YVE ends multi-stakeholder VFL review forum

The partner agencies include YVE, National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), National Environment Agency (NEA) AVISU, Saama Kairo, ADRA, and WASDA.

The forum seeks to review the Views from the Frontline Project (VFL) in The Gambia, following a three-year assessment.

YVE in collaboration with partners made an inclusive people-centred research resilience- building, as promoted within the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) and other frameworks part of the Agenda 2030.

Addressing the gathering, Joe Bongay, executive director for YVE, explained that reviewing VFL 2019 advocacy strategy and national consolidated report, would help to build evidence at the national level to ensure urgent and proper response to disaster victims.

“We will bring forward important issues and with the hope to give voice to the most affected,” he said.

Bongay noted that with the help of the report, YVE as the implementing body has prioritised government stakeholders and mapped out key policies to influence authorities to provide leadership, take action and invest resources in disaster mitigation.

“The aim is to do a positive advocacy to ensure building positive change towards building resilience of the communities most at risk,” he said.

"With the adoption of the Paris Agreement at COP21 and the localisation of the Sustainable Development Goals, the YVE continues to maintain its commitment to the people of The Gambia and its development partners, through its various programs to enhance inclusive economic growth, poverty reduction and contribute towards efforts to prepare and manage natural disasters.”

He urged participants to share their experience and expertise on community-based disaster risk management and adaptation through the VFL exercise as well exchange ideas.

Fanta Darboe, communication officer at YVE, described the three-year assessment as very important, saying it is aimed at addressing people’s constraints with regards to socio-economic growth of the country.

Binta Sey-Jadama, disaster coordinator for the West Coast Region, said YVE’s implementing partners were selected based on their credibility and commitment to national development.

The 2019 VFL report, she added, was gathered successfully despite challenges researchers faced due to low understanding in DRR among residents of targeted communities.

She, however, noted that as long as the report was gathered, there is a greater need for stakeholders’ commitment and political will to ensure the recommendations of the report are implemented.

“YVE and partners cannot do it alone,” she said.

“I hope this report will be beneficial to students and organisations,” she said.

Representing the executive director of NEA, Njagga Touray, director of inter-sectoral services at the agency, equally commended YVE and implementing agencies for the DDR report.