Formally launched on January 29th during the Regional Training Workshop in Tongatapu, the Views From the Frontline (VFL) Pilot  in Tonga and the Philippines is being implemented by GNDR until July 2018 with funding from the Australian  Department of Foreign Assistance and Trade (DFAT) . It will combine lessons learned from the previous runs of the VFL and Frontline. 

Ekpenyong Edet is the Executive Director of the Civil Society Action Coalition on Disaster Mitigation (CSACODAM). Based in Calabar in the Cross River state CSACODAM provides livelihood alternatives to disaster victims in the region. 

 GNDR's Advocacy and Learning Coordinator, Valeria Drigo, shares highlights of the 9th World Urban Forum that took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

"Through our multi-sectorial approach, we encourage collaborative projects involving civil society stakeholders and government representatives to ensure that national disaster reduction systems have an effective impact on our communities."

GNDR member Duryog Nyvaran, a research, training and advocacy network tackling disaster reduction in South Asia, launched its South Asia Disaster Report (SADR) 2016 during GNDR’s South Asian regional workshop hosted by NSET in Kathmandu on 21st December 2017.

"I believe that I have a facilitator role within the community. Community is and should become the main actor of its own development."

The Grassroots people: Development in Bangladesh report, published in 2017 by Dr Quazi Baby, provides an overview of the Participatory Development Action Program’s (PDAP) main activities to enhance community resilience in Bangladesh, including supporting women and children in education, healthcare, training, disaster management and legal aid.

Selected and sponsored GNDR members gathered in Kathmandu, Nepal during December 19th-21st. The regional workshop was hosted by the National Society for Earthquake Technologies (NSET) and Practical Action - GNDR National Focal Points for Nepal.

Good progress continues to be made in securing adequate, sustainable and timely resources to support the implementation of GNDR’s “Stronger Together” strategy.

The Latin America and Caribbean Regional Advisory Group (RAG) held its inception meeting 22nd-23rd August at Hotel Finlandia in Quito, Ecuador. 6 Advisers joined the Regional Board Representative and the Regional Coordinator to discuss their roles and plan their work according GNDR´s Strategy, along with the different needs based on the different realities at subregional level for South America, Central America and the Caribbean. A full report can be downloaded below.