Global Board Meeting 21-1-2015 Morning Session

Participants

Andrew Bidnell, Marcus Oxley, Terry Gibson, Lucy Pearson, Emma Kelleher, Stu Solomon, Jesus Cordero, Farah Kabir, Adessou Kossivi, Essam Nada, Oneone Chadburn, Nigel Timmins, Bruno Haghebaert, Suranjana Gupta, Nicole Stolz, Roshni Chand, Manu Gupta, Emad Adly, Kheswar Beehar Panray, Michael Murphree, Peter Akanimoh.

Apologies

Rex Horoi, Harjeet Singh, Lorna Victoria

Reflections

NS: There is a great knowledge within the Steering Group, important to maintain this. Transition is important, but also good to recognise that there is experience and knowledge from Steering Group to share.
BH: Will link up with European representatives
MO: We have interesting expertise, maybe we need to rethink our technical advisory groups to aid transition process.
FK: There should be a continued relationship between new and transitional Board members. What are the transitional Board members’ expectations? Must continue networking, this is a networking organisation.
Transitional Board members: what have I achieved, what would I have like to achieve? What do I see as the priorities?
KBP: Lots of work to do as Sendai is not far away.
SG: What is the Board’s role? Having technical teams would be a good idea – before we had an issue of not enough time commitment from Board members. Board needs to represent the body of the network, technical teams can play a key role in this. Look at challenges in different ways: internal capacity, external (policy work).
MG: We have achieved a lot. Need to find a good way of working well with other networks, must find a way of making these partnerships work.
MM: Board has critical role to play to keep GNDR family together – make sure that GNDR is not a top down structure, need to ensure the links within the regions.
SG: GNDR has the legal / finance capacity covered by trustees, the advisory Board members must play a key role in agenda setting and reflecting the members. How much is the network northern / secretariat driven v membership driven? The Board should take a leadership role in this.

Board aims and expectations

FK: GNDR has a broad membership. Together how can we influence? Collective strength – rise above organisation priorities for a collective push.
NT: Board members not only represent their region, but also to facilitate connections and joining initiatives. National, local v global connection.
NS: Expectation – to create synergies between the other networks that Nicole is part of, understand the landscape of her region. Wants to link up with BH before Sendai, and hope to build on Frontline project with Swiss DRR Platform.
PA: Looking forward to commitments of national and regional governance.
EA: How are we going to advocate our priorities at Sendai? This is a responsibility for the Board. Want to feel ownership. North Africa, West Asia region new to network, want to keep link from global level, wish to see membership of region increase. Link closely with UNISDR regional office in Cairo as a political alliance.
KBP: Wishes to see actions and strategies in place. Expectation that time and money are being utilised positively. Hope to share experience from local level upwards.

Working Together Discussion

FK: Topic 3 (supporting advocacy). Lobbying at national level has given entry points to build on. Implementation plan will be key – need to have a discussion on this, this must be via community platforms and local groups. Regional meetings important to build consensus on GNDR strategy, regular forums to feedback. How can we make these happen without funding?
MG: Possibility of ADDRN to host a meeting to bring networks together.
KBP: Topic 1. Must respect our members, they are key to the network functioning and must be consulted. Communication with members needs to be two way. Must be accountable to members. Capacity building should be an ongoing process, from local grassroots level up.
RC: Share inputs through a questionnaire or write up – ensure members participation.
NS: Topic 2. Good to have a relationship between RDC and regional Board member to engage and understand regional perspective. This is not the only interest group – technical advisors. Importance for face to face meetings especially in regions, this is expensive, so take advantage of regional meetings / platforms.
BH: Topic 2. Need to create space to bring secretariat, Board and members together within regions.
AB: Practically let’s share diaries so we are aware where these opportunities are.
NT: Ideally we would consult members at local, national regional, global. But practically easier to discuss around programmes, most of this is centrally led. We should promote more regionally focused work. Need for GNDR to do things differently for certain situations, which is where RDCs are important to understand the regional variations.
OC: Embrace complexity, but ensure simplicity of communications.
TG: ‘Global Action Networks’
FK: How far are we willing to go – down to local level? We must understand and be sensitive to these differences.
EN: Hoping for more regional and national platforms.
EA: Link more closely with national level and UNISDR at regional level. Must create national hubs to build communications. How can we make members feel linked from local to global level?
MM: Topic 2. There are practical differences between regions, working in/through/with other networks. Strengthen linkage between RDC and national/regional governance structure. Ensure GNDR is able to have a meeting at least once a year as face to face contact is extremely important – Board member would link this to a global level. Collaboration is key.

Wrapping up

MO: Next stage is making sure the network functions by a network – driven by members. We need to develop regional governance structures to connect us with consistencies. Discussions moving in HFA2 to national and local level.
MO: Agreed need to continue to build relationships, have face to face regional meetings.

Next Steps

Working committees need to be established – Board members to indicate interest.
Governance manual will continually updated as a live document.
Be wary of the time commitments for the various working groups.
Send through information re Sendai logistics requirements, funding etc to Emma.
AK: Need to celebrate our members.
NT: Steering Group members provide historical knowledge, suggest a buddy arrangement for 3 months. Recognise that the regional Board members are fulfilling a different role. Necessary for Chair and Vice Chair to have legal understanding as well as Trustees. Trustees hope to have one to one calls with GB members.
KBP: Bring network voice to Sendai
SS: Implementation plan, Frontline (video case studies) which we hope are representative of the members and communities we work with.

GB Minutes 21-1-2015 Morning Session | 01 October 2018 | Page 1 of 3