After a string of powerful typhoons swept across the Philippines from September to November 2024: a father rebuilds, a grandmother provides, a man with disability survives days stranded on his roof. In the country’s southernmost island, amid conflict and compounding disasters, people continue to hope.
These are stories of survival and strength, from Batangas, Nueva Ecija, Camarines Sur, and Mindanao, from communities supported by timely, dignified humanitarian aid.
Gathered through the EU Humanitarian Aid-funded ACCESS Project.
Contents:
A collection of stories on peace, progress, and recovery: a tribal community ending two decades of armed conflict, remote villages transformed by access to clean water, families rebuilding safer homes after a storm.
These stories of change were made possible through the ACCESS and BRIDGE projects, funded by European Union Humanitarian Aid.
Contents:
The recent El Niño event has severely impacted the Philippines, causing widespread drought, food shortages, and economic instability across several regions. In response, the Humanitarian Partnership Platform (HPP) has mobilized ten partner organizations to conduct rapid needs assessments and launch rapid response interventions to support affected communities.
Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) by HPP Partner Organizations
Cordillera Disaster Response Center & Development Services (CORDIS) conducted assessments in Kalinga province, revealing devastating impacts on agriculture and public health. In Barangay Tanglag, severe crop failures were reported across rice fields and vegetable farms, including mung beans and eggplants. The drought not only led to food shortages but also drastically reduced household incomes. Livestock and fishponds also suffered, compounding economic losses and food insecurity. Similar challenges were observed in Sitio Tomiangan and Dupag Proper, with significant agricultural losses and deteriorating health conditions among residents, including respiratory problems and fevers.
Tarabang Para sa Bikol (TABI) focused on Albay, where over 2,465 farmers across 1,838.75 hectares of land faced substantial yield losses in rice, corn, and high-value crops. The economic impact has been severe, with many farmers struggling under debt exacerbated by high production costs and reduced earnings. Immediate food aid is crucial to prevent further deterioration in nutritional health and economic stability among affected families.
Southern Tagalog People’s Response Center (STPRC)‘s assessments in Batangas highlighted critical food insecurity and economic hardships exacerbated by water scarcity and reduced agricultural yields. Reports show that families are rationing food supplies, prioritizing meals for children and the elderly. The closure of sugarcane mills has further exacerbated income losses, pushing vulnerable groups deeper into poverty.
The Pambansang Koalisyon ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan (PKKK) focused on Governor Generoso in Davao Oriental, where food insecurity and shelter issues have compounded challenges following recent floods and ongoing drought conditions. Many homes remain damaged, and residents are struggling with reduced access to food and safe shelter. Urgent relief efforts are needed to address these immediate needs and ensure the well-being of affected populations.
Ilocos Center for Research, Empowerment and Development (ICRED) conducted assessments across Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and La Union, revealing widespread agricultural devastation. Severe losses in corn, rice, and high-value crops have amounted to millions in damages, affecting thousands of families. Water shortages, dried up water sources, and disrupted farming activities have further heightened food security risks, necessitating immediate support for recovery and long-term resilience-building efforts.
Cebu-Bohol Relief and Rehabilitation Center, Inc. (CRRC) reported on the dire situation in Cebu City and neighboring municipalities, where drought conditions and multiple grassfires caused by El Nino have decimated crops and severely strained water resources. Critical water shortages have forced drastic measures, including rotational supply interruptions, affecting daily life for over 60,000 residents. The economic impact is profound, with many farmers losing their main source of income and facing heightened health risks due to extreme temperatures and limited access to medical services.
Mindanao-based HPP partner organizations Agri-Aqua Development Coalition (AADC) and Mindanao Coalition of Development NGOs (MINCODE), provided insights into diverse impacts across Zamboanga City. On the other hand, Kalimudan sa Ranao Foundation, Inc. (KALIMUDAN) focused on El Nino affected communities in Lanao del Sur. From upland communities in Piagapo to lakeshore fishermen in Taraka, the assessments highlighted varying challenges faced by different ecological zones, underscoring the need for tailored response strategies to address local vulnerabilities effectively.
Voices from the Field: Stories of Struggle and Resilience
Farmers are facing severe hardships due to El Niño’s impacts. Their stories highlight the devastating agricultural losses, financial struggles, and deteriorating living conditions. Despite these challenges, their resilience and hope for community support shine through.
The Razon family of five, residing in Malinis, Lemery, Batangas faces severe hardships exacerbated by El Niño. The father, who suffered a stroke last November, can no longer contribute to the labor-intensive farm work, leaving the mother, daughter, and daughter-in-law to handle land preparation, planting, weeding, watering, harvesting, and quality control on their less-than-a-hectare farm. The son joins the father in negotiating and selling their produce to avoid unfair pricing. Despite spending PhP60,000 on their eggplant crop, not counting their labor, the intense drought has severely reduced their yield from over ten bags a week to just ten bags every two weeks, with a portion being unusable. “Our savings are totally depleted,” the mother shared, “and most of our income now goes towards my husband’s medication and check-ups, leaving little for food and other essentials.”
Ivy Ozeña, a 22-year-old pregnant mother residing in San Felix, Sto. Tomas, Batangas, faces dire challenges exacerbated by the ongoing dry season due to El Niño. Her husband’s income from farm labor has dwindled, forcing him to turn to charcoal-making, earning just enough to buy five kilograms of rice per week. “We eat less now to make sure our child and the baby get enough,” Ivy shared, highlighting the sacrifices they make amidst food scarcity. Despite these hardships, Ivy prioritizes her health, attending monthly pre-natal check-ups and planning for a safe childbirth with the support of a local lying-in facility and midwife.
Vangelen Salem, a 46-year-old rice and vegetable farmer from Zone-4, Libon, Albay, is struggling with the severe impacts of El Niño. “During the previous plantation, I harvested 123 sacks of rice from my 4-hectare land. However, this time, the scorching heat and intense sunlight brought by El Niño have wreaked havoc on my rice crops. It’s devastating to say that my yield this time is only 7 sacks,” Vangelen shared. The drought has stunted the growth of her rice plants, leading to significant losses in productivity. Not only has rice production been affected, but Vangelen’s vegetable and fruit cultivation, particularly watermelon, has also suffered. “The watermelons, which used to grow beautifully, have failed to reach their full potential this season. The relentless heat and limited water supply have hindered their development, resulting in smaller and underdeveloped watermelons,” she added.
The failing irrigation system, coupled with the soaring price of crude oil, has made it too costly to operate consistently, forcing Vangelen to abandon her rice field until the rains return. “We recently purchased crude oil to water the plants, hoping to aid their recovery. However, the plants have not fully recovered yet,” she noted. The prolonged drought continues to challenge Vangelen’s family, decreasing their income and food availability. The financial constraints and limited water supply further exacerbate the hardships faced by farmers like Vangelen. “It is my hope that the community extends their hands to farmers like me,” she expressed, hoping for support to overcome these difficult times.
Maria Salome Angco, a 57-year-old farmer and mother from Barangay Nangan, Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental, has faced devastating impacts on her livelihood due to subsequent natural disasters. “The damage to our livelihood has been severe. Our house was submerged when the continuous rains late last year caused the water to rise. My vegetable crops were destroyed, leaving us without a source of income. And now with this drought, nearly all my remaining vegetables died; where I used to harvest 10-15 kilos, I now get less than 2 kilos. My husband, who is a fisherman, has been catching little or no fish for more than seven months. When he does catch some, it’s barely enough for us to eat for a day. I just feel like crying because our situation is always like this, but my heart remains strong,” shared Nay Sally, reflecting on the dual challenges of flooding and drought that have decimated their crops and drastically reduced fish catch.
Despite these adversities, Nay Sally, a founder of Agraryong Reporma Samahang Kababaihan (ARSK), continues to champion women’s leadership in her community. She remains hopeful, emphasizing the support she has received from fellow women farmers and community leaders: “The help I received from my fellow women and the community has been significant; I learned a lot from them, and they also help me. Some people can’t believe that a woman can do the work of farming, but I’ve shown them that I can.”
Rapid Response Efforts: Delivering Lifesaving Aid
To address the dire needs identified in the assessments, HPP’s partner organizations have initiated rapid relief operations, delivering essential supplies to the most affected communities:
Citizens’ Disaster Response Center’s local partner Panay Center for Disaster Response (PCDR) targeted 909 households across 21 fishing and farming communities in Aklan, Iloilo, and Capiz. Each household received 15 kilograms of rice, providing critical food support amid the ongoing drought. This rice distribution is vital, as it serves as the primary staple, and local production has been severely curtailed by the drought.
In Iloilo, Citizens’ Disaster Response Center’s local partner Center for People’s Resources and Services (CPRS) reached 700 individuals with a comprehensive aid package, including 15 kg of rice, miswa, mung beans, and biscuits. These distributions took place in Brgy. Salvacion Hda. Maasin & Purok Tumpok, Brgy. Blumentritt, and Brgy. E Lopez in Silay City, and Brgy. Bacong, Brgy. Busay, Brgy. Balingasag, and Brgy. Calumangan in Bago City. The varied contents of these packages aim to address both immediate hunger and nutritional needs.
TABI provided support to 514 vulnerable families in Pio Duran, Polangui, and Ligao in Albay, with each family receiving 25 kg of rice. In Pio Duran, the distribution focused on barangays La Medalla, Buenavista, Banawan, and Lawinon, where families were in urgent need of food supplies. Polangui’s aid targeted communities like Cotnogan, Balinad, and Itaran, while Ligao City saw distributions in Tambo and Basag, crucial in areas where local food production had collapsed due to the drought.
Looking ahead, CORDIS and CARE are preparing to distribute aid packages to 450 families in Kalinga, specifically Brgy Tanglag, Lubuagan; Brgy Allaguia, Pinukpuk; Brgy Limos, Pinukpuk; and Brgy Dupag, Tabuk. Each family will receive 60 kg of rice, 5 cans of sardines, 2 liters of cooking oil, and 1 kilogram of sugar. These packages are designed to sustain families for an extended period, providing not just staple foods but also essential cooking supplies.
Urgent Needs and Recommendations
Based on these Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA), the HPP has identified urgent needs and recommended targeted interventions to mitigate the ongoing crisis:
Enabling Locally Led Responses
The Humanitarian Partnership Platform (HPP) prioritizes locally led responses that empower communities to rebuild and strengthen resilience against future climatic shocks. Through close collaboration with local stakeholders and leveraging community knowledge, the platform not only addresses immediate challenges but also forwards suggested solutions for longer-term recovery.
The HPP demonstrates effective coordination and solidarity in responding to the El Niño crisis in the Philippines. Through thorough assessments, rapid response initiatives, and targeted interventions, the HPP is committed to upholding the dignity and well-being of affected populations. These efforts aim to lay the groundwork for sustainable recovery and resilience-building efforts across the regions.
About the Humanitarian Partnership Platform
Established in 2016, the Humanitarian Partnership Platform (HPP) serves as a collaborative hub for its members, facilitating timely exchanges, fostering collaboration, and enhancing capacity development. The HPP manages an Emergency Response Fund (ERF) designed with streamlined processes, minimal bureaucratic requirements, and expedited approvals. This responsive mechanism enables partners to swiftly conduct assessments and distribute aid to communities in need.
Comprising fourteen organizations nationwide, the HPP includes eleven women-led organizations, one international NGO, two women’s rights organizations, and four member organizations identified as a coalition or network of CSOs. The platform operates under a governance structure co-developed through peer nomination and volunteering, ensuring inclusive decision-making and effective operational management. For more information on the HPP, reach out to the HPP Secretariat at philippinepartnershipplatform@gmail.com.
The 2021 MOVE UP Project Coffee Table Book gives general information of the Moving Urban Poor Communities in the Philippines toward Resilience (MOVE UP) Project.
It is intended for readers who want to know a snapshot of the whole MOVE UP Project with Action Against Hunger, informing them of what the project is about, the MOVE UP Urban Resilience Framework, its goals, community stories, and results.
It features one-pager articles that narrate the impact of MOVE UP in people’s lives:
To read and download a full copy of this document, kindly click here:
MOVE UP- Mindanao is funded by the EU Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid and is implemented by a consortium of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) which include CARE Philippines, ACCORD Incorporated, Plan International Philippines, and Action Against Hunger Philippines.
Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippines is still experiencing challenges in surpassing limitations and challenges — both new and exacerbated existing ones. However, it seems that one positive note is that in certain areas in the country, vaccine hesitance or resistance is slowly diminishing. Undoubtedly, this is not solely due to mainstream media and hearsay, but also because of the valuable contributions of community representatives, volunteers, and workers.
In some barangays in Pulilan, Baliuag, and Malolos, Bulacan, Community Health Educators or CHEs work hand-in-hand with the local government, particularly at the barangay level to engage the community and assure that they are being informed of updates for protocols, current response efforts from different sectors fo society, and most importantly the availability of services and vaccinations around their area.
Mary Jean Santos, 46, a resident in Pulilan, Bulacan, shared how she was extremely against getting the vaccine before. She had gotten word of different stories and hearsay that the vaccine would provide more harm than benefit, possibly even causing death. However, upon the encouragement of one of the barangay volunteer CHEs, Mary Jean was invited and attended a seminar that helped educate citizens on accurate information regarding COVID-19 vaccination. After learning that most, if not all of her prior prejudices on getting vaccinated were false, she was vaccinated last December 2021.
“Ngayon alam ko na na kailangan pala ng bakuna kasi kailangan natin ng protekshyon at saka para rin sa mga kasama sa bahay at pati na rin mga mahal natin sa buhay.” [I only found out recently that we really do need vaccines since we not only need protection for ourselves, but also protection for the sake of our households and loved ones.]
Community Health Educators such as Fe Jumagdao, also shared that aside from encouraging citizens to get vaccinated, it is also helpful to encourage the community to share their concerns and questions with their local government since it is also their right. CHE Syrlle Ann Ginooalso recounted her experiences in speaking with her fellow community members, with people fearing possible side effects of the vaccine, even hearing stories that some worried getting vaccinated would only allow them up two more years to live. Furthermore, since she believed the CHEs learned many facts from working with the health professionals and barangay officials, she strongly encouraged the participation of community members to take advantage of Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) efforts like resources and seminars made available through partnerships with both the private and humanitarian sector.
“Malaki ang naging tulong ng saminar dahil nga naunawaan nila, bukod sa kakasabi namin,” says Leny Ventura, another CHE from Brgy, Pinagbarilan, Baliuag, Bulacan. [The seminar was really a big help since it provided people an avenue to better understand the situation aside from jus t us CHEs repetitively telling them.]
Among other volunteers at the barangay level, Evelyn Paltao, a mother Leader in Barangay Tarcan highlighted that it is also important for local leaders and volunteers to be examples of practicing proper health protocols and movement in the community in order to further strengthen and assure their local safety and progress toward recovery and herd immunity.
With continued perseverance paired with government assistance, collaborative partnerships among different sectors of society, and the open-mindedness of the community people, the CHEs in these communities are among many of those who work hard and strive for a more positive and healthy population.
The RCCE and Vaccination Roll-Out Project, which is being implemented in Malolos City, Baliwag and Pulilan in Bulacan Province, Sto. Tomas City in Batangas, and General Santos City in South Cotabato, aims to support 30 barangay local government units (BLGUs) to increase their capacities in implementing COVID-19 policies and help encourage their residents to get vaccinated. More than 2,450 barangay officials, health workers and members of the peacekeeping team have already been trained by medical professionals to further spread information and provide communication about the risks of COVID-19 and vaccination benefits. This initiative is a collaboration between CARE Philippines, the Southern Tagalog People’s Response Center, MINCODE, and Cargill.
by Ashley Venerable, INCREASE Project
Early Warning Systems (EWS) equipment were officially turned over to the community members and barangay officials of Natonin and Barlig, Mt. Province last September 8 and 9, 2021.
EWS equipment includes basic emergency and first aid equipment such as generators, spine boards with strap, two-way radios, amplifiers, public awareness devices, bells, rope, sets of BP apparatus, first aid kits, among others. All of which were identified by community members who were actively engaged in community risk assessments and contingency planning workshops conducted as part of the INCREASE: Increasing the Resilience to Natural Hazards project. Along with the equipment, household-level flyers about the specific hazards in their community and the evacuation plan, and EWS signage containing warning signals and actions for community members were also handed over during the turnover ceremony.
In Barlig, barangay officials and representatives from INCREASE covered barangays, Kaleo, Chupac, Lunas, and Ogo-og, and Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative were present during the turn-over ceremony. Female household heads who were the main participants of the Resilient Livelihood activities of INCREASE, also attended the ceremony and offered a song of appreciation to CARE Philippines and Cordillera Disaster Response and Development Services representatives. In Natonin, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) Officer along with Barangay Balangao and Alonugan officials and female household heads received the equipment and IEC materials.
EWS is an adaptive measure for climate change, using integrated communication systems to help communities prepare for hazardous climate-related events. This means that through EWS, community members receive relevant and timely information in a systematic way prior to a disaster in order to make informed decisions and take action. A successful EWS can save lives and livelihood. To be effective, EWS needs to actively involve the communities at risk, facilitate public education and awareness of risks, effectively disseminate messages and warnings and ensure there is a constant state of preparedness.
During INCREASE workshops, risk information and the necessary equipment to relay warning signals were identified. This information was identified by the community members and barangay officials and was documented and translated into IEC materials to make sure that warnings are understandable by all members of the community.
Typhoon Rosita hit our area, we thought it was the end. The experience awakened our community. We exhausted every means to prepare for the next disaster. Thanks to INCREASE Project, we were able to identify early warning devices needed in our area to better respond to natural hazards,” shared Brgy. Balangao Chairperson Conrado Limangan, upon receiving the EWS equipment.
Recalling the worst typhoon in their memory, community members mentioned that since they had no equipment back then, members of the Barangay DRRM Council would only be shouting to instruct community members to evacuate their homes. Power and communication lines were interrupted then, hence they identified a generator as one of the main EWS equipment needed in their area. Natonin Municipal DRRM Officer Soledad Nasudman recognizes this and shared, “Thank you for bringing the project nearer to us. Even if the BDRRMC officials are capacitated, if equipment is not available, response and preparedness would not be as effective.”
nowledge that they need to find a funding source for the purchase and installment of EWS. Barangay Chupac Chairperson, Benedicto Nabunat shared, “We express our deepest appreciation to the INCREASE team for the equipment because we know that our barangay’s budget can’t afford to provide these. We are thankful because it’s rare that a project reaches an isolated area like ours.” In addition to these equipment, risk maps plotting the community facilities, houses, forests, and farmlands, their level of susceptibility to several hazards that can affect them will be put up. To test the early actions and preparedness capacities of the officials and community members, a drill will also be conducted as part of the INCREASE Project.
Natonin and Barlig are both prone to typhoons and landslides. During their community risk assessments and contingency planning workshops, community members shared that they experience at least 3 to 4 typhoons in a year. One barangay was also named as the “Home of Rain” since rain is nonstop in the area for almost the whole year. While community members recognize the need for EWS equipment and IEC materials, they also ack
INCREASE aims to increase the resilience of 45,000 women and men small-scale farmers and fishers, including 720 extremely poor female-headed households, to natural hazards and the effects of climate change. It is present in 4 provinces, 8 municipalities, and 33 barangays. CARE Philippines and CorDis RDS lead its implementation in Mt. Province.
Recent record-high reports on new active COVID-19 cases show that the pandemic is far from over. Even the slight decrease in transmission in Metro Manila offers little comfort, as other regions brace and prepare for a possible surge.
In Mindanao, for example, local governments have expressed fatigue and dwindling resources to respond effectively to the pandemic, on top of other emergencies such as natural hazards, protracted conflict, and climate risks.
As hospital beds run out, people are lining up in makeshift tents with some of them dying while waiting for their turn to be admitted. Overwhelmed health workers, insufficient space for treatment and isolation, and financial difficulty call for alternative and cost-efficient solutions.
From Alternative Temporary Shelters to Community Quarantine Facilities
At the onset of the pandemic, local government partners of the Moving Urban Poor Communities in the Philippines toward Resilience (MOVE UP) Project were aware that the rising cases and lack of medical resources and spatial capacity could pose grave consequences in densely populated cities.
In an effort to complement government response, the MOVE UP project along with partners such as the Czech Republic Humanitarian Aid and United Architects of the Philippines – Emergency Architects worked together to adapt Alternative Temporary Shelters (ATS) into quarantine facilities.
Despite mobility constraints and other health measures, the first Community Quarantine Facility adapted from ATS models was turned over in Malabon City on 18 June 2020, and received DOH certification in the same week. The experience in opening the 38-bed-capacity of the amphitheater still in operation has provided valuable lessons in replication of the strategy in other areas in Malabon and also in Mindanao.
Following the same strategy, community quarantine facilities were also set up by the local governments of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Cagayan de Oro, Tandag City, and Surigao del Sur with support from MOVE UP and REACH projects.
Read the full story by accessing the file in this link.
The Moving Urban Poor Communities Toward Resilience (MOVE UP) Project is funded by EU Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid – ECHO and is implemented by ACCORD Incorporated, Action Against Hunger Philippines, CARE Philippines, and Plan International Philippines.
Last July 28, the MOVE UP 4 Project Consortium (formed among Plan International, Action Against Hunger, CARE Philippines, and ACCORD Inc. ) and the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) Local Government Academy (LGA) officially agreed on the formal partnership for collaborations to enhance climate change adaptation efforts and disaster risk reduction and management.
The cooperation between the capacity and development arm of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and MOVE UP includes the review of various L!STO Operations Manual and the implementation of capacity building and development efforts for local chief executives and other relevant stakeholders involved in disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) activities.
The primary signatories for the agreement were Suresanathan Murugesu represented by Juan Blenn Huelgas of Action Against Hunger (AAH), Ana Maria Locsin represented by Chrisnobel Cruz of Plan International, David Gazashvili of CARE International, Sindhy Obias of Assistance and Cooperation for Resilience and Development Inc. (ACCORD), and Executive Director Thelma Vecina of the LGA.
During the event, participants also shared their thoughts on the partnership stating that they are looking forward to it as they see it as a venue for learning, increased engagement, collaboration, uninterrupted service delivery, and knowledge- and resource-sharing among key actors in development and governance.
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You may watch the recorded Facebook Livestream of this event here.
You may also read the full story from the DILG LGA
Learn more about the MOVE UP Project here.
The first week of July marked the implementation of the first session of the INCREASE Cross-Learning Platform for Resilience-Building, an initiative that aims to bridge the gap among INCREASE partners and knowledge-sharing, particularly because of the restrictions brought about by the pandemic.
Climate change and ecosystem degradation place new demands on disaster risk reduction approaches. Philippines: Increasing the Resilience to Natural Hazards (INCREASE) Project, leveraging on the decade-worth of learnings from the PfR programme and other projects implemented by CARE and partners, advocates to mainstream Integrated Risk Management (IRM) as an enhanced, holistic approach to increase community resilience by integrating disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and ecosystem management and restoration.
Following INCREASE’s commitment to place at-risk and vulnerable communities at the center of resilience building, we aim to engage our partner communities not only in the design and development of early warning systems, early action protocols, and emergency procedures in the process of developing their contingency plans, but more importantly, in working with their local DRR committee members, as they jointly test these actions and systems through community drills, among other simulation exercises.
Conducting community drills have been proven effective in testing whether community members are able to interpret early warning information correctly and duly execute operational procedures for evacuation and protection of their households and livelihoods. Further, DRR committee members are also tested whether they are able to work closely with community members, provide timely information, evacuate and rescue affected persons, and consider targeted support for vulnerable persons, following different scenarios (e.g. worst case, amid a pandemic, etc.)
However, the feasibility of conducting community drills amid a public health emergency where social distancing protocols are enforced, as well as in conflict-affected areas with mobilisation restrictions, still remain to be seen and are presently put on hold in many areas.
Thus, considering alternative approaches to conducting drills through mixed modalities (i.e. virtual, face-to-face, or a hybrid of both), and how effectiveness can be strengthened with other activities (i.e. household- and community-level IEC campaigns) is a forward-looking approach DRR practitioners can look into.
This session was aimed at achieving the following objectives:
With over 90 participants from Cagayan, Mt. Province, Surigao del Sur, and Northern Samar, INCREASE conducted the first virtual, Remote [Mock] Tabletop Exercise or RTTX which is an adaptive measure to ensuring the continuation of resilience- and capacity-building for DRRM in lieu of face-to-face community drills. Some attending partners participated in the session through mixed modalities, facilitators virtually present while the participatns from the same local government attended as a group.
The Cross-Learning Platform for Resilience-Building is set for three more sessions until October.
To learn more about INCREASE, click here.
Similar to how spectacles may help one see a picture clearer and in more detail, using a gender lens in our planning and programming to ensure that we are able to consider all perspectives in a situation. A gender lens allows us to permeate the systems in which we operate so that gender is never forgotten.
As we continue to feel our way through living amidst the pandemic that has set us back decades economically, not to mention having pushed the medical and technological fields to new limits, we need to take a moment to view our next steps and actions in a way that considers the gender-specific risks and experiences that should inform and shape all of our interventions. Arguably the most pressing issue of our generation, climate change does not wait, slow down, or stop for anyone, especially for us humans who have been the greatest exploiters of our environment and natural resources.
The 15th International Conference in Community-based Adaptation to Climate Change, or simply CBA15, brings together practitioners, grassroots representatives, local and national government planners, policymakers, and donors working at all levels and scales to discuss how we can drive ambition for a climate-resilient future.
It aims to provide an innovative, interactive space for the global CBA community of practice to come together to promote effective, locally-led climate action. The conference videos and presentations shared by both experts and community members also provide a valuable learning resource for practitioners and policymakers during and after the event to continue the conversation on adaptation and climate change.
Held from June 14-18, 2021, CBA15 includes 2 “cross-cutting” themes – Gender and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL). These themes were introduced to draw attention to two essential topics – equally relevant across organizations and disciplines within adaptation – that have not typically been given enough attention in previous conferences.
Gender here focuses on the differences in the way climate change affects men and women, and the power structures and socially constructed norms that affect the way men and women are able to shape, access, or derive benefits from adaptation solutions. It is more than simply focussing on women’s perceived climate vulnerabilities and participation in CBA. Gender may also incorporate discussions of “intersectionality”, the way in which the social identities of different people intersect to create a particular type of experience of marginalization or vulnerability to risks. Discussions on gender should recognize the way in which gender identities maintain the drivers of vulnerability and the importance to change power relations and norms to ensure climate resilience for all.
MEL focuses on the need to track the outcomes of projects, learn from successes and failures, and incorporate that learning into the way the adaptation community carries out its work. MEL has been typically undervalued and underfunded among the adaptation community, and taking MEL seriously requires practitioners to think carefully about how they prioritise the implementation of projects and programmes. Any thematic discussion could engage with the particular challenges raised by ensuring that outcomes and recommendations are monitored and assessed appropriately.
By creating “cross-cutting” themes, the objective is for gender and MEL to be integrated across the different sessions at CBA, including thematic workshops, peer-to-peer training and the marketplace. We also aim to demonstrate that these issues are applicable across themes – there are no topics or areas of discussion where they are not relevant, or their consideration does not raise new challenges.
Albeit completely virtual due to pandemic restrictions around the world, RILHUB was able to participate as a gender champion in the following sessions:
The Voices from the Frontline has been supporting communities across the globe in sharing their stories on the challenges of and the responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative has shed light on the different ways that local communities are self-organizing and effectively mobilizing sources of resilience in the face of the pandemic and the consequent lockdown.
The session was lead by the Global Resilience Partnership, the International Centre for Climate Change and Development, and the Climate and Development Knowledge Network. It applied a talk show format to bring together community voices from the initiative, academics, local government representatives, and international organizations in an engaging and deep conversation.
The session sought to explore Pathways to Youth Inclusion, answering these questions:
Generally, the session will explore various views on youth and gender inclusion in local adaptation processes. It was lead by the Green Africa Youth Organization and the Official Youth Constituency of the UNFCCC.
SDI and Huairou Commission showcased how grassroots and urban poor women are effectively innovating, engaging, and advocating for changes in policy and practice that speak to their priorities and needs. It shared the methods they are using, and how this work pushes forward adaptation efforts that are truly community-based in order to effect change from the local to global levels.
This session was facilitated by Slum Dwellers International and the Huairou Commission.
This session was facilitated by Rehearse the Revolution.
Formatted as a peer-to-peer learning session, it shared a case study on impactful storytelling through film, what storytellers are doing to catalyze climate communication and a breakout group exercise on how to strategize with a story for impact.
This session was lead by DOCUBOX, Docsociety, and the Indian Documentary Foundation.
By providing avenues for discussion, learning, and knowledge exchange, there are more spaces for marginalized and vulnerable groups like women, children, and indigenous peoples to voice out their specific experiences, concerns, and proposed solutions that are from the perspective of those on the ground. It was highlighted how specific sessions throughout the week-long event were dedicated to amplifying the voices of women and girls in the frontlines and other sessions were either very gender-sensitive, gender-balanced in terms of speakers and facilitators, or at the very least, conscious of not being gender harmful in any way. As representatives of the CBA community of practice shared their reflections on the conference and what needs to happen next alongside high-level panelists during the closing plenary of the event, it was notable to see varied and colorful observations related to or suggestions on how to “use the momentum of the super-year to transform adaptation and address structural inequalities”.
RILHUB continues to strive to create and support various opportunities for learning, reflection, and the sharing of best practices among partners, communities, and stakeholders.