Views from the frontline 2019: Local level monitoring of progress of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Reduction and related frameworks: Snapshot of VFL 2019 pilot results in Tonga and the Philippines

In order to ensure that policies, plans and activities that are aimed at building resilience are effective, it is important that they are informed by the priorities of those most at risk. Local people have critical knowledge on the risks they face and only when this is utilised will policies, plans and actions to build resilience be effective. It is with this belief that the Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction (GNDR) started its Views from the Frontline (VFL) programme in 2009 to highlight the views of the most vulnerable and marginalised populations. VFL is the largest independent global monitoring process at the local level which has insofar reached 89,000 stakeholders across 129 countries. VFL was conducted in 2009, 2011 and 2013. 

The pilot of VFL 2019, which was implemented in Philippines and Tonga, has recently concluded. This paper presents the key findings of this pilot. In doing so, the paper revisits some of the key findings of previous VFLs, most of which are still relevant in current contexts of planning, implementing and monitoring resilience at the local level, while also providing a preview of VFL 2019 data and findings. A global reflection on the results of VFL 2019 will inform the design and development of collaborative actions to improve risk reduction and resilience policies and practice at the local, national and international levels. 

The report finds that a business-as-usual, top-down approach to implementing global policies and national plans will not ensure that the communities who are at the frontline and most vulnerable to disaster risks are more resilient. VFL also highlights the need to have a coherent and inclusive approach to building resilience at the local level, which is the basic building block where change must be initiated to ensure achievement of the national and global targets for resilience. 

This paper is a contribution to the 2019 edition of the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction (GAR 2019).

To cite this paper: 

Victoria, L.P.; Chavda, S. and Drigo, V. Views from the frontline 2019: Local level monitoring of progress of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Reduction and related frameworks: Snapshot of VFL 2019 pilot results in Tonga and the Philippines. Contributing Paper to GAR 2019