TRANSLATING GLOBAL FRAMEWORKS TO FRONTLINE RESILIENCE ACTION
Workshop on India’s Implementation of Global Frameworks and Role of CSOs

Risks as perceived by communities often go beyond the scope of what is recognized in international frameworks. The multi-faceted problems at the ground level are inter-linked and fail to fit neatly into sectoral boxes. This has meant that some of the key issues exacerbating vulnerability fall through the cracks. Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Risk Reduction (GNDR) began exploring this gap during the HFA 1 period, with Views from the Frontline studies in 2009, 2011 and 2013. The Frontline programme, initiated this year, builds on this experience as a participatory action-research project across 193 countries. In India, this process has been led by SEEDS with a focus on the study states of Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand.

Recognition of these gaps is resonating at the global policy level. In a major shift from past patterns, the post-2015 global frameworks have made concerted efforts to look at broader issues of risk and built in interlinkages to each other. Of the three major frameworks signed between March and December 2015, each has its own focus area. The Sendai Framework looks at disaster risk reduction, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at development issues and the Paris Agreement at climate change. Yet, all three have cross-references, and issues of underlying risks and cross-cutting problems feature more prominently. This is a very positive step towards building community resilience.

The challenge that lies before us now is turning these theoretical visions into concrete actions. While the National Government has the primary responsibility on certain actions, it is civil society organisations that will help catalyze the change at the frontlines leading to institutional and policy level changes. In fact, even within the Frameworks, our importance has been clearly spelled out as a vital stakeholder.

Platforms such as Sendai Spring (www.sendaispring.net) have already begun the process of outreach of these frameworks to get people involved – promoting awareness and understanding as a bridge to action. The path before is vast, but together we can steer the direction it takes. We invite you to join us to deliberate on the way forward to implement these global frameworks in India and the role that we, as CSOs, can play in making them real. We aim to set priorities and gain inputs for a roadmap on turning risk to resilience.

Date: 12th January, 2016 Time: 9:30 – 5:30 pm
Venue: Hall 2& 3, India International Centre, 55 Lodi Estate, New Delhi
Agenda:

Session 1: Emerging issues at the frontline
Session 2: Expert panel on demystifying international frameworks
Session 3: Group discussion on the country context and distilling frameworks into action
Session 4: Plenary priority setting and roadmap
Session 5: Broader outreach