Introduction
GNDR is the largest international network of civil society organisations working to strengthen resilience and reduce risk in communities worldwide. We are more than 1,200 organisations, many of them grassroots and local community groups as well as national, regional and international organisations and networks.
We support the interface between civil society organisations at the frontline and local, national and international policymaking institutions and governance structures. GNDR members work together to amplify the voices of people most at risk and to influence policies and practices.
We strengthen our capacities by creating knowledge, and through collaborative learning and action. Together our network is working to make an impact in over 120 countries.
Our new strategy will be published on 1 April 2020. The full strategy will be available for download in English, French, Spanish and Arabic on this date.
Seven principles to guide our approach
At the heart of the growing local, national and international influence of our members are seven guiding principles:
- Start at the local level
- Partner and collaborate
- Include all groups
- Promote gender equality
- Mobilise different resources
- Align policies with practice
- Be accountable to local communities
Our roles
A core strength of our network is the diversity of experience and expertise that members bring. This creates an ability to undertake different roles and work across different levels (local to global), and to span the different development frameworks and agendas. Here are six interconnected roles that our network plays:
- Catalyst
- Capacity strengthener
- Convenor
- Thought leader
- Amplifier
- Reporter
Six driver of risk
Looking ahead to the next five years, there are many established, and also emerging, threats and challenges affecting the lives and livelihoods of people living in vulnerable situations with whom our members work. Six interconnected drivers of risk have been emphasised by GNDR members and stakeholders for particular focus in this next strategy:
- Climate change
- Conflict
- Gender inequality
- Food and water insecurity
- Urbanisation
- Forced displacement
Our goals
Looking ahead, we have three interlinked goals:
1. Strengthen the collaboration, solidarity and mobilisation of civil society organisations
Outcomes:
- CSOs recognise the benefit of collaboration over competition
- CSOs have the necessary skills and capacities to collaborate
- Mechanisms and policies are in place to enable collaboration
- CSOs are held to account to collaborate
2. Champion a localisation movement
Outcomes:
- Governments and INGOs believe local CSOs should lead
- Local CSOs have capacity to lead and be accountable to communities most at risk
- The enabling environment for local CSOs to lead exists
- Global and national actors are accountable for localisation
3. Strive for risk-informed development
Outcomes:
- All sectors believe they must build resilience whilst advancing development
- Evidence-based knowledge exists and is applied on how to do effective risk-informed development in the context of six drivers of risk
- Different sectors at different levels have opportunities to coordinate
- All actors, not just DRR practitioners, have clear roles and responsibilities for taking risk into account
