By Nyima Sillah
The Young Volunteers for The Environment (YVE) had wrapped up its daylong multi-stakeholders forum with partner agencies as they reviewed the 2019 views from the Frontline project (VFL) document in a ceremony held at NaNA conference hall in Bakau, with its aims to review the Views from the Frontline Project (VFL) in The Gambia, following a three years assessment program.
The forum comprises the YVE, the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), the National Environment Agency (NEA), AVISU, Saam Kairo, ADRA, and the WASDA.
In his remark, Joe Bongay, the Executive Director for YVE said reviewing the VFL 2019 advocacy strategy and national consolidated report helped them to build evidence at the national level to ensure urgent and proper response to disaster victims.
He said they will bring forward important issues and with the hope of giving voice to the most affected, that with the help of the report, YVE as the implementing body has prioritized government stakeholders and mapped the 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 the resilience of the communities most at risk,” he said.
Joe assured that “with the adoption of the Paris Agreement at COP21; and the localization of the Sustainable Development Goals, the YVE continues to maintain its commitment to the people of The Gambia and its developing partners, through its various programs to enhance inclusive economic growth, poverty reduction and contribute towards efforts to prepare and manage natural disasters.”
He further urged participants to share their experiences and expertise on community-based disaster risk management and adaptation through the VFL exercise as well as exchange ideas while reviewing the report.
He commended the YVE development partners for their dedicated efforts and contributions towards implementing disaster risk reduction and community-based adaptation initiatives of the VFL.
Fanta Darboe, the communication officer for YVE described three years assessment as very important, saying it was aimed at addressing people’s constraints with regard to the socio-economic growth of the country.
Binta Sey-Jadama, the disaster coordinator for West Coast Region said that YVE’s implementing partners were selected based on their credibility and commitment to national development.
She said the 2019 VFL report was gathered successfully despite challenges researchers faced due to a low understanding of DRR among residents of targeted communities.
However, she said as long as the report was gathered; then there is a greater need for stakeholders’ commitment and political will to ensure the recommendations of the report are implemented.
She commended the implementing partners for their participation in the study while urging them to continue on their course to endure smooth implementation of the report which she believes to be beneficial to students and organizations.