Facilitating a Community-Led Response to the Ebola Crisis As a complement to the government-led efforts in the fight against Ebola in Sierra Leone, Fambul Tok International-Sierra Leone in partnership with nine Non-Governmental organizations and over 30 community based organizations in Sierra Leone has formed the Bridging Communities Network (BCN) to provide a critical bridge to communities. As Fambul Tok provides leadership for the new initiative, BCN will coordinate at national, district and community levels. It is creating a platform of organized citizen action groups to interface with the National Ebola Response Centres (NERC) at national and district levels. The BCN will lead in mobilizing and coordinating a nationally-networked, community level response to the Ebola crisis. The engagement of this network will support processes that meet the urgent need of stopping the spread of the virus, while strengthening our citizen and community capacity for crisis resilience for the future. As a way of soliciting input from organizations and networks with direct presence in communities, and to broad based consensus building and ownership among network members on issues such as community confidence building, its thrust, engagement efforts and facilitate stakeholder mapping of existing organizations (NGOs/CBOs) at all levels, BCN has started consultations in the country. Formally launching consultation in Port Loko on November 26, 2014, Fambul Tok International-Sierra Leone Executive Director, John Caulker said the network was formed to facilitate a community led response to the ebola crisis plaguing the entire country. He says Sierra Leoneans should start finding solutions to their own problems rather than waiting for or relying on external leadership in responding to crises “As Sierra Leoneans and also civil society groups we are mobilizing now to provide collective leadership from within Sierra Leone, based on the understanding that our social capital is our greatest resource, not only to stop the spread of Ebola, but to deal with its long term impact”. Mr. Caulker disclosed. He went on to state that the ten national NGOs in the network will provide leadership in different regions,adding that the Centre for the Coordination of Youth Activities is responsible for BCN work in Port Loko He further stressed that the consultations will bring participants from all chiefdoms in the country adding that during the meetings facilitators will explain BCN concept and scope. He also said data gathering of organizations and network emerging as a result of ebola will be done. The Director disclosed each participant on behalf of his/her chiefdom will receive a brand new phone with hi-technology(whatsapp and other features) to enable them send accurate and timely information to BCN Secretariat in Freetown.Training on the use of the phones were also done before delivery. Lead organization in Port Loko district,CCYA Executive Director Ngolo Katta in his remarks said it is always vital to empower communities because they know their problems and have answers to them.He said participants should take the lead in sensitizing their people on Ebola, adding that BCN will work with them to close communication gap that exist in communities. Meanwhile consultations have been concluded in Bombali,Koinadugu and Moyamba districts respectively where stakeholders and CBOs interacted to find a way forward and work closely to fight ebola and respond to future crisis. Consultations in other will continue in other regions The long term goal is to create a positive legacy for the current crisis, with permanent and lasting structures in place in communities themselves that support a network of vibrant, healthy, whole communities that are able to advocate for their needs, facilitate their local development efforts and use outside resources wisely for the benefit of its citizens and communities. The objectives of BCN are • To facilitate civil society participation and engagements in the governance and decision making platforms of the National Ebola Response Centre (NERC). • To facilitate and strengthen civil society to engage in Ebola Infection Prevention Control processes that put people and communities at the center of the action to control the disease / Identify and mobilize existing community organizations and structures to actively participate in preventing the spread of Ebola • To support communities’ mobilization action efforts in dealing with perceived resistance against Ebola, community concerns and trust about prescribed control measures at the community level. Fambul Tok is catalysing this initiative through providing the seed funding for its formative phase, housing the initial BCN and providing the secretariat for its activities. As the BCN grows, it will spin off from Fambul Tok as an independent networking organisation. The initial activities will build on Fambul Tok’s experience supporting community-led efforts to address consequences of the civil war. The founding members of the Coordinating Committee bring additional strong technical expertise and existing organisational networks throughout the country. The CC members will provide leadership and act as consultants in developing the networking mechanisms required to ensure communication, information sharing and education to flow from the communities to national organisations and governmental and back to communities. A dedicated BCN Coordinating Committee leader in the person of John Caulker has been asked to provide the high level oversight role of the Secretariat. The head of the Secretariat is responsible for overseeing the work of the Network and for monitoring activities and impact in consultation with other members of Coordinating Committee . Members of the network are - Fambul Tok International, Sierra Leone (FTI-SL) - Society Learning and Yearning for Equal Opportunities (SLYEO) - Advocacy Movement Network (AMNet) - Community Initiative and Development Organisation (CIDO) - Centre for Coordination of Youth Activities (CCYA) - Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL) - Movement for the Restoration of Democracy (MRD) - Defence for Children International (DCI) - Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) - Media Foundation for Peace Development (MFPD) By: Solomon Edward Yarjoh-Communications Officer-Fambul Tok International-Sierra Leone +232-78841151 fambultok.org [email protected]
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 12:10:37 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015