtheirabilitytobeacceptedandacknowledgedbylocalgovernmentandotheractors,andhowcantheseconcernsbeaddressed?’

FA:Ithasn'tbeeneasytomakelocalCSOsvisibleandbringthemuptothemunicipalscale,evenwhentheyareinstitutionalmembersofaMunicipalCouncilforDisasterRiskManagement(DRM18).OurownexperienceasamemberoftheMunicipalCouncilofElCauca(DepartmentofCauca)hasbeenmostlyasaStatecontractorandlessasamemberofaCSO.TheindigenouscommunitiesinElCauca,suchastheNazaandtheMizak,areverywellconsolidatedandorganized,theymaintaintheirautonomyguaranteedbytheconstitution,theyhavebeenallowedcertainrecognitionandhavetheirownsystemsofpoliticalorganizationandeducation.They'vebeenabletopushtheDRMagendaforwardandaremorevisible;howeverwhatCSOsneedtoworkonbecomingmorevisibleandjoininthe[national]system,whichonpaperlooksgreat.CCONG:It'sbeenalongprocessof5-7yearsinhelpingmemberorganizationsmaketheir"ofertadevalor"(valueoffer:theiraddedvalueasanorganization)morevisible,andchangethenarrativeinordertobecomerecognizedasanactorandallyfordevelopment.CSOsinColombiatendtobestigmatizedbytheprivatesectorandarepoorlyunderstoodbythegovernment.There'salmostaneffortbygovernmenttoweakenCSOs,whichiswhyit'simportant(evennowwiththecurrentCOVID-19emergency)nottostartbyaskingfor

18Note:DisasterRiskManagement(DRM)isusedthroughoutthisdocumentsinceit'sthetermthatiswell

knownandusedinLatinAmerica,butitisverycloseinconcepttoDRR

AconversationbetweennationalCSOplatformCCONGandregionallybasedCSOFundacionAzimuthrevealssharedconcernsaboutthechallengesofsecuringCSOrecognitionandparticipationalongsideotheractorsinresponsetodisasters.

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fundingbutratherbyofferingtheCSOsknow-how,theprocesstheyhavestartedwithcommunities.Theycancreateplanstoincreasesolidaritywiththeaffectedcommunitiesandbeco-responsiblewiththem.Atthenationalplatformlevelwefocusonworkingwiththegovernmentduringemergenciesandmakingrecommendationsaboutthemeasuresthatshouldbetaken.WeagreewithFAthatlocalcommitteesthathavebeencreated,suchastheCommitteesforDRMwhichalreadyhavesomevisibilityneedtoworkwithotheractorsanddevelopproposalsforaction.CSOshavetobeclearwhotheyarespeakingfor,whichspecificcommunityorcollectivetheyrepresent,andhowtheproposalisbackedbythegrassrootscommunities.Weneedtolearnhowtodialoguewithotheractorsintheregionaspeers,underequalconditionsbutwithanunderstandingthatwehaveourownmethodsandprocesses,whichhelptocontributeinthefaceofacrisis.DuringtheheavyrainyseasonwestartedtohavethatdialogueaboutwhatwecancontributefromtheCSOplatform,includingadvocacyandotheractionsandplansthatwecanproposetothegovernmentfromthissector.That'showweaddvalueandmakevisibletheactionsoftheorganizationsthathavebeenworkingforsolonginimprovinglives.Thisrepresentsavastamountofaccumulatedexperiencethatcanbeincludedinthejointofferfortheregion.Insummary,formingalliancesinajoint,articulatedwaywithotheractorsintheregionisessentialforvisibility.FA:Wefeelthatawayofstrengtheningvisibilityoforganizationsisthroughactions,whichleadtochangeinpoliciesandpractices.ForexamplethePopayánearthquakewhichhappened37yearsagoledtoestablishmentofnewpoliciesandlawsthatstrengthenedsocialcohesion.Nowwehavetobecomemorevisibleasagentsofchangewithinter-institutionalalliancesandcivilsociety.Forexample,theHydrologicalservicesareworkingwithindigenouscommunitiesandcivilsociety,alongwithothercorporationsintheregion;however,atthepoliticalleveltheyneedtoberecognizednotjustasapoliticalobjectatwhichpoliciesareaimed,butasagentsofchange.CCONG:Ithastodowithanadditionalroleforadvocacyintheentirecycleofpublicpolicy.

Comment:IncommonwiththeexperienceofCSOsinmanycountriesgovernmentsoftenlackunderstandingofCSOsandtheir‘valueoffer’andmayevenbesuspiciousofthem.ItissuggestedherethatCSOplatformsneedtotaketheinitiativeinmakingthevalueofCSOscleartogovernmentsothattheyareoffereda‘seatatthetable’.

EnsuringthatCSOPlatformsandtheirmembersuselocalknowledgeasafoundationfortheirlegitimacy

Q.‘Whatareyourconcernsaboutgathering,recordingandapplyinglocalknowledgeindisaster

riskreduction,responseandreconstructionandhowcanthoseconcernsbeaddressed?”

FA:InColombiawehavemadegreatprogress.AtthelevelofpolicyandlegislationwehaveaverywellstructuredDRMsystem;thechallengeishowtobringitdowntothelocallevel.AttheregionallevelswehavetheDepartmentCouncilforDRMandtheMunicipalCouncilsforDRM,buttheseworkingroundtablesdon'tincludemanylocalindigenousactorsbecause

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theyhavetheirownwaysoforganizingsocially,culturallyandpolitically.Theselocalperspectivesneedtobeheard.The‘ViewsfromtheFrontline’programmeisoneusefulwayoflearningfromlocalexperience.Thisisawayofgatheringmethodologies,publicpoliciesandothertoolsthatcanbereplicatedinotherscenarios.Anotherwayoflearningfromlocalexperienceisthroughorganizingmeetingswithsmallactorsintheregionandformingworkingnetworkstohelp‘sistemazar’(systematize-collectanddocumentlessonslearned)theirworkaswell.Butweneedeconomicresourcestodothis.WehavealsotriedtomakeuseofInformationandCommunicationtechnologies(ICTs)asmuchaspossible.Wehaven'tbeenabletogobeyondthelocallevelandscaleup,aswewouldhopetodo.CCONG:-ItisveryimportanttogobeyondthemoreformalandlegalspherestothecommunitylevelwherecommunitiesandDRMprocessesareorganized.It'simportanttorecognizethesecommunitiesandlinktheiractionssotheyhaveaccesstotheformalsphereswheredecisionsaremade.Wefeelthereisachallengeinthisprocessofsystematizationofknowledge,becauseeveryoneissooccupiedwiththeirday-to-dayworkthatitdoesn'toftenhappeninpractice.Theirpaceofworkmeanstheyarenotworkingongeneratingpertinentinformationonwhatthey'reworkingonandhowtheyaredoingit,orworkingonhowthatinformationismadeavailableforthepublicsphere.Iftheydidthis,itwouldhelpingettingsupportandfundingfortheirwork.It'simportanttounderstandhoworganizationscancometobevaluedfortheiractionsandtheirknowledge,andhowthisismadeavailabletothecollectivecommunity,thebroadersocietyanddecisionmakers,sotheyhaveaninputonpublicpolicies.FA–Yes,anotherchallengewithsystematizingexperiencesistomakesureitisvalidforbothcommunities–expressedintheirown"language"aswellasfororganizationsthatuseamoretechnicallanguageaboutgeologyanddisasters,forexample.Alltheinformationhadtobevalidatedbythecommunityactorsandthismadeitdifficulttoalsoexpressitintechnicalterms.Weneedtobuildbridgesbetweencommunitiesandtheirknowledge,andexternalactorssuchasprivatecompaniesintheterritorysotheycanjoinandworktogether.That'swhymulti-stakeholdermeetings,suchastheonewecarriedoutforGNDR,aresoimportant,togatherallkindsofCSOsandinstitutionalactorsandshareexperiences.

Comment:ThelegitimacyandrighttobeheardofCSOplatformsandmembersdependslargelyontheknowledgetheypossessandshareandthisisrootedinlocalexperience,prioritiesandneeds.Localorganisationsaretypicallybusyactivistsandprocessesofreflectionandsystematisationofknowledgeareoftenneglectedbutarevitalinestablishingthekeyroleofcivilsociety.

CSOPlatformsshouldchallengecentralisedapproachestodisasterriskreduction,responseandrecoverywhichdon’ttakeaccountoflocalcontexts

Q.‘Whatareyourconcernsabout‘understandingwhatgeneratestheconditionsofemergency’–asCCONGsays–andthespecificvulnerabilitiespopulationsareexposedto:‘communities

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livinginadverseregions,suchaspost-conflictwhichdisplacedsomanypeople,Manypoordisplacedcommunitiesinurbanareasareinhigh-riskareas.(FA)andhowcantheseconcernsbeaddressed?

CCONG:Intermsoffunding,currentlyallthefunding[inColombia]isfocusedonthetopicofpeace,soit'simportanttomakesurethatweallcollaborateinourdevelopmenteffortsaccordingtothevalueofferweeachhave,includinginternationalcooperationorganizationsandtheprivatesector.Thefirstonesthatcanidentifyaneedare[local]organizations.Forexamplewhentheyidentifyneedsinspecificpopulations,suchastheelderly,women,thehandicapped,etc.Soourrecommendationistogenerateapoliticaldialogueandsoundthealarm.Asaplatformwedon'tworkdirectlywithcommunities,sowearealwayswaitingfortheorganizationstoalertusaboutasituationwherewecanhavejointaction.Asaplatformwealsotrytohaveaninputonthepoliciesthatareadoptedinasituationofdisaster,makingsuretherightsoftheCSOaren'tinfringed.FA:Wesharethatvisionwithrespecttovulnerablecommunities,throughcontactsoralliancesweareinvitedtoparticipateincommunityassessmentoftheterritory.Thisiswhenwestartusingourparticipatorymethodstoprovideinsightsforplanningfortheshort,mediumandlongterm,notjustforDRMbutingeneral,forthevulnerablecommunity'swelfare.Thesecanconcernextremeeventssuchasariverfloodingoravolcanoeruptingandalso‘everyday’events,suchasamudslideorwaterwayobstructingaroad.Atthemomenttherearemanywomenheadsofhouseholdsthatarefacingthepandemicandaskustohelpthemthroughaprocessofdoinganassessmentandcreatingaplan.Wekeepclosecontactwiththecommunitiestomakesuretheyarestrengthenedintheircapacitiestopreventorreducerisk.TheapproachweuseforDRMisthree-fold:knowledge,reductionandmanagement,allofthesearewhatmakesuptheprocesstoreducedisasterrisk.CCONG:Thisissoimportantwithrespecttodisasters.Wedon'tagreewiththewaythegovernmenttriestocentralizedisasterresponsewhentheseeventsoccur.Wehavetofavourlocaleffortsandsupportcommunitiesinbuildingstrongercapacitytoprovideresponsethroughtheirowninstitutions,sincetheyaretheonesthatknowtheirownterritoryandhavethetrustofthepopulation.AttheCCONGplatformweseeourroleasgeneratingthejointactionsandprovidingguidelinesforfollow-up.Butneverwiththeintentofreplacingthosethatareworkingintheterritory,wealwaysgototheterritorywithalocalactor.Thisisakeymessagethathastobegiven,wehavetorespecttheautonomyoftheterritory,andnotjustallowinanyonewhowantstocomeinfromoutsideandoverridewhatisalreadyinprocessthere.Thisisalwaysachallengewhenanemergencyarises.

COMMENT:InresponsetointensiveandeverydaydisasterstheactionsandadvocacyofCSOplatformsmustbeclearlygroundedinlocalknowledgeandchallengecentralisedgovernmentapproacheswhichdon’ttakeaccountofdiverselocalcontexts

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Inresponsetocomplexmulti-causal‘everydaydisasters’CSOPlatformsshouldcoordinatethespecialistexpertiseofdifferentmemberstoensureeffectiveresponse

Q.Whataboutthemanysmallerandrecurrent‘everyday’disastersthataffectpeople–

disproportionatelythepoor,whicharehighlightedmainlybyFA–whatroledotheseorganisationshaveinaddressingthese?

FA:It'snecessaryto"walktheterritory";becauseasexternalagents,eventhoughyoumayhaveatechnicalexpertiseandknowledge,youdon'tknowtheparticularsituationsorunderstandtherealityaboutanareaorcommunity.It'simportanttobewillingtounderstandfromthepointofviewofthereal"scientists"oftheregion:peoplewholivethereeveryday,andsharewiththem,recognizeandvalidatetheirknowledge.InthedepartmentofCauca,therehavebeensomeunsuccessfuleffortsasaconsequenceofnotaskingforpermissionbeforetakingaction.Youhavetoasklocalauthoritiesfortheirpermissionandworkwiththem.DRMshouldbeacross-cuttingthemetoallothertopics.Withrespecttoeverydaydisasters,wehavelearnedaboutotherthreatsandsocialrisks,suchas"anti-personnelmines",rape,andviolenceassociatedtotheconflict.Wehavetounderstandtheseissuesinthecontextofeachspecificregion.CCONG:Withrespecttothat,it'simportanttounderstandthescopeofeachactor,sothatwhenthereisadisaster,youmayhaveclarityontheroleofeachorganizationandnottakeonsomethingthatisnotwithinyourroleandcompetence.Forexampleindealingwithanti-personnelmines,it’simportanttoknowwhattheprotocolisandwhoshoulddowhat,eachactorshouldknowtheirroleforeachmoment.

Comment:CSOplatformshaveanimportantroleinco-ordinatingtheexpertiseofdifferentmemberorganisations,particularlyincomplexandeverydaydisasters.

AnoverallobjectiveofDRR(DRM)istoworkfor‘hipervivencia’or‘bouncingforward’–seeingtransformationasanoutcome.

Q.WhatotherpointswouldyouliketohighlightaboutyourexperiencewithDRMintheColombiancontext.

FA:Mymostimportantlearningexperiencehascomefromworkingcloselyatthelocal,grassrootslevel.ThroughouttheyearsofworkingwiththeFoundation,IhavebeenabletogetclosetotheindigenousandAfro-descendentcommunitiesandlearnfromtheirexperienceandculturaldiversity.It'sbeeninterestingtolearnfromtheirknowledgeandtheirancestralcultureabouttheirresilience;somethingtheyhadlearnedsolongagobutwecomeinwithnewtermssuchas"climatechangeadaptation".Theyhavebeenworkingonthisforyearsalready,usingdifferenttermssuchas"safeguards"and"resistance".Theynolongertalkaboutsupervivencia(survival)buthipervivencia(hypersurvival).Ithastodowithconservingtheircommunities.CCONG:Justtoaddalittletothat:weneedtothinkgloballybutmakesuretoactlocallyusingtheknowledgethatthecommunitieshavebeendevelopingfromthebasisoftheirknowledgeandfeelings.Itinvitesustoseethingsfromadifferentperspective.

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Andcomplementarytothat,IwouldsaythatwehavetoreclaimandvaluelocalknowledgeandworkonDRMfromanangleofcomplementaryactionwithotheractorsintheterritory.Weneedtohavethecapacitytoexplaintheworthofwhatwehaveatthecommunitylevelsothatotherscanunderstandit,soothersdon'tcometoimposetheiragendas,butrathertoconstructwiththelocalactorsinaterritory.Thisrequiresresistance!

Comment:Theterm‘hipervivencia’(hypersurvival)expresseslocallywhatisalsorecognisedgloballythattheobjectiveofDRR(DRM)isnotsimplytobouncebackfromdisasters–largeorsmall–butto‘bounceforward’throughtransformingcommunities,strengtheningsustainablelivelihoods

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CaseStudy2:Dhaka,Bangladesh:Respondingtoeverydaydisastersincityslums Organisation(s):NAHAB(NationalCSOplatform)andPDAP(GNDRVFLPlatform)

LifeinthecityLifeinthecityischallengingforthoselivingintheinformalsector,slumsorshanties.AccordingtothestatisticsitisparticularlysoinBangladesh’scapitalcity,Dhaka.ThelatestWorldBankestimate(2018)putsthedensitypersquarekilometreat1,239,57919,makingitthemostdenselypopulatedcityintheworld,with30%20ofitstotalpopulationof19,578,421livinginslumareas.21In2017,Dhakawasrankedasthefourthleastlive-ablecityintheworldbytheEconomistIntelligenceUnit’sGlobalLivabilityRanking22QuaziBaby,ExecutiveDirectorofParticipatoryDevelopmentActionProgramme(PDAP)describessomeofthechallengesfacedbyresidentsintheslumswhichasshewrote(April2020)weremagnifiedbythespreadofCOVID-19:‘Atthemoment,theslumconditionisverybad.Mostoftheslumdwellersaredailywageearners,buttheyarenotabletoearnmoney.Theyarenotabletomaintainsocialdistance,becauseinoneroom,4-5membersareliving,Maximumpeopleareusingcommonbathroom.It’sverydifficulttomaintainhygienictoilet.Thereisnotsufficientspaceforsittingorsleepingathomewhilemaintainingsufficientdistance.Duetolackofmoney,manyslumdwellersareeatingoneortwotimesdaily.Violenceisincreasinginthecommunityduetocongestedfamilysituations.Childrenarenotgoingschool.Sexualharassmentandsocialgatheringaregoingonintheslumareas.’Thesepressuresaddtothechallengesregularlyfaced,accordingtoherofairpollutionandgarbagemanagement,flooding,waterloggingland,andpoorqualitywater.Thedisastersshedocumentsare‘everydaydisasters’whicharenotrespondedtointhewayintensivecrisesare,butwhichdailyaffectthelivelihoodsofthemillionsintheslums.CSOPlatformsandthecityCivilsocietyinevitablyplaysalargeroleinresponsetothesesmall-scaledisasters,asthegovernmentdoesn’thavethecapacityorinformationtomeettheneedsoftheslumdwellers.AsQuaziBabysays‘Whenacyclonehappens,thereislotsofgovernmentaction,butpost-disaster,theydonotreachthepeople’. 19 https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EN.POP.DNST?locations=BD20https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/82121528.pdf21https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EN.URB.LCTY?locations=BD22http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/607511534337128809/pdf/WPS8552.pdf(p2)

TheslumsofDhakapresentparticularchallengesinbuildinglivelihoodresilienceinthefaceofmultipleeverydaydisasters.CivilSocietyPlatformsrecognisetheneedforpartnershipswithmanyactors,includinggovernmentandinternationalagencies.Thenatureofthosepartnershipsischanging,drivenpartlybythelocalisationdebate.Makingthemeffectivedependsonestablishingthem‘onanequalfooting’

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Manycivilsocietyactorsatdifferentscalesthereforeengagewiththeneedsofslumdwellers.InonecaseHabitatforHumanity(HfH)establishedapartnershipwithPDAPtoundertakeaoneyearpilotprojecton‘BuildingResilienceinUrbanSlumSettlements’inTalabCamp,aslumareaestablishedafterthepartitionofPakistanandBangladeshtohouseMuslimrefugees.Thecampisprotectedfromevictionsbecauseofitsrefugeestatus,asignificantpointasacommonstrategyinslummanagementistheevictionorrelocationofresidentstoclearareasfordevelopment,thoughagenciessuchastheWorldBankhavepromotedslumupgrading.23Theprojectaimedtopursuecommunitybasedparticipativeriskassessments,leadingtoactionplanning,implementationanddevelopmentofalongtermactionplan.TheprogressoftheprojectandthepartnershipbetweenHfHandPDAPwasdocumentedbyanexternalresearcher24.Theyfoundbasicchallengestoachievingthegoalsoftheprojectincluding:

• Communityconsultationandengagementwastime-consuming• Achievingsufficientunderstandingoflocalcontextsisalsotime-consuming• Buildinglocalcapacitythroughtrainingrequiredmoretime• Differingexpectationsbetweentheexternalagencyandthelocalpartnerrequired

moretimetoimproveunderstandingandbuildtrust• Ensuringsustainabilityrequiredmoretime

Thechallengesfoundbytheresearcheraredocumentedhereastheyreflectabroaderchallengeinforgingpartnershipsbetweenlocalandexternalactors,madevisiblebythe‘localisation’debateanddiscussedbybothparticipatingorganisationsinthiscasestudy:NAHABatnationallevelandPDAPatlocallevel.Thekeywordcommontoallthesechallengesis‘time’.INGOsandotherexternalactors–underdonorpressurestoachieveresults,conductevaluationsanddeliverreports–sacrificethetimeneededtoforgerelationships,developlocalunderstanding,engagewithcommunitiesanddevelopcapacityandsustainability.25Oneyearisclearlyaninsufficientperiodoftimetoachieveanyofthese.Re-settingpartnershipsNAHABacknowledgetheneedto‘reset’therelationshipwithlocalactorsandgivestrongervoicetolocalactorsandhaveusedthefocusof‘Localisation’andthe‘GrandBargain’emergingfromtheWorldHumanitarianSummit26asafoundationfortheirwork.Theyarenowbuildinguplocalizationmodelsindifferentdistrictswherelocalorganizationstaketheleadanddefinetheirowncoordination&cooperationmechanismamonglocalactors.Theyarealsopreparedtopartnerwiththeinternationalactorsworkinginthatarea.The 23 WorldBank,2011.UrbanPovertyandSlumUpgrading.http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTURBANDEVELOPMENT/EXTURBANPOVERTY/0,,menuPK:341331~pagePK:149018~piPK:149093~theSitePK:341325,00.html24Ahmed.I.2016.‘BuildingResilienceofUrbanSlumsinDhaka,Bangladesh’.Procedia-SocialandBehavioralSciences218(2016)202–21325SeeforexampleICVA(2015)PartnerCapacityAssessmentsofHumanitarianNGOs-Fitforpurpose?https://www.icvanetwork.org/system/files/versions/150610_Partner_Capacity_Assessment_0.pdf(Accessed13/08/18)andTerryGibson2019‘MakingAidAgenciesWork’.Emerald.P5426IASC.(2018)TheGrandBargainInaNutshell(2018,May)https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/grand-bargain-hosted-iasc(Accessed220518)

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importantpointisthattheirsystemisdevelopedtoestablishpartnershiponanequalfooting.Incollaborationtheycandecideonraisingalerts,theycancollectivelyallocateresources,andopenupproposalsfromtheactorsintheirrespectiveareas.TheprogrammedevelopedbyNAHABcontrastsstrikinglywithworkdoneonpartnershipsinDhakabyINGOWorldVision.Intheirstudytheyrecognisetheneedtoextendpartnerships,highlighttheparticularneedforcollaborationwithNGOs,butlistonlyinternationalNGOsandmakenomentionoflocalornationalCSOsatall27.Thisappearsafurtherexampleofthechallengesfacinginternationalactorsinengagingwithlocalandnationalcivilsociety;whohavestrongandsustainablerelationshipsandrichknowledgeoflocalcommunitiesandtheirneedsandpriorities.QuaziBaby,atPDAPunderscoresthispoint.Shebelievesthat‘thereshouldbegoodrelationshipbetweendonorandpartners.Butifdonorsinterferedirectlyforprojectimplementationthenwhydoesthedonorneedpartnership?PDAPhavebeenworkingintheurbanareasmorethan20years‘Ourobservationisthatitisimportanttodevelopleadershipinthecommunityandtrytokeepcontactwiththelocalgovernmentforgettingbasicservices.Itisalsoimportanttopushgovernmentfortheirformalsettlementsratherthaneviction.’PDAPcontrasttheexperienceoftheirpartnershipatTalabcampwithanotherorganisationtheycollaboratewith:‘Formorethan10yearswearegettingsupportfromthemtoworkinurbanareas.Themainthingistheytrustus.’OnanEqualFooting?BothconversationswithCSOPlatformsinBangladesh,workinginthecityslumsofDhakaandelsewhereinthecountry,highlighttheneedforestablishingpartnershipsemphasisingtherelativestrengthsoflocalandexternalpartnersonanequalfooting,echoingtheprinciplesof‘Localisation’.Particularlyinurbaninformalcontexts,whichareparticularlychallenginginDhaka,localknowledge,engagementandtrustarevaluableassetsheldstronglybylocalCivilSocietyactorsandsuchanequalfootingisvitaltoensuringthecontributionsofallactorsarecomplementaryratherthan,asinthecasedocumentedabove,outcomesbeinglimitedbylackoflocalengagement,understandingandtrust.

27ClareStott.2014.‘FromUrbanLandscapetoopportunitiesforDRRintegration.’WorldVision.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273765212_Disaster_Risk_Reduction_in_Dhaka_City_From_urban_landscape_analysis_to_opportunities_for_DRR_integration

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CaseStudy3:India:TopDownandBottomUpresponsestodisasters Organisation(s):VANI(Forusmember)andUdyama(GNDRVFLPlatform)

India’sworld-leadingdevelopmentofDisasterManagementPolicyAfterUNISDR(nowUNDRR)launcheditslatestDRRframework,the‘SendaiFrameworkforDisasterReduction’inMarch2015,IndiawasthefirstcountryintheworldtolaunchaNationalDisasterManagementPlan(NDMP),inMay201628,buildingontheearlierestablishmentofthe2005DisasterManagementActandthedevelopmentofaNationalPolicyonDisasterManagementin2009.29InadditiontothismanystateshavedevelopedtheirownStateDisasterManagementPlans(SDMPs)andDistrictDisasterManagementPlans.Whatfactorshavedriventhisincreasingcommitmenttodisasterreductionandresponse?Sincetheyear2000severalmajordisastershavestruckthecountryincludingtheIndianOceanTsunamiin2004,causingapproximately11,000deaths,CycloneParadipin1999,causingapproximately10,000deathsandthe2013floodsinUttarakhandfloodsin2013,causing5,748deaths30.Theseandearlierdisastershavepushedthecountry’sgovernmenttowardsputtinglegislation,plansandpoliciesinplacetodealwithdisasterrisk.ItissuggestedthatthefactthatCyclonePhailinin2013wasofasimilarscaletoParadip,butresultedinvirtuallynofatalities,showedthepositiveimpactofthisdevelopmentofdisastermanagement31.Neverthelessstudiessuggestthattheemphasisisstillonresponseratherthanonstrengtheningresiliencethroughdisasterriskreduction,andhighlighttheneedtocapitaliseoncommunitylevelcapacities,complementing‘topdown’institutionalresponseswith‘bottomup’localcapacities. 28 NDMP: published by Indian National Disaster Management Authority: http://pibphoto.nic.in/documents/rlink/2016/jun/p20166201.pdf 29 The role of the affected state in humanitarian action: a case study in India. ODI. 2009: https://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/odi-assets/publications-opinion-files/4281.pdf 30 Strengthening Disaster Risk Management in India: A review of five state disaster management plans: CDKN. 2016 https://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/India-disaster-management-web.pdf 31CDKN,2016,Ibid.

IndiaisagloballeaderindevelopmentofDisasterManagementPolicy.Neverthelessmuchofthisprogresshasbeenindisasterresponseratherthanresiliencebuildingthroughdisasterriskreduction.TheexperienceofCSOplatformsoperatingbothnationallyandlocallyhighlighttheneedtostrengthenconnectionstolocalleveltounderstandwaysofenhancingdisasterriskreduction,andtheroleofcivilsocietyinenablingthis.

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TheroleofCivilSocietyWhatistheexperienceofCivilSocietyplatformsofworkinginbothdirections?Thetwoplatformscontributingtothiscasestudyworkatverydifferentscales,VANIextendingtoanationallevelwithanapproachwhichcanbedescribedas‘TopDown’andUdyamaworkingregionallyandtakingdifferentapproachestocivilsocietymobilisationwitha‘BottomUp’approach.VANI:conversationwithHarshJaitiandNiveditaDattaVANIisalargeandwellestablishedNationalplatformofCSOsandaFORUSmember.Ithasoperatedfor30yearsoldandasaLargeCSOmembershiprepresentingthevolunteersectorwithover10,000CSOmembers.ItengageswiththelowerlevelofStateNetworksandthroughthemdowntolocalCSOsandthereverse.TheroleoftheVANInetworkistoworkaroundtheregulatoryframeworkwithinwhichCSOsfunctionalongsideGovernment,PrivateSectorandAcademics.Theirresearchandadvocacystrengthenstheadministrationandaccountscapacityofmemberorganisationsandaddressesdisasterissues.Theplatform’sstatedaimistoworktowardsachievingholisticdevelopment,SDGintegrationandcreationofanenablingenvironmentthroughtriangularcooperationbetweenGovernment,CSOsandtheprivatesector.InthecaseofadisastereventVANIacknowledgethatlocalCSOsandlocalcommunityarethefirstonthespot.Thereforethefirstrespondersareatthegrassroots,andcivilsocietyvolunteersdependinitiallyontheirownresources.IntheexampleoftheKeralacyclonegivenbytheplatform,responsewasasusualinitiallybylocalCSOs.Theeventdidn’tinitiallyattractinternationalattentionasKeralaisseenasarelativelydevelopedstate.Howeverduetothescaleoftheemergency,nationalandinternationalNGOsbecameinvolved;Resourceprovisionisaparticularissue.VANIisnotaconduitforfinancialsupport;butmakeslinkages;InthecaseoftheKeralacyclonetherewasaprocessoflinkingCSOswithnationalandinternationalNGOs,andwithbusiness/donors,whoseetheVANIplatformasacredibleandtrustworthychanneltofindingoutwhomightbereliablepartners.IntheIndiancontextthisfinancial‘matchmaking’isincreasinglyimportantasVANIfindfewerINGOareactive,disasterreliefcanreachlocalorganisationsandthereisknowledgeabouttheinstitutionsthatareinplace.VANIalsoplayanimportantcommunicationsrolefromtheirmembershiptogovernmentasthegovernmentplanningprocessesareoftenflawedandtheseshortcomingsarewellunderstoodbyCSOs.HoweverCSOsatthefrontlineareunderresourcepressureandneedthesupportofVANItomediateinformationandadvocacyaswellasresources.Udyama:ConversationwithPradeepMohapatraBycontrastUDYAMAhavealocalperspectivewithafocusonthephrase‘communityresilience’.Thoughtheyareinvolvedinresponse,forexampleinthemonsoonsandcyclonesstrikingOrissaannually,theyregardlong-termcommunitydevelopmenttobuild

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resilienceascriticalinreducingtheimpactofdisasters.TheyparticipateinGNDR‘ViewsfromtheFrontline’actionresearchtounderstandbetterthefactorsaffectingpeoples’livesandtheneedsandprioritiestostrengthentheirresilience.Theyfindthatdisastersarecomplex.ForexampleinthecaseofOrissacyclonesandcoastalfloodingaconsequenceisdistressmigrationandthisinturnleadstoincreasedvulnerabilitythroughlossoflivelihoods,lossofincomeandassets.Howeverinadifferentgeographiccontext–forexamplehillcountry–thechallengemaybedrought.ThelocalisedunderstandingofdisasterswhichUdyamapossessunderscorestheiremphasisonintegratingdevelopmentalactionsratherthansimplyfocusingonresponse.Howevertheyfindthatthisisnotwellunderstoodatgovernmentlevel:‘Governmentisrequiredtosupportmainstreamdevelopmentprocess,butsometimesitfailstodothis.Effectivesupportstartswithlocalaction,basedonspecificcontextsandneeds-disasterordroughtorcommunitydiseases.Learningfromlocalcontexts:actionandreflectionisabasisfordevelopingknowledgetobeusedininfluencingpolicytoaddresscommunityneeds.Inpracticeitissometimesverydifficulttocontinueworkbecausepoliciesmaynotbepro-poor,maynotbepro-people,policymaynotbepro-planet!’Udyamarecognisethatthelocalactionwhichistheirfocusneedstobealliedtonationalandinternationalpolicyinfluence.‘Globalnetworkingandglobalsupportisessentialtoengagecivilsocietyandcommunitytowardsresiliencebuilding;andthisabilityofadaptationandabilitytocopewithdisastersrequiresadvocacytoinfluencepolicy’.Advocacyinturnrequiresdemonstrationsandevidencebasedwork,sothereisastrongconnectionbetweenaction,reaction,reflectionandlearningandresearchsothatlearningcansupporttheresilienceprocesses.Fromresponsetoriskreduction–makingtheconnectionsFrombothperspectives,topdownandbottomup,thecomplementaryactivityofthesetwoplatforms,nationalandlocal,intheverylargescalenationalcontextofIndiahighlightsthenecessitytoforgestrongconnectionsbetweenunderstandingandknowledgederivedfromlocallevelactionthroughtoadvocacyatstateandnationalleveltodeepentheunderstandingofpoliciesandpartnershipsconnectingtocommunitycapacitiesandunderstandingwhichcanbuildontheworkdonenationallyandatstateleveltodriveatransitionfromresponsetowardsdisasterriskreduction,strengtheningtheresilienceofaffectedpopulations.

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CaseStudy5:Mali-civilsocietyinthefiringline-theconsequencesofconflict Organisation(s):FECONG(NationalCSOplatform)andAFAD(GNDRVFLPlatform)

IntroductionThepopulationofthelandlockedcountryofMali,inthesouthernSaharadesert,arespreadacrossruralareas,mostlymaintaininglivelihoodsthroughsubsistencefarmingandexposedtobothfrequentdroughtsandfloods.Thecountryisranked184thoutof189ontheHumanDevelopmentIndex32.Livelihoodswereimpactedfurtherwhenthecountrywasdestabilisedin2012byaTuaregrebellioninthenorthofthecountryafterwhichIslamiststookcontroloftheregion.Furtherconflictbrokeoutinthecentralregionofthecountryin201533,partlytribalinnaturebutalsoinvolvingIslamistforces.Civilsocietyandmulti-disastersinMaliNationalCSOplatformFECONG,amemberofForus,andCSOAFAD,amemberofGNDR,havebothworkedinthecountrysincebeforetheconflict.AhmedSékouDialloworkswithbothorganisations,leadingAFADandactingastreasurerofFECONG.Heacknowledgesthecomplexsituationtheyface:‘Themultifacetedcrisisthatwehavebeenexperiencingsince2012isfirstofallduetotheattackofthejihadistswhocamefromLibyaandwhoinvadedthenorthofMaliandwereadvancingtowardsthecapital.AndtherewastheinterventionoftheinternationalcommunitythroughFranceandsincethentheinsecuritycausedbythisbanditryitisreallyabigcrime.Inthiscrisiswesawallkindsofabomination,ethnicgroupswhokilledeachother.TheFulaniorevenDogonkilleachotherandotherethnicgroupsareinvolved.Villageshavebeenburntandwehaveseenimmenselossoflife.Thishasaddedtotheimpactsoffamineandmalnutritionresultingfromtheunpredictablerains.Themostrecurrentcrisesarefloodsalmosteveryyearwhichaffectpeoplepartlyduetothenatureofthelandandpartlybecauseoflanduse.Duetopopulationincreasethereisalackoflandinsomeplacesandweoftenseepeoplewhowillbuildonlowlyingland.Oftenitmightnotrainalotforyears,andthereforetheythinkthereisnorisk,butonthedaysthatitrainsalottheriverbedsoverflowandflood,anditgoesstraightinthesehouseswhichareactuallyontheseriverbeds.Maliisreallyisacountryofmultidisasters’. 32https://www.wfp.org/countries/mali33‘SituationincentralMali‘deteriorating’asviolence,impunityrise,UNrightsexpertwarns.UNNews.2020’.https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/02/1057911

InMaliCSOsfindthemselvesfacingacomplexmixofdisastersdrivenbydroughtandfloods,populationgrowthandpoverty,conflictandinstabilityinanextremelypoorcountry.WorkinginthissituationdemandsstrongcoordinationbetweenCSOs,mediatedbytheCSOplatform,andwithotheractors.Thechallengeismadeworsebytheactionsofthevariouspeacekeepingforces,whoblurthelinesbetweenmilitaryandhumanitarianaction

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TheNationalCSOPlatformFECONGistheFederationofCollectivesofNGOsinMali,actingasacollectiveatnationallevel,andalsohavingrepresentativesatregionallevel.Itsessentialroleisadvocacywithdonorsandthegovernment,anditalsoundertakespromotionoftheroleofCSOsandseeksfundingforCSOsinternationally.Onewayinwhichitrespondsto‘multi-disasters’isbycoordinatingtheworkofspecialistmemberswhocanaddressdifferentissues.Forexample,‘SecoursONG’isspecializedinenvironmentalprotection;othermembersfocusonhealthandothersdealwithSMEs,withbasiceducation,andwithworkfocusedonwomen.FECONGitselfdoesnotengagelocally,itseesitsroleasreceivinginformationfrommembersfromwhichitidentifiesrequestsforwhichitadvocatesattheleveloftheauthoritiesthroughdeclarationsandpressreleasesandalsobydevelopingprojectproposals.Butitsresourcesarelimited.IfspecificneedsariseFECONGcanseekinformationandbuildthecapacitiesofmembers,FECONGcanalsorelayinformationatthehighestlevelbygivingalertsandundertakingadvocacysothatareaswhichareaffectedcanbehelpedandsupported;also,forexamplebyspeakingwithortechnicalandfinancialpartnerswhocancontributetoworkinthefield.ThelinkbetweenFECONGatnationallevelanditsmembers’knowledgeatlocallevelisthroughregionalcoordinatorswhoactasrelays.Itrecognisesthatitsmembersareintouchwithlocalpopulationsandunderstandtheirneeds.TheLocalCSOAFADisanexampleofamemberorganizationworkinglocally.‘Wehavehadahumanitarianprojectfor3years.Weareworkinginanareaonthehumanitarianaspectslinkedtothefloods:wehavesetupboreholes,latrines,schoolsthatwereflooded,withdonationsoffood,cashtowomenandthenlotsoffoodandcerealsontheground.’AlongsideresponseAFADareinvolvedininformationgathering.TheyhaveconductedtheGNDR‘ViewsfromtheFrontline’(VFL)actionresearchstudytwiceinthecountryandcoordinatedtheworkofotherCSOinconductingthestudy.ThestudiesareintendedtofindoutmoreaboutthesituationregardingdisastersinMali.Basedontheprioritieswhichemerge,CSOarecurrentlydevelopingactionplans.TheinformationwhichhasbeengatheredisalsobeingdrawntogetherintoareporttobepresentedatanationalworkshopofCSOstovalidateandfinalizethestudy.Inthe2013VFLreportDialloalreadycommentedthat“Thefindingsarebitter.Peopletakealotofriskswithoutworryingabouttheconsequences.Mostoften,thisstateofaffairsisduetoilliteracyandignorance.Theauthoritiesandcommunitiesdonotalsoplaytheroleofawakeningofconscienceandavant-garde.Laxityalwaysleadstoacatastrophe,hencetheurgencyforeachactortofullyplaytheirrole.InMali,theconceptofcrisisanddisasterpreventionislittleknown”.

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IninterviewswithDialloin2020hesummedup“Oftendisastersarenotseenasapriority,butassoonassomethinghappens,thatblocksnormaldevelopmentactionsandlivingconditions.Wethinkit’simportanttoseehowtoprotectourdevelopmentworkthroughprevention.We’veseenthismostrecentlythroughtheCoronaviruspandemicwhichisimpactingontheeconomy,healthandotheraspectsofdevelopmentbecausepeopleareconfined,cannolongerworkandinothercasespopulationsaredecimated.”InitsApril2020MalisituationreportOCHAwarnsthat“About3.5millionpeoplearecurrentlyinfoodandnutritionalinsecurity,including757000inseverefoodinsecurity[…]andprojectsthatintheleanseason(June-August2020),nearly5millionpeoplewillbefoodinsecure”34.ThiswillinevitablyhavehugeimpactonthefocusofactionsbycivilsocietyorganizationssuchasAFAD,whodependtogreatextentonpartnershipswithandfundingcomingviaINGO.BlurringtheLines:militaryandhumanitarianactionOneofthemostinsidiouschallengestotheworkofCSOinthecountrycomesfromtheactionsofthevarious‘peacekeeping’missionswhichattempttostabilisethesituation,but,inthecaseofG5Saheljointforce,havealsobeenaccusedofcommittingarisingtollofextrajudicialkillingsintheirbattleagainstjihadistgroupsintheSahelregion.“Thesecurityforcesaremandatedtoprotect,andprotectequally,”CorinneDufka,SaheldirectoratHumanRightsWatch,toldTheNewHumanitarian.“Andyetweseethemfartoooftenengagingincollectivepunishment,inretaliatoryattacksagainstcommunitiesfortheirrealorperceivedaffiliationwitharmedIslamistgroups.”35Civilsocietyorganisations,suchasFECOGmembers,longestablishedintheregionandsupportingdevelopmentactivitiesandhumanitarianresponse,sufferfromincreasinglyblurredlinesbetweenhumanitarianandmilitaryactors.Theyfindthatcollaborationwiththemilitaryislimitedandcommunicationspoorandoftenastheyattempttobringhumanitarianaidmilitaryactionstarts.Thepeacekeepingforcesalsoinvolvethemselvesinshorttermhumanitarianactionstoimproverelationswithlocalcommunities,effectivelycompetingwithCivilSocietyactors.Theysometimesusewhitevehicles,normallyrecognisedassignifyinghumanitarianwork,leadingtoincreasedriskofattackonhumanitarianworkers36.Maliistrulyacountryofmulti-disastersandthecoordinationofmanylocalandspecialistCSOsbyplatformssuchasFECONGisincreasinglyunderthreatastheyaresidelinedbysecurityforces.

34OCHAMaliRapportdesituationDernièremiseàjour:24avr.2020

35ObiAnyadike,in-https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news/2020/05/05/Sahel-Mali-Niger-Burkina-Faso-security-forces-killings

36‘InmilitarisedMali,humanitarianresponderssayaidisanafterthought’.NewHumanitarian,2019.https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news-feature/2019/03/11/militarised-mali-humanitarian-responders-say-aid-afterthought

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CaseStudy5:Nepal-Facingtheearthquake-civilsocietyfacingintensivedisaster Organisation(s):NFN(Forusmember)andNSET(GNDRVFLPlatform)

LivingontheHimalayanCollisionZoneNepalrunsalongtheedgeoftheHimalayancollisionzonewheretheIndianSubcontinent,movingnorthovergeologicaltime,crashedintoEurasia,thrustinguptheHimalayanmountains.Itspositionexposesittopowerfulgeologicalhazards,resultinginthemajorGorkhaearthquakeof2015,andpreviouslythe1934Bihar-Nepalearthquake.Eventhesewouldbedwarfed,accordingtoscientists,bythescaleofearthquakesalongthemainfaulttothesouth,orinthewestorcentralHimalayas,whoselastoccurenceswerein1344,1505and155537.Butwitheventhe1934earthquakeonlyjustwithinlivingmemoryhowdosocieties,andcivilsociety,copewithsuchunpredictablebutdevastatingevents?RespondingtotheGorkhaEarthqakeTheNationalSocietyforEarthquakeTechnology(NSET)leadstheGNDRplatforminNepal.ItisalsoamemberoftheDisasterPreventionnetwork(DPNet)andofthenationalCSOplatformNGOPlatformofNepal(NFN).Allweredeeplyinvolvedinresponsetothe2015Gorkhaearthquake.OnApril25,2015theinitialearthquake,measuring7.6ontheRichterscalestruck31outof75districtsofthecountry.17dayslateronMay12,2015,anotherearthquakemeasuring6.8ontheRichterscalecausedfurtherdamageandlossoflives.Theearthquakesclaimed8,896lives,anddisplacedabout2millionpeople.604,930homeswerecompletelydestroyedand288,856housesbadlydamaged38.

NishaShresha,workingatNSET,commentedthataftertheearthquakeeverybodydidtheir 37‘NepalQuake‘FollowedHistoricPattern’BBC.(2015)https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-32472310CasualtyEstimatestoRepeatHimalayanEarthquakesinIndia:Bull.Seis.Soc.Am.(2018)https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/ssa/bssa/article-abstract/108/5A/2877/548190/Casualty-Estimates-in-Repeat-Himalayan-Earthquakes?redirectedFrom=fulltext38ChandraLalPandey,(2018)"Makingcommunitiesdisasterresilient:ChallengesandprospectsforcommunityengagementinNepal",DisasterPreventionandManagement:AnInternationalJournal,https://doi.org/10.1108/DPM-05-2018-0156

InNepalinfrequentbutintensivedisasters,mostrecentlythe2015Gorkhaearthquake,triggerrecognitionthatincreasedcoordinationandpreparationarerequired.CSOplatformshaveplayedanimportantpartinthisandpartnershipwithgovernmentnationallyandlocallyhasbeenstrengthenedbynewlegislationinthewakeofthedisaster.PrevioushistoryofdisastersshowsthatCSOsfacethechallengeofmaintainingcommitmenttoreducingriskaspoliticalandpublicmemoryfades.

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bestintheirownway,buttheyrealisedthatthiswasnotgoodenough:foraverylargeeventacoordinatedapproachandgovernmentleadershipareneeded,onelocalorganisationcannotdoenough.

Aswithmanydisastersthe‘firstresponders’arelocalcommunitiesandlocalCSOscopingwiththeireffects.Therecansometimesbeagulfbetweenthatimmediateresponseandactionatotherscales.KailashRizalatNepaliCSODEPROSCsays‘whatweseeistherearelocalorganizationsandanindigenousmechanismofresponse,butthemechanismhasnotreallyreachedtothedonorlevel.Thereareanumberofintermediaryorganizationsinbetweenwherethedistortionofcommunicationandknowledgedistributioncausesalotoffrustration’.SumeeraShreshaatNepaliCSO‘WomenforHumanRights’addsthat‘That'swhyIthinkthatthewholecapacityanalysisofthelocallevelNGOshasalwaysbeenputintoastatethatlocalNGOsandnationallevelNGOsarenottakenasapartnerbutalwaysasareceiver’39StrengtheningcoordinationAmajorprojectledbyChristianAidlookedat‘AcceleratingLocalisation’anditsresearchinNepalfoundthat‘Nationally,giventhechangingenvironmentforcivilsocietyorganisationsinNepaldemonstratedinnewanddraftlegislation,NGOsshouldcoordinatetogethercloselywithinrelevantinternationalandnationalnetworksandforumstoadvocateforafairdealforcivilsocietyorganisations,andaprotectedspacetoreachthosewhoarebeingleftbehind.Ultimately,capacitystrengthening,plannedphaseout,andhandoverstrategiesarealsovitalinpartnershipsbetweenINGOsandL/NNGO40s.’NFNplayamajorpartincoordination.TheirExecutiveDirectorB.B.Thapasays‘Ofcourse,therewasfrustrationinthebeginning’Heexplainedthat‘afterafewmonthsthegovernmentwelcomedallINGOsandNGOstojoinhandstogetherforimmediateresponsetopeopleinneed...,everyNGOsandINGOshouldfollowtheguidelinesandsystemthroughtheDRRcommitteewhichwaschairedbytheChiefDistrictOffice(CDO)ineachdistrict.’NFNWorkatnationalandfederallevel,insevenprovincesandtheirdistricts,throughtheirownnetworkwithasecretariatineachprovinceandatdistrictlevel.Theyhaveastrongrelationshipwithgovernmentsystem:whenadisasterhappenstheygatherinformationfromCSOmembersandcommunicatetothegovernmenttogetthemtoact.Newpartnershipswithgovernment

AdvocacybyNFNanditsmemberorganisationshasalsoplayedaroleinstrengtheningcoordinationthroughtheestablishmentanewact,policyandstrategyfor“reducingdisaster 39PathwaystoPowerpodcasts.GFCF.2019.https://globalfundcommunityfoundations.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Podcast1_Transcript.pdf40AcceleratingLocalisationSummaryReport:Nepal.ChristianAid.2019.https://www.christianaid.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-02/Accelerating-localisation-research-summary-nepal.pdf

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riskwithpreparednessplan,programandprojectsandbuildingresiliencewiththegoalofsustainabledevelopment.”TheDisasterRiskReductionandManagementAct2017,LocalGovernmentOperationsAct2017,NationalPolicyonDisasterRiskReduction2018,andNationalStrategicActionPlanforDisasterRiskReduction2018–2030togetheremphasiseriskreductionandtheestablishmentoflocal,provincialandnationalcoordinationinvolvingcommunities,civilsocietyandprivateactors41.

Nisha,atNSET,agreesthatnowthereiscoordinationwithandthroughcentralandlocalgovernmentandthenewmunicipalities.ThelearningfromtheGorkhaearthquakehasledtoanewcommitmentbybothcivilsocietyandgovernmenttoeffectivecoordinationnotonlyinresponsetodisasters,butindisasterriskreductionandpreparationtoreducetheimpactonaffectedpopulationsandtoenablemorecoherentresponse.Nishasays‘Sothat'swhywearetryingtoworkasmuchwiththegovernmentandasmuchwiththelocalorganizationasfaraspossibleforthoseactivitiesarekindofreplicatedtoawiderscale,whichwearestillabletodo.’B.B.Thapaagrees:‘Iamveryoptimisticandhopefulthatwehavetobecoolandthinkseriouslyhowwecanbeinstrumentalinsupportingthepeopleinneedandparticipatingingovernmentinitiativesandsupportingpolicyformulation,systemupgradeandfunctionalDRRsystemsplacedinthecountry.’MaintainingcommitmenttodisasterriskreductionFiveyearsonfromtheearthquakemuchhasbeenachieved;butwillthiseffortbesustainedinthedecadeslikelytopassbeforethenextmajorearthquake?Asmallstonememorialtothe1934earthquakestandsinagrassedareabyabusystreetinKathmandu.Nearby,housesbuiltafterwardsstandthreestorieshigh,limitedbyanactpassedtoreducetheimpactofasubsequentearthquake.Atleasttheyareclearlyoriginallythreestorieshigh.Furtherstorieshavebeenbuiltontop,destabilisingthebuildings,asmemoryrecedesandlearningfades42.InNepalonechallengefacedbycivilsocietyismaintaininglongtermcommitmenttoeffectivedisasterriskreductionwhenpoliticalandpubliccommitmentfalters.

41Pandey:Ibid.42MakingAidAgenciesWork.TerryGibson.Emerald.2019.(p133)

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Casestudy6.Uganda:linkingdisasterresponsefromlocaltogovernmentlevelthroughpartnerships Organisation(s):UNNGOF(Forusmember),andDENIVA(GNDRVFLPlatform),HumanitarianPlatformforLocalandNationalOrganisations

RiskprofilesinUgandaUgandaexperiencesacomplexmixofintensiveandextensivehazards.TheGNDRViewsfromtheFrontline(VFL)platformleaderDENIVAgathersdataconcerningdisastersbasedonlocalknowledge,andreportedontheseinits2015VFLreport43.Itexaminedfivedistinctriskzones:InthecityslumsofKampalaresidentssuffertheeffectsofpersistentfloodingduetobaddrainageandgarbagemanagement.Inwardmigrationtotheinformalcommunitiesincreasesovercrowding,druguse,alcoholismandprostitutionareconsequences.AlowlandruralzoneinKatakwisufferspersistentdroughtsometimesfollowedbyheavyrainsandfloods,leadingtopooragriculturalproductivityandfoodinsecurity.ThehighlandsruralzonesinKabale,MbaleandKaseseallexperiencefloodsandlandslidesleadingtointernaldisplacementandfoodinsecurity.Deforestationforfueldestabilisesthelandfurther,andisbelievedtoinfluencelocalisedclimatechange.InadditiontheKasesedistrictbordersD.R.CongoandRwandaandhasbeenexposedtointertribalandethnicconflict.

TheFrontlineanalysisfoundthatacrossallregions,thoseconsultedreportedthat76.97%ofdisastereventsweresmallscale‘everyday’events.80.5%ofrespondentshadexperiencedatleastonesmallscaledisasterinthepreviousyear.Askedtoprioritisethethreatstheyfaced,theyrankedthefivemostdominantthreatsasfollows44:

1. Flooding2. Alcoholism3. ClimateChange4. Poverty5. Disease

Theprofilerevealedhereshowsthat,inlinewithwiderevidence,amajorityofimpactson

43Thereportusesthe‘Frontline’methodologywhichinvolvesanumberoflocallybasedpartnerCSOsinconducting‘structuredconversations’withlocalcommunityrespondents.Throughaqualitativeanalysismethoditisabletopresentpeoples’perceptionsandexperienceofthreats,consequences,actionsandbarriersinresponsetodisastersaggregatedatlocal,nationaland(throughGNDR)globallevelhttps://www.gndr.org/component/jak2filter/?Itemid=534&issearch=1&theme=ja_k2filter&isc=1&category_id=305&xf_11[0]=22644NotethattheFrontlinemethodinvitesopen-endedresponsesandanalysesthese,sothreatsandactionsarethoseexpressedinconversationbyrespondents,notselectionsfromaquestionnaire

InUganda,positiverelationshipsbetweengovernmentandcivilsocietyhaveledtocoordinatedresponsetointensivedisasters.Inthecaseofextensivedisastersexamplesshowtheimportanceofstrengtheninglocalknowledgeandlocalcapacities

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livesandlivelihoodsintheriskzonesstudiedinUgandaresultfromsmall-scale‘everydaydisasters’andthattheseareamulti-hazardmixofsocial,economicandenvironmentalfactors.

UgandanCivilSocietyrespondingtodisasters

TheCivilSocietystructureinUgandawhichaddressesriskreduction,responseandrecoveryfromintensiveandextensivedisastershasanumberoflayers.DENIVAisitselfanetworkoperatingnationally,andthepartnerCSOscollaboratingontheVFLstudyarelocallybased,typicalofthemanylocalCSOsworkinginthecountry.CSOsandnetworksareinturnlinkedtogetherbytheUgandanNationalNGOForum(UNNGOF):aForusmember.Theplatformwasestablishedin1997asmanyNGOsrecognisedtheneedtoengagetheGovernmentanddonorcommunityonpolicyissuesandpovertyconcerns.ThegovernmentinturnfounditincreasinglyimportanttoinvolveCSOsindesignandimplementationofpoliciesandprogrammes.TheOfficeofthePrimeMinistercoordinateshumanitarianresponse,collaboratingwithUNNGOFFandotherorganisations.InadditiontherecentlyestablishedHumanitarianPlatformforLocalandNationalOrganisationsprovidescoordinationandcommunicationinthecaseofintensivedisasters.TheseorganisationsalsointeractwiththePrimeMinister’sofficewhenadisasteroccurs,andmuchresourcemobilisationisundertakenbytheUgandaRedCross.

GovernmentcollaborationwithCSOSinresponsetointensivedisasters

• Inthecaseofanintensivedisastersuchaslargescalefloodingrapidandcomprehensivecoordinationisrequired.The‘firstresponders’arelocalcommunitiesandlocalCSOsexposedtodisasterimpacts.Theyapplytheirlocalknowledgeandcapacitiestotacklethedisaster.

• AtnationalleveltheDisasterdepartment,hostedbythePrimeMinister’sOffice,declaresanationalemergency.Thistriggersnationallevelmobilisation.

• Inthecaseofweatherrelateddisasterssuchasfloodsandlandslidesthemeteorologicalauthoritysendswarnings.

• TheHumanitarianPlatformdisseminatesinformationtoregionalactorsviaregionalplatforms.

• FundingismanagedthroughUNNGOF.ForlargerdisasterstheUgandaRedCrosscoordinatesresourcemobilisationandworkswithdonorsanddirectsthemtothedisasterzones.

• TheHumanitarianplatform(HP)helpsgetthingstogether,(materials,food,etc.)tohelpvictims.

• CSOscoordinatedbyUNNGOFandtheHumanitarianPlatform,undertakelocallevelresponseandrecoveryoperations.

InUganda,theroleofCSOsisrecognisedandvaluedandasaresultstructuresforcoordinationandcommunicationbetweengovernment,nationalandlocalorganisationshavedevelopedandaremobilisedinresponsetointensivedisasters.ThedatasummarisedearlierfromtheUgandaFrontlinestudyshowsthatamajorityofimpactsonlivesand

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livelihoodslocallyarefromsmall-scaleeverydaydisasters,whichdonottriggeremergencyresponse.DENIVAengageswithlocalcommunitiestoaddressthesedisasters.TwoexamplesofthisareVFLand‘NeighbourhoodAssemblies’:ViewsfromtheFrontlineVFLisanactionresearchprogramme.Aswellasgeneratingevidencetobeemployedinadvocacynationallyandgloballyitproducesrecommendationsforaction.Inthestudyreportedaboverespondentswereaskedtoprioritiseactionsthatcouldbetaken.Thetopfiveprioritieswereasfollows:

1. Advocacy2. AwarenessraisingofDRR3. Communityawarenessraising4. Communityagriculture5. Communityreforestation

Theseprioritiesreflectaconcerntocommunicateprioritiesandneedsthroughadvocacy,andalsotodevelopawarenessandactionatlocallevel.Communitiesareoftendrivenintoinactionandpassivityandthesepriorities,reflectingbroaderfindingsfromtheVFLandaccompanyingAFLprogrammes45showthatacriticalresponsetoeverydaydisastersiscommunitymobilisation.Theexampleof‘NeighbourhoodAssemblies’reflectsthisinsight:

NeighbourhoodAssemblies

DENIVAhassupportedtheestablishmentofNeighbourhoodAssemblies,or‘CommunityParliaments’,since2012.Theseenablelocalpeopletoarticulatetheirneedsandconcernsandtoprioritisethese,andtheycanthencommunicatetotherelevantinstitutionsandpressforaction.Denivastandinthebackgroundtobackthisup.Forexampleifthereisamudslidetheycandiscussanddecidewhoshouldtakeaction.Thegroupsalsorunotherprojectssuchasrevolvingfundsforlocalloans.Thestructurecreatesaconnectionbetweenlocalknowledgeandotherscales.TheconceptwassharedwithDENIVAbyKenyanCSOgroups.TheUgandancaseshowsthedevelopmentofcoherentresponsebetweengovernmentandcivilsocietyinthecaseofintensivedisasters.InthecaseofeverydaydisastersexamplessuchastheVFLprogrammeandtheestablishmentofNeighbourhoodAssembliesshowtheimportanceofdevelopinglocalknowledgeandlocalcapacities.

45ViewsfromtheFrontline:https://www.gndr.org/programmes/views-from-the-frontline.htmlActionattheFrontline:https://www.gndr.org/programmes/action-at-the-frontline.html

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Annex3:Findingswithsupportingdata

1. CapacitybuildingofCSOsbeforeintensivedisasters.

DataSummary

• StudieshighlighttheneedtostrengthenthecapacitiesoflocalCSOsworkinginpartnershipduringcrisesandnotethatinternationalagenciesoftendonotsupportstrengtheningoflocalcapacitiesintimesofstability,whichmeanscapacityislimitedwhendisasterstrikes46.

• AsurveyofForusplatformsshowedthattheyplacedahighpriorityonCapacityBuildingintheirmissionstatements,andinresponsetoaquestionnaireplacedahighpriorityonsupportingCSOs.47

• CSOsareoftenside-linedduringsurgeresponsebecauseoflimitedcapacity.LocalCSOleadersinNepaldescribethisexperienceinrelationtothe2015Gorkhaearthquake.Thoughexcludedfromclustermeetingsbeingtreatedasservicedeliverycontractorsduringthecrisis,whentheinternationalagenciesmoveoninamatterofmonthslocalCSOsareexpectedtosustaintherecoveryeffort.48

• IndianplatformVANIhighlightstheneedforcapacitybuildingbeforetheevent,explainingthatwhenCSOsareatthefrontlinetheyareunderresourcepressureandcannothandlelargescaleevents.

• FECONGundertakesactivitiestostrengthenthecapacityofmembers,seekinginformationandbuildingthecapacitiesofmembers,

• BangladeshCSOplatformNAHABmakesastronglinktothethemeof‘localisation’andplacesanemphasisinitsworkonadvocatingforlocalisedresourcingtostrengthenthecapacityoflocalCSOs,aswellasstrengtheninginformationsharingandcollaboration.

• FundaciónAzimuthinColumbialeadsaGNDRplatformwithafocusondisasterriskreductionandseesthe‘invisibility’oflocalCSOsasamajorproblem.ThoughthegovernmentclaimsitrecogniseslocalCSOsinpracticeassoonasthereisacrisistheyareignored.

46STARTNetwork(2013)MissedOpportunities:Thecaseforstrengtheningnatinonalandlocalpartnership-basedhumanitarianresponses(2013,November3)https://policy-practice.oxfam.org.uk/publications/missed-opportunities-the-case-for-strengthening-national-and-local-partnership-302657(Accessed20/09/18)46STARTNetwork(2014)MissedAgain:MakingSpaceforPartnershipintheTyphoonHaiyanResponse(2014,September)https://www.christianaid.org.uk/sites/default/files/2016-03/missed-again-typhoon-haiyan-evaluation-report-sep-2014.pdf(Accessed20/09/18)47‘IdentificationandProfilingofPlatforms’:researchstudyforForus.February2020.Unpublished48GFCF:PathwaystoPowerPodcasts(2019)episode3:https://globalfundcommunityfoundations.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Podcast3_Transcript.pdf

Finding:InordertostrengthenCSOsresponseinintensivedisasterscapacitybuildingbeforetheeventisvital,butoftenunder-resourced.Platformsaddressthischallengewithanemphasisoncapacitybuildingtoimprovetheabilityoftheirmemberstoactascredibleactors,formpartnerships,accessresourcesandparticipateinclustersandothergroupings

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2. Knowledgebrokeringbetweenactorsforintensivedisasters

DataSummary

• IndividualCSOsoftenhavelimitedaccesstopracticalknowledgeandexpertiseduetopressuresoftimeandlimitedresources.CSONationalPlatformsplaykeyrolesinknowledgebrokeringbetweenactorsPlatformsemploynetworking,mapping,localconsultation,partnerships,regionalcollaborations,roundtablesandeducationalresourceproductiontogatherandshareriskknowledge:

• UDYAMAleadaGNDRplatforminIndiaandhavelearntthatnetworking,poolingknowledgeresourcesandinformationareessentialinbuildingcommunityresiliencetodisasters.

• PREDESinPeruassertanimportantstartingpointisthecreationofanationalriskmaptoidentifythemostpressingthreatsandvulnerabilities.Whentheydidthistheyrecognisedthat8departmentsinthesouthernregionofthecountrywheremostexposedtodisasters,andLimaisunderparticularthreatofseismicactivity

• FundacionAzimuthhighlightsthevalueofgatheringdetailedlocalknowledge.Itisnecessary,theysay,to‘walktheterritory’bywhichtheymeanthereisnosubstituteforlearninglocallyfrompeople,recognisingandvalidatingtheirknowledge.

• FECONG,Mali,acknowledgethattheyoperateatnationallevel,butrelyonregionalcoordinatorsandlocalmemberorganisationstogatherandsharedetailedriskknowledge

• GRIDES,inPeru,networksdifferentsourcesofknowledgein12regionalhubscomprisinglocalgovernment,CSOs,academics,communityleadersandunions.Aswellasprovidinglocalinformationandtrainingtheyareabletoworktogethertoapplytheirsharedknowledgeinadvocacytoinfluencenationalpolicy.

• ASONOGorganisedRiskManagementRoundTablesforknowledgesharingafterHurricaneMitch.Atotalof8RoundTableswereorganizedforthenationalterritory.Theyhavealsopromotedlocalknowledgesharingandeducation,developing"EscuelasdeIncidenciaorAdvocacySchools"forcommunities’education.Theyalsodesignedacurriculumforadvocacyeducationcalled"MethodologyGuideforIntegratedRiskManagement",whichguidescommunitymembersonhowtoprovidefollow-upduringadrought(orotherdisaster),createriskmaps,designcommunityandmunicipalplans.

Finding:CSOsoftenhavelimitedaccesstoknowledge.Platformscaninitiatemappingandsurveyingactivities,createcollaborationsandhubstostrengthenknowledgesharingandalsosupportformalisationofknowledgeintrainingresourcesandevents

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3. Communicationsandintensivedisasters

DataSummaryCommunicationsbeforedisasters

• CCONG,linksmemberCSOswiththeneedsofthepopulationinthatregion,aswellascoordinatingtheactionsoftheorganizationswithlocalauthorities

• PREDESinPerudothisbycreatingdialogueplatformswithlocalgovernmentandthepopulationtodiscusstheproblemsanddecidewhateachshoulddointhefaceofthatproblem.

• FECONGinMalihaveacommunicationsroleatnationallevel.Theycanrelayinformationtothehighestlevelbygivingalertsandmakingadvocacysothatareaswhichareaffectedcanbehelpedandsupported.

• IndianplatformVANIpointsoutdisastersarewidelycovered,ifthereisacollapseofoldbuildingoraccidentataconstructionsite,immediatelythemediacoversit.

• PakistaniCSOPattanmakeuseofnewspapermedialocallytopressforactiononflooding,andnationallytoadvocateforchangesindisasterpolicyandpractice

Communicationsduringdisasters• VANIpointoutinanylargedisasteritislocalpeopleandlocalCSOswhoarefirstresponders.

Theplatform’sroleistoestablishcommunicationsbetweenlocalgroupsandoutsideagenciesincludinggovernmentandinternationalagencies.

• NFNinNepalidentifyasimilarrole,findingoutneedsfromtheirmemberorganisationsandthroughstronglinkswithgovernmentsharingthatinformationtoseeksupport.

• NepaleseCSODEPROSCagreesthatinacrisisthefirstrespondersarelocalorganizationsandindigenousresponsemechanisms,butitismoredifficulttocommunicatetodonorlevel.Theroleofplatformsinspeedingupandclarifyingcommunicationrapidlyiscritical

• Basiccommunicationsareoftenbadlyaffectedinacrisis.Platformscanfacilitateexpertknowledgetomitigatethis.CSONSEThasaccumulatedtechnicalexpertiseonusingradiocommunicationsinacrisisasmobiletelecomstowersareoftendamagedorlosepowerduringamajorseismicevent

• Whentelecommunicationsbreakdownaffectedcommunitiesareoftenleftwithoutanyinformationtosupportresponseandsurvival,oranymeansofcommunicatingtheirneeds.CivilSocietyOrganisationshaveaparticularresponsibilitytoreachandsupportthe‘lastmile’49.Forexample,ASONOGinHondurasemphasiseparticipatorycommunicationwithcommunitiesbefore,duringandafteracrisis.

• Platformsmayhavemembers,suchasNSETabove,withtechnicalexpertise,andtherearealsospecialistorganisationswhichcanprovideknowledgeandsupport,forexampleCDAC:http://www.cdacnetwork.org/.

49Thisarticleprovidesabriefandusefuloverview:https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2013/apr/03/disaster-communications-ict-internews

Finding:Communicationsbeforedisastersneedtobedevelopedtoensurethatallrelevantactorsarewellconnectedandthatotheropportunitiesforcommunicationsandinfluence,forexampleviathemediaareexploited.Duringadisasterthispreparationneedstobecomplementedwithtechnicalsolutionstoensurethatcommunicationsarenotdisrupted,andalsothatcommunitiesthemselvesareincludedincommunicationsandguidance

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4. Managingtheinfluxofexternalactors–‘Surge’inintensivedisasters

DataSummary

• GNDRplatformleaderAFADinMalidescribestheproblemthat:‘TooofteninternationalNGOsseizeaidwithoutinvolvinglocalstructures,neithertechnicalnorlocalNGOs,andtakedirectaction.ThisdoesnotbenefitlocalNGOs,becauselocalNGOsarenotabletofullyplaytheirrolewhichistosupport.Theycanprovidelocalsupportbecausetheyareclosertothecommunities,knowingtherealities.Ifnotthereisalotofriskofdiversion,risksthatpreventaidfromreachingthosewhoneedit.‘

• PREDESinPerualsorecognisethedangerofcompetitionratherthancollaborationwithINGOs,whotheyfindcompeteforemergencyfundingfordisasters.

• Platformshaveanimportantroleinbuildingrelationshipsenablingthemtoachievecollaborationratherthancompetition.VANI,inIndia,givetheexampleofacycloneinKerala,whereasinmanycaseslocalCSOsarethefirstresponders.WhentheprofileofthecycloneledtointernationalresponseVANIbrokeredlinksbetweenlocalCSOsandINGOsandalsowiththeCSR(CorporateSocialResponsibility)functionsoflargebusinesseswhowantedtoprovidesupport.

• NAHABinBangladeshisstrengtheningthecapacityandpartnershipsoforganisationsatlocallevel.TheyshowedinacomparativeanalysisofresponsetimethatlocalactorswerefasterthaninternationalandNationalactors,andthattheycouldshareresponsibilitywithacompetitiveadvantage.Theyaredevelopinghubstocreateanenvironmentforcollaboration.Localorganizationscantaketheleadanddefinetheirowncoordination&cooperationmechanismamongthelocalactors,alsopartneringwiththeinternationalactorsworkinginthatarea.Thesystemputspartnersonanequalfooting;theycandecideonraisingthealert,collectivelyallocateresources,andtheninviteproposalsfromactorsintheirrespectiveareas.

• AmajorstudybytheSTARTnetworkofINGOs:‘TransformingSurgeCapacity’addressedthewellrecognisedchallengestonationalandlocalCSOSandidentifiedfourmodelswhichmightstrengthennationalcapacity50:CapacitybuildingofnationalNGOstoleadresponse–replacinginternationalwithnationalsurge;WorkingcollaborativelytotransformsurgecapacitythroughINGOsworkingwithnationallevelplatformsandconsortiaofCSOs.PrioragreementstoreducenationalCSOlosses.SecondingINGOstaffintonationalCSOstostrengthenresponse.

50‘TimetoMoveOn’:STARTnetwork2017.https://www.christianaid.org.uk/sites/default/files/2017-09/Time-to-move-on-humanitarian-surge-study-apr2017.pdf(notethatafifthmodelisnotcitedastherewasnoevidenceitwaseffective

Finding:WhenanintensivedisasterstrikeslocalCSOsareoften‘swamped’bythelarge-scaleresponseincludinginternationalactorsbutthiscreatesproblemswhentheinitialsurgeiscompleteandcontinuingresponseandrecoveryislefttotheselocalorganisations.Platformscanstrengthenrelationshipsandlocalpartnershipsaswellastakingadvantageofemphasisonlocalisationtotransformsurgeresponse.

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5. Managingresourceflowsinintensivedisasters

DataSummary

• TimelyaccesstoresourcesisoftencitedasachallengetoCSOsandthisisparticularlypressingwhereresourcesarerequiredurgently.Sometimesresourcesareavailablebutexpertiseonhowtosecurethemisrequired.CCONGinColumbiacitedgovernmentfundingforlocalreconstructionprojectswhichlocalgroupsdidnotsecurebecausetheydidn’tknowhowtoaccessandcompleteofficialforms.

• KnowledgeofhowandwheretosecureresourcesisavaluableassetforCSOplatforms.ForexampleVANIinIndiatradesonitsrecognitionandcredibilitytoactasaconduitforfundingfromtheprivatesector,astheyareabletoprovideassurancewhichismoredifficultforindividualCSOs.FundacionAzimuthinColumbiaacknowledgesthatthisisnecessary,astheyfindthatlargerorganisationsarealwaysselectedforgrants.

• InUgandathisunderstandinghasledtoapartnershipbetweentheUgandanCSOPlatform,UNNGOFwhichoperatesnationallywithgovernmentrecognition,thenewlyestablishedHumanitarianPlatformHP),whichhasstronglocalconnectivitybutdoesn’thavestronginstitutionalrecognition,theUgandanRedCrosswhichisabletoattractanddistributeresources,andthePrimeMinister’soffice.Throughthispartnershipdisasterresponseisbasedonthegovernmentalacknowledgementoftheemergency,theRedCrossattractingresourceswhicharemanagedbyUNGOFFandwithHPcoordinatingpracticalresponseatthefrontline.

• ASONOGinHondurasfindthatgovernmentagenciesreleasefundinginareactiveway,inresponsetotheimmediatedisaster,sotheyhaveworkedtolobbyandadvocatetoimprovepublicpolicy,pressingforreleasingfundinginamorestrategicwaytosupportriskreduction,responseandrecoveryintransparentwaysthatsupporttheneedsofthemostvulnerable

• AnotherformofpartnershipwasestablishedinCadizcityinthePhilippinesafterthedevastationofTyphoonHaiyan.AnINGO,Tearfund,hadbeeninvolvedintheimmediateresponsephasebutrecognisedthatlongertermrecoveryandrehabilitationwerecriticalsotheyformedapartnershipwithlocalCSOs,governmentagencies,technicalspecialistsandcommunitygroups.ThroughtheirfacilitationandresourcingtheyenabledalocallydevelopedfiveyearDRRandClimateChangeAdaptationplantobedevelopedandimplemented51.

• ItisclearthatamajoraspectoftheworkofPlatformsinresponsetointensedisastersissecuringtimelyresources.AsUDYAMAinIndiaacknowledgethisischallengingandwhiletheyplaceanemphasisonthewidelyrecognisedprinciplesoflocalisationtheyfindinpracticethatcontinuityoffundingisdifficulttoachieve.

51‘CoherenceCookbook.2019.GNDR.

Finding:AccesstoresourcesisachallengeforCSOsandplatformsplayimportantrolesinnegotiatingfundingwithgovernment,INGOs,otherdonorsandprivateenterprise,improvingtheapplicationoffundingtomatchlocalprioritiesandneeds

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6. ManagerelationshipsbetweenCSOsandNationalandLocalgovernmentforintensivedisasters

DataSummary

• Whenadisasterstrikes,effectivecoordinationbetweeneveryoneinvolvedinresponseisvital,andanimportantbutoftenoverlookedaspectofthisissharinginformationaboutneedsandprioritiesatthefrontlineofresponsefromaffectedcommunitiesandCSOsworkingwiththem.

• NSETreportedthatcoordinationwasachallengeinresponsetothe2015Gorkhaearthquake.Theyfoundthatwhileeveryone–agencies,communities,volunteers,agenciesandgovernment–didtheirbestintheirownway,thiswasnotenoughtoeffectivelymeeturgenthumanitarianneeds.Therewasrecognitionthatstrongercoordinationwasrequiredwithcentralandlocalgovernmentandthelocalmunicipalities.

• Therearechallengestoeffectivecoordination.LocalCSOmembersofplatformsoftenhaveweakrelationshipswithlocalgovernmentunitswho,oftenburdenedwithpressuresofupwardaccountabilitytonationalgovernment,havelimitedunderstandingoflocalneeds52.

• CCONGrecognisethisprobleminColumbiaandhavehadtodemonstratetotheirmemberstheimportanceofworkingwithlocalgovernmenttoensurecoordinatedaction,aswellasbuildingcredibilitywithnationalgovernmentsothattheirmembersareheard.

• InPeruPREDESworkspro-activelywithlocalgovernmenttoimprovetheirunderstanding,andASONOGinHondurasconductlobbyingandadvocacyforimprovedintegrationofgovernmentresponse.

• Platformscansupportindividualmembersinforgingproactiverelationshipswithlocalgovernment,asPREDEShavedone.ForexampleinruralEasternKenyaADSEworkedproactivelywithlocalgovernmenttoestablishjointsteeringgroups,developclimategovernancepoliciesandsecureseedfundingfrominternationaldonorsforlocalprojects53.

• InUgandathegovernmentrecognisedtheneedtocollaboratewithCivilSocietyOrganisationsastheycouldsupplementthegovernment’slimitedresourcesandthisledtotheestablishmentofUNNGOFtofacilitaterelationshipswithCSOs.

• TheseexamplesallillustrateaprincipledescribedbyCCONGmakingan"ofertadevalor"or‘valueoffer’,demonstratingaddedvaluetolocalgovernmentasabasisforforgingconstructiverelationshipsintimesofstabilitysothatwhenacrisisstrikesthereisstrongcoordinationandlocalvoicesareheard.

52CoherenceCookbookP8.GNDR,201953CoherenceCookbookP29.GNDR,2019

Finding:Effectivecoordinationdependsonbuildinggoodrelationshipswithlocalandnationalgovernmentbeforedisasterstrikes.Platformscanengageatgovernmentleveltobuildrelationshipsandinstitutionsforgingtrustandunderstanding,makingaclear‘valueoffer’fromCSOstogovernment.

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7. Supportsustainablerecoverylongtermafterintensivedisasters

DataSummary

• ‘Buildingbackbetter’–ensuringthataffectedpopulationsemergebetterabletobuildsustainablelivelihoods,ratherthansimply‘bouncingback’dependsonpreparationforsustainablerecovery.ASONOGinHondurasemphasisethatonecannottalkaboutdevelopmentwithouttakingintoaccountmunicipal,communityornationalthreats.

• FundacionAzimuthinColumbiasuggestdevelopmentandpovertyalleviationprocessescannotbeseparatedfromdisasterriskreductionbecauseforcommunitieslivinginadversesituationssuchaspost-conflict,ordisplacedcommunitiesmovingtohighriskurbanareaspursuingtheSDGsdependsonalsopursuingDRR.

• Studiesoftheoutcomesoffivedifferentintensivedisastersshowthatinternationalagenciestypicallyleavewithinmonthsofadisasterandthatinallthesecasesgreaterinvestmentincapacitydevelopmentofthelocalagencieswhoarethereforthelongtermwasnecessary54.

• Inpracticethismeansthatalongsideimmediatereconstructionthedevelopmentofsustainablelivelihoodsisessentialtolongtermrecovery.

• AtEscuintlainGuetemalatheeruptionoftheVolcandelFuegoledtothelossof300livesandevacuationofover10,000people.AgroupofCSOsfocusedonlivelihoodsdevelopmentthroughinvolvingprofessionalinstitutes,businessesandlocalauthoritiesinprovidingtraininginnewskillssuchcooking,carpentryandhairdressingsothatpeoplecouldestablishnewtradesandbusinesses55.

• InAleppo,Syria,theTamkeenprojectadoptedasimilarapproach.Recognisingthathumanitarianresponsealonewasnotsufficient,theprojectworkedwithlocalpeopleandorganisationstoestablishnewtrainingandbusinesses.This‘humanitarian/developmentnexus’notonlycreatedsustainablelivelihoodsbutre-establishedvitalservices56.

• CCOAIBinRwandafocusinparticularonagriculture,animalhusbandryandenvironmentalprotectionandtheprotectionofsocio-economicrightsingeneral;buttheyarguethattheydodealwithdisastersbecausetheycannotworkintheseareas,especiallyagriculture,withouttalkingabouttheerosionofgreatrainsanddroughtandotherdisastersthatcanhinderdevelopmentatthelocalorevennationallevel.

54STARTNetwork(2013)MissedOpportunities:Thecaseforstrengtheningnatinonalandlocalpartnership-basedhumanitarianresponses(2013,November3)https://policy-practice.oxfam.org.uk/publications/missed-opportunities-the-case-for-strengthening-national-and-local-partnership-302657(Accessed20/09/18)STARTNetwork(2014)MissedAgain:MakingSpaceforPartnershipintheTyphoonHaiyanResponse(2014,September)https://www.christianaid.org.uk/sites/default/files/2016-03/missed-again-typhoon-haiyan-evaluation-report-sep-2014.pdf(Accessed20/09/18)55CoherenceCookbookP41.GNDR,201956Dadu-Brown,S,Dadu,AandZaid,M(2017).ExploringthenexusbetweenhumanitariananddevelopmentgoalsinAleppo.IIEDworkingpaperhttp://pubs.iied.org/10855IIED(Accessed14/08/18)

Finding:Theintensityoftheresponseandrecoveryphaseofanintensivedisastercanobscuretheneedforrecoverytobebasedon‘buildingbackbetter’whichisadevelopmentalandintegratedapproach.PlatformscanstrengthentheroleofCSOstopursuelong-termsustainabledevelopmentandlivelihoodresiliencewhichensuresthatcommunities‘bounceforward’afteradisaster

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8. Placeanemphasisongathering,aggregatingandsharinglocal

knowledgetoaddresseverydaydisasters

DataSummary

• Everyday(‘extensive’)disastersdon’tnormallyhittheheadlines.Notonlyaretheylesspublicised,theyarelesswellunderstood.The‘experts’areoftenthepeoplewhoexperiencethem–localpopulationsexposedtothemandlocalCSOsworkingwiththem.ForexampleintherepublicofCongo,asthecountryemergedfromthelatestcivilwarin2017theCCODplatformreported:‘Westillhavetheconsequences:brokenhouses,lootingandeconomicactivitiesthataredestroyed,etc.Notcountingtheillnessesthathavedeveloped,notcountingdeaths,notcountingarrests,etc.Sobasicallythesetwoso-callednaturalandhumantypesarestillthere,butmadeworsebythechangesduetotheclimate,andtotheotherconflicts.Andthatfeedsalotofpovertyandunemploymentproblems.’

• TheGNDRplatforminthecountrygathersdataforthe‘ViewsfromtheFrontline’studiesandsaysit‘allowsustoparticipatenotonlyinthesurveyofseniors,families,communitiesatriskbutalsoastrategyforthelocalactionplantohelpcommunitiesindifficultyandalsotohaveadvocacyprogramsandbetteradvocacywithdepartments.Thisallowsustohaveanideaoftheattitudeswhich,whichcancontributetobuildingcommunityresilience...Weorganizemanyactivitiesnotonlytothenewpublicauthoritiestoremindthemoftherolewhichistheirsforthequality,thesecurityofthecitizensinthecountry,butalsoforfamilies’.

• Aswellaslocalconsultations,localinstitutionbuildingallowspeopletoexpresstheirneedsandprioritiestoeachotherandtootheractors.ForexampleinUgandaDenivahavesupportedtheestablishmentof‘NeighbourhoodAssemblies’orcommunityparliaments.Theyenablepeopletoarticulatetheirneedsandprioritiesandthentocommunicatethemtorelevantinstitutionsandpressforaction.

• InColombiaCCONGcreated"ConsejosdeGestióndelRiesgo"(RiskManagementCouncils).Thesecouncilscreatetheirownplansofactionfortheirterritory.

• AnimportantroleforCSOplatformsinstrengtheningaccesstolocalknowledgeismediatingrelationshipswithexternalactorswhooftenhavelimitedawarenessoflocalneedsandpriorities.ForexampleinDhakaslumareaslocalCSOPDAPhasworkedcloselywithcommunitiesbuthasfoundthatexternalpartnershaveapproachedthemwithshorttermprojectbasedagendaswhicharenotsensitivetothelocalconditions,theyhavelearntthatlongertermrelationshipsbasedonequalpartnershiparemoreeffective.

• BangladeshiplatformNAHABisalsoworkingunderthebanneroflocalisationonestablishinglocalpartnershipssothatwheninternationalactorsareinvolvedtherelationshipisonanequalfooting.

Finding:‘Everydaydisasters’arecomplexandvaluableinformationaboutthemisoftenfoundlocallyfromcommunitiesandlocalCSOsworkingwiththem.Organisingandcommunicatingthisinformationisanimportantfirststepforactionandrelationshipswithexternalactorswhohavelimitedunderstandingoflocalcontextsneedtobecarefullymanaged,ensuringlocalvoicesareheard.

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9. PeertopeerknowledgesharingunlockingexperiencefromindividualCSOSinaddressingeverydaydisasters

DataSummary

• Becauseofthecomplexandlocallyspecificnatureofeverydaydisastersthoseworkingclosetothemoftenhavethebestunderstandingoftheirnatureandofoptionsforaction.CSOplatformshaveanimportantrolein‘brokering’suchknowledgebetweenlocalCSOs.Whothemselvesareoftentoobusyandhavetoolimitedcapacitytopro-activelyshareit.ForexampleCCODintheRepublicofCongosay‘reallyweserveasaninterface;wealsodoanalysisandreflection.Andwealsomakeproposalssinceamongus,wealsohavetheappropriateexpertise,andwehavethecapacitytomobilizetheexpertisearoundus,nationalexpertise,expertiseincivilsocietyatlarge.Youcanaskanothertechnician,whatcanyoudo,etc.Wealsoknowthatcontactscanbemadetosupplementtheknowledgethatwehavelocally.’

• CSOPlatformscanprovideopportunitiesforthissharingtotakeplace,forexampleinPeruANChascreatedaDRMgroup.

• PREDEShashelpedtopromotediscussionsandpreparationofactionplans.Awidergrouphasalsobeenestablishedtoshareknowledgeatanationallevel:MesaNacionaldeConcertacionparalaLuchacontralaPobreza(NationalRoundtableforAgreementforPovertyAlleviation).ThisenablespublicorganizationstomeetwithCSOstodiscussproblemsandproposespecificprojectstothegovernment.

• NSETinNepalworkstoreducevulnerabilitytoeverydaydisastersaswellasonpreparednessformajordisasters.TheymeetandsharewithotherCSOsundertheleadershipoftheNFNCSOplatformandtheyalsoparticipateinaspecialistnetworkDPnet(DisasterPreventionnetwork)whichenablesCSOsspecialisingindisasterriskreductiontoshareandcollaborate.

• ASONOGinHondurasseelearning,trainingandeducationonlocalrealitiesasimportantandpromotethisbetweenCSOsandalsoatcommunitylevel

• OrganisationssuchasNSET,ASONOGandPREDESalsoparticipateintheGNDR‘ViewsfromtheFrontline’actionresearch,whichenablesthemtogather,shareandanalyselocalinformationanduseitasabasisforlocalandnationalactionplanning.

• FundacionAzimuth:haveanobjectivetovalidatelocalknowledgeinthesecommunities,workingtogaintheirtrustwheretheStatehasfailedthem.Theyhavealsobeenstigmatizedbecausetheyliveinterritorythatwaspartofthearmedconflict(civil/guerrillawar).Theyseethisasanopportunitytohelpinabroaderway,usingparticipatorymethodstoworkwithdifferentsegmentsofsocietyfromaninitialriskmanagementperspective.

Finding:Concerningeverydaydisasters,relevantactionableknowledgeoftencomesfromlocalexperienceandisheldbyCSOs.PlatformscanplayanimportantroleincreatingopportunitiesforthatknowledgetobesharedbetweenCSOsandathigherlevels.

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10. Advocacytolocalandnationalgovernmentandinternationalactors

forsupportforeverydaydisasters

.DataSummary

• ThenextstepforCSOplatformsafterpromotingthegatheringandsharingoflocalknowledgefromtheirmembersistobringthisknowledgeandtheimplicationsithasforpolicyandactiontotheattentionoflocalandnationalgovernment.BothASONOGandFundacionAzimuthrefertothe‘invisibility’oflocalknowledgeandvoicesandwiderevidenceshowsthatlocalvoicesareoftentheleastheardinpolicy,planningandaction.Correctingthisisparticularlyimportantintermsofeverydaydisasters,whereitislocalactorswhoappreciatetheneedsandpriorities.

• CCODintheRepublicofCongohighlighttheneedforanadvocacyroleintheircontext:’itisoftenweNGOswhoareincontactwiththepopulationsandwhoaredirectlyquestioned.:Yes,anactorattheplatformlevel.Anactorwhoactsasaninterfacebetween,ontheonehand,populationsandpublicauthoritiesand,ontheotherhand,populationsandinternationaldonorsandinternationalorganizations.Whethertheyinterveneunderthetechnicalaspectsortheaspectsoffinancing.Peoplearestillhavingabitoftroublecontactingpublicauthorities.

• InUgandaforexamplethenationalplatformUNNGOFandamorerecentlyestablishednetwork,theHumanitarianPlatform(HP)collaborateonadvocacyaswellasonaction.HPhasstronglinkswithmembersandtoindigenousknowledge.Itrecognisesthatgeneratingindigenousinformationhasbeenagap.Sotheyencourageresearch;tosupportdevelopmentalpolicybriefsandpolicyadvocacyandengagement,wherewereviewpoliciesandhowweengagethegovernment,thestateactorsonpolicyissues.

• Makinginputstonationallevelpolicyandplanning,makingtheneedsandprioritiesoflocalpopulationsvisibleisafocusofmanyplatforms.CCONGinColumbiaseethisastheirmostimportantrole,beingpresentindifferentnationalforums,includingcouncilsdedicatedtoplanning,participation,peace,etc.wheretheyhavedifferentlevelsofparticipation,insomecasesasobserverstohelpmonitoragendasofInternationalNGOs.

• NAHABinBangladeshalsoseethisasanimportantrole,promoting:‘...collectivevoiceadvocacyatthenationallevelaswellasatthelocallevelparticularlyfortheinclusionoflocalorganizationsinthelocalcoordinationprocessaswellasatthenationallevelcoordinationprocess,so,thevoiceofthelocalistakenitintoconsiderationfornationallevelplanningandimplementationmechanisms.‘

• CCONGinColumbiaalsoseeadvocacytoandmonitoringoftheactivitiesofINGOsasnecessaryinensuringeffectivesupportforeverydaydisastersbasedonlocalknowledge,prioritiesandneeds

Finding:Theneedsandprioritiesoflocalpopulationsareoften‘invisible’inlocalandnationalgovernmentplanningandpolicyandwhereeverydaydisastersareconcerneditisimportantthatthisknowledgeismadevisible.CSOplatformscanplayanimportantadvocacyrolehereconcerningeverydaydisasters

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11. Resourcemobilisationforeverydaydisasters

DataSummary

• Accessingresourcesatlocalleveltoaddressthemanyshocksandstressespeoplefacehasoftenbeenachallenge.ItwasrecognisedinnegotiationsattheWorldHumanitarianSummitin2016thatonly1.2%ofhumanitarianaidwentdirectlytolocalandnationalCSOsandtheconsequentcallsforlocalisationofaidledtotheestablishmentofa‘GrandBargain’promisingthatby2020atleast25%ofaidwouldgodirecttonationalandlocallevel.ThoseworkinginlocalCSOsaredubiousaboutthistargetbeingmet,suggestingthatthefigurescanbemanipulated.

• LizzHarrison,workingonaChristianAidprojecttoacceleratelocalisation,givesanexample:‘someareusingthat‘25percentby2020’andsayingthatcanbeonaglobalaverage.Soifwetransfer50%inonecountry,wedon'thavetotransfer0%inanothercountry.Let’sgetto25%onagloballevelwhichIthinkmissesthepoint,ofcourse!’

• PDAP:believesthatthereshouldbegoodrelationshipbetweendonorandpartners.Butifdonorinterferedirectforprojectimplementationthenwhydonorneedpartnership?PDAPisworkingintheurbanareasmorethan20yearsandweliketoworkindependently.Iftherewillbeanymiddlemanforimplementingtheproject,thenwedonotwanttocontinuethatproject

• NSETinNepalsaythatprojectfundinghaslimitedvalueasitistime-limitedandoncethefundingends,sodoestheproject.Theyfavourdevelopingpooledfundingmechanismstoprovidemoreflexiblefundingtoorganisationswhentheyneedit,andNAHABinBangladeshalsopromotethisapproach.

• UDYAMAinIndiaalsoapplythisapproachatcommunityleveltopoolresources,andDENIVAinUgandahavedevelopedfundsbasedonrevolvingloanstogivelocalaccesstofunding–thisisamodelwhichinvariousformatshasprovedsuccessfulinmanycountries.

• Boththepooledfundingandrevolvingloanmechanismsareexamplesofwaysofmakingfundingavailablelocallyandflexibly,respondingtolocalprioritiesandneedsandthisisvitalinaddressingcomplex,locallyspecificeverydaydisasters

• NAHABusethecurrentinterestinthelocalisationagendaasabasisforadvocatingforlocallymanagedfundingthroughpartnershipsatlocallevel,givingthemaccesstogovernmentandinternationalfunding

Finding:Muchhumanitarianfundingiscontrolledbyinternationalactorsandprojectized.Appropriatefundingforresponsetoeverydaydisastersneedstobelocallyaccessibleandflexible,basedonmechanismstopoolanddistributelocalfunds.

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12. IntegratingDisastersandDevelopmentasaresponsetoeverydaydisasters

• Theneedfor‘Coherence’betweenframeworksforDisasterRiskReduction,ClimateChangeAdaptationandSustainableDevelopment,sothattheyaremutuallyreinforcing,iswidelyrecognisedatpolicylevel.Atcountryandlocallevelthecorrespondingideais‘integration’oftheseinterlinkedactivitiesasFundacionAzimuthinColumbia,forexample,suggest:‘Wecan'tseehowdevelopmentorpovertyalleviationprocessescanbeseparatedfromDisasterRiskReductionbecausecommunitiesarelivinginadverseregions,suchaspost-conflictwhichdisplacedsomanypeople.Manypoordisplacedcommunitiesinurbanareasareinhigh-riskareas.’

• Integratingdisastersanddevelopmentsecuresthegainsofsustainabledevelopmentbypreventingthembeingaffectedbydisasters.IntensiveDisastershavemassiveimpactsonprogress,demandinglargescaleinterventionsinresponseandrecovery.Extensivedisasterspersistentlyerodedevelopmentgains.Bothcanbemitigatedbydisasterriskreduction.Thereforeintegratedactioncombinesworktopursuesustainabledevelopmentwithmitigationandadaptationtotheeffectsofclimatechange,anddisasterriskreductiontoreducetheimpactofbothintensiveandextensivedisastersonsustainabledevelopment.ForexampleCCIAIBinRwandahighlighthowsuchintegrationisessentialinpractice:‘wecannotsaythattheCCOAIBassociationdoesnotdealwithdisastersbecauseifweworkinalltheseareas,especiallyagriculture,wecannotdowithouttalkingabouttheerosionofgreatrainsanddroughtandotherdisastersthatcanhinderdevelopmentatthelocalorevennationallevel’

• Howevertheprojectbasednatureofmuchfundingimpedesintegratedapproaches:NSETinNepalreport:‘...therearelikedifferentfundingorganizationsandmostofouractivityofisprojectbased.Andoncetheprojectisover,wecannotcontinuethoseactivitiessothattherearelimitation’

• Platformsarewellplacedtoaddressthechallengesofprojectbasedworking.PlatformscanbuildconnectionswithnationalandinternationalsourcesoffinancewhichallowlocalCSOstotakeintegratedapproaches.

• ASONOGinHondurasattemptstoensurefundscanbeusedinthemosteffectiveway:‘Ourworkisfocusedonadvocacysothatriskanddisasterfundsareusedtohelpthosewhoareaffectedthemost,witheventhemostbasicneeds.WeseeourroleasmakingsurethattheGovernmentusesresourcesinthemosttransparentwayforthosethatneeditthemost.’

• Platformsarewellplacedtofacilitatethedevelopmentofpartnershipsbetweentheirmemberstoachieveintegration,forexampleatNFNinNepalandVANIinIndiawhereeverydaydisastersareerodingdevelopmentgains,

Finding:Integratedapproachestodevelopmentwhichincludedisasterriskreductioncanstrengthensustainabledevelopment.EnablingthisrequirestacklingthechallengesofprojectbasedfundingandalsoforgingpartnershipssuchthatCSOscancollaborateinintegratedapproaches

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13. Capacitybuildingforlocalactioninresponsetoeverydaydisasters

DataSummary

• Capacitybuildingamongplatformsconsultedfallsintotwocategories,firstlyskillsandorganisationaldevelopmenttostrengthenorganisationalcapacitiesandsecondlyincreasingthecredibilityandvisibilityofCSOstoenablethemtoinfluencelocalandnationalactors,securepartnershipsandresources.

Organisationaldevelopment• ASONOGinHondurasconstantlyworkstostrengthenCSOscapacityinRiskManagementso

theycanadequatelymanageadversesituationswhentheyoccur.Hondurasisrecognizedworldwideasextremelyvulnerabletoclimatechange.Theyhavebeeninvolvedatbothlevelsofdisasterindifferentcapacities:They'veworkedoncapacitybuildingforCSOtoreducetheimpactofdisasters.AsapilotcountryfortheSendaiagreement,they'vebeenimplementingexperimentalpreventionprogramswithdifferentCSOs,includingtheChambersofTourismandITbusinessmen./TheyhavebeenimplementingtheIMPECOprojectwhichcreatescapacitiesforinvolvingbusinesseswithcivilsociety

• CCONG:haveanumberofcapacitybuildinginitiativesfocusingonTransparency,accountabilityandgoodgovernance,asystemofNGOaccreditationandtrengtheningorganizationalcapacity

• NFNinNepalCoordinatewiththerespectiveorganizationsanddevelopmentprofessionalsforcapacitydevelopmentactivities;focusingoperationallyonhowtoprovideresponsethroughprovidingsupporttopeoplewhocanmakecorrectactionsatthecommunitylevel.

CredibilityandVisibility

• Whilstcapacitydevelopmenttostrengthenoperationalresponseisimportant,severalplatformsemphasisetheneedtoincreasethecapacityofCSOstoberegardedascredibleactors.

• FundacionAzimuthhighlightthischallenge,describinglocallevelCSOsasoften‘invisible’andunabletosecurefundingorpartnerships.

• VANI,alargeplatforminIndia,seeapillaroftheirworkasstrengtheningorganizationsfromwithin.Akeyaspectofthisisdemonstratingaccountabilityandgoodgovernancesotheyworkonaccountabilityenhancingmechanisms,developinginternalresilience,governancemanagementandaccountability.

• InBangladeshNAHABplaceanemphasisonbuildinglocalisednetworksofCSOstostrengthentheircredibilityandvisibility.

• SimilarlyFECONGinMalioperatenationallyanduseregionalcoordinatorstocreatetwo-waycommunicationslinkstotheirmemberssotheycanprovideinformation,relayneedsfrommemberstonationallevelandalsolinkthemtotechnicalandfinancialpartners.

• CCONGemphasiseTransparency,accountabilityandgoodgovernanceandandhelpingCSOstobemorecredibleandvisible,sotheircontributionstosocietyareconsideredvaluable

Finding:CapacitybuildingcanimproveoperationalresponseofCSOs.Importantlyitcanalsoimprovethevisibility,credibilityandinfluenceofCSOsthroughimprovingaccountabilityandgovernance.

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Annex4:Toolkitmicrositedesignsuggestions

57

58

Annex5:NoteonCOVID-19 Theresearchperiodcoincidedwiththeglobalspreadofcoronavirus.Theresearchersandalltheparticipantsintheresearchconversations(March-May2020)havebeenaffectedbythis,nearlyallofthembeingisolatedinlockdown.Severalreferredtotheadditionalimpactoftheemergencyonthelivesofthepeopletheyworkwith,forexampleinMaliandinBangladesh.Noonewasabletospeakatthisstageaboutconstructiveresponsetothecrisis.UnlikeintensiveandextensivedisastersforwhichCSOshaveexperiencethenatureandscaleofthepandemic,particularlyintheinitialcrisisperiod,haveoverwhelmedsystemsatlocalandnationallevel.Asagloballysharedexperienceofanintensivedisasterithasnotonlyapracticalbutanemotionalimpact.Peopleinthemidstofadisorientatingcrisisfindthemselvesinwhatisreferredtoas'liminalspace'-atermoriginatingfromanthropologicalstudiesofritesofpassagewhichreferstotheexperienceofbeingonathresholdbetweentwostates57.Suchasituationisdisorientatingandbringswithitfeelingsofconfusion,uncertaintyandfrustration.Nevertheless,liminalspaceisinsomewayssoughtafterasasituationinwhichtheworldcanbeseeninanewway,outsideone'snormalexperience.Indisasterstudiesthisconnectswiththetri-partitenatureofpossibleresponsestoadisaster-resistance,adaptationortransformation58.Resistanceisaresponsebasedwithcoping,survivingandcarryingonasbefore.Adaptationisbasedonrecognisingthatsomeadjustmentisneededtoreturntoastablestate.Transformationistorecognisetheopportunitytoconfigurelifedifferently-individuallyand/orcorporately.Itisoftensaidthatdisastersrepresentanopportunity,andthisisthesenseof'transformation'.Theliminalspaceinthemidstofadisasterrepresentsanopportunitytoconsideradifferentfuturestate.InthecaseoftheCOVID-19pandemicthereisalreadypublicdiscussionaboutthemassivenegativeimpactsonsociety.Notonlythehugescaleofdiseaseanddeathbuttheoncomingeconomicdisasterascountriesfallintorecession.Therearealsocleargainsfromtheclearingoftheskiesandhealthierairincities.Whatwillsocietiesdoastheyemergefromtheliminalspaceofthecrisis.Willtheyexertresistance,fightingbacktothepreviousstageasfaraspossible?Willtheymakesomeadaptations(whatisreferredtointheUKatpresentasthe'newnormal')orwilltheytakethepotentialopportunitytoradicallychangepatternsofworking,useoftransport,andeventheunderlyingeconomicparametersofgrowth?Ourexperienceinconsultationwithparticipantshasbeenthatinthisearlycrisisperiodandliminalspaceitistooearlytoextractlearning.Someearlycomparativeobservationsarestartingtoemerge,forexamplecontrastingresponsesinAfricawithpublicresponsesintheU.S.59.Itseemsimportantthatindividuallyandcorporatelywetakeadvantageofthisliminalspacetoembarkonthatlearningandtopress,wherewehavetheopportunity,fortransformationaloutcomesratherthansimplyattemptingtofightourwaybackthroughresistanceoradaptationtoapaler,poorerversionofthestatusquo.

57Seesectionon'thelimin'inthisarticle:https://www.rethinkingpoverty.org.uk/rethinking-poverty/building-back-better/58Gibson,T.,Pelling,M.,Ghosh,A.,Matyas,D.,Siddiqi,A.,Solecki,W.,…DuPlessis,R.(2016).Pathwaysfortransformation:Disasterriskmanagementtoenhanceresiliencetoextremeevents.JournalofExtremeEvents,3(1),Article67100259https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/opinion/2020/05/13/Fragile-States-Index-West-Africa-coronavirus-resilience

59

Annex6:Tablecross-referencingfindingstocasestudies

Finding Case Study

Colum

bia

Dhaka

India

Mali

Nepal

Uganda

1. CapacitybuildingofCSOsbeforeintensivedisasters.

Ö Ö Ö

2. Knowledgebrokeringbetweenactorsforintensivedisasters

Ö Ö

3. Communicationsandintensivedisasters Ö Ö Ö 4. Managingtheinfluxofexternalactors–

‘Surge’inintensivedisasters Ö Ö Ö

5. Managingresourceflowsinintensivedisasters

Ö Ö

6. ManagerelationshipsbetweenCSOsandNationalandLocalgovernmentforintensivedisasters

Ö Ö Ö Ö

7. Supportsustainablerecoverylongtermafterintensivedisasters

Ö Ö Ö

8. Placeanemphasisongathering,aggregatingandsharinglocalknowledgetoaddresseverydaydisasters

Ö Ö Ö

9. PeertopeerknowledgesharingunlockingexperiencefromindividualCSOSinaddressingeverydaydisasters

Ö Ö

10. Advocacytolocalandnationalgovernmentandinternationalactorsforsupportforeverydaydisasters

Ö Ö Ö Ö

11. Resourcemobilisationforeverydaydisasters

Ö

12. IntegratingDisastersandDevelopmentasaresponsetoeverydaydisasters

Ö Ö

13. Capacitybuildingforlocalactioninresponsetoeverydaydisasters

Ö Ö Ö Ö Ö

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Annex7:Contactdates

ForusplatformsGNDRplatforms Country Call/Transcriptiondate

VANI India 18.03.2020

UDYAMA India 18.03.2020

PREDES Peru 31.03.2020

ASONOG Honduras 31.03.2020

FundacionAzimuth Columbia 18.03.2020

CCONG Columbia 24.03.2020

CCONGFundaciónAzimuth. Columbia 31.03.2020

UNNGOF&HumanitarianPlatform

Uganda 02.04.2020

DENIVA Uganda 25.03.2020

NFN Nepal 17.03.2020;24.03.2020

NSET Nepal 26.03.2020

CCOAIB Rwanda 20.03.2020

CCOD Congo 25.03.2020

CercledesDroitsdel’HommeetdeDéveloppement

Congo 21.03.2020;11.05.2020

NAHAB Bangladesh 23.03.2020

ParticipatoryDevelopmentActionProgram.

Bangladesh 22.04.2020;02.05.2020

FECONG Mali 24.03.2020

AFAD Mali 24.03.2020