In Chakaria upazila, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, a women’s association is partnering with the local government to raise awareness of Covid-19 and hygiene measures, in the face of widespread misinformation and fake hygiene products. Their coping strategies and organising power demonstrate women groups’ potential to be change-makers. Md Fahad Hossain reports. This is the thirtieth in the series of stories from …
Voices from the Frontline
As the COVID-19 pandemic grips the world with unfolding health, economic and social impacts, grassroots communities are developing their own coping mechanisms in the face of the crisis. It is important to capture and document these stories in real time as the world faces up to an even longer term challenge of climate change.
Voices from the Frontline is a joint initiative by ICCCAD and CDKN to support communities across the globe in sharing their stories on the challenges of and the responses to the pandemic and the consequent lockdown. By accumulating and disseminating stories from different communities we hope to build resilience for the vulnerable in future emergencies. Download PDF
Caloco, Philippines: Fisher folks braving complex crises
In Caloco, a village in the Municipality of Tinambac, the fishers’ community is opting for an alternative livelihood option to deal with the dual crisis of the global pandemic and typhoon Pepito. This is the twenty-ninth in the series of stories from Voices from the Frontline initiative by ICCCAD and CDKN. Caloco is a village in the Municipality of Tinambac …
Keta, Ghana: Agribusiness offers women and youth greater food security during pandemic
In Keta, a rural community of Ghana, a semi-pro basketball player is promoting agribusiness among women and youth to enhance food security during the time of pandemic. Misper Apawu reports This is the twenty-eighth in the series of stories from Voices from the Frontline initiative by ICCCAD and CDKN. Keta is a rural community of Ghana, situated in the Volta …
Cape Town, South Africa: Urban farming on the rise to boost people’s food security
In Cape Town, South Africa, civil society organisations are stepping up their efforts to ensure food security by supporting small-scale farming during COVID-19. Sumetee Pahwa Gajjar reports. This is the twenty-seventh in the series of stories from Voices from the Frontline initiative by ICCCAD and CDKN. The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered higher levels of indigency among the most impoverished and …
Kathmandu, Nepal: The plight of construction workers during the global pandemic
In Kathmandu, Nepal, construction workers are particularly hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic fall-out. An individual construction manager is supporting his fellow workers with food and accommodation to make up for insufficient government support. Krishna Bahadur Khadka and Rubina Adhikari report. This is the twenty-sixth in the series of stories from Voices from the Frontline initiative by …
Korogocho, Kenya: The power of art during crisis
In Korogocho, an informal settlement of Nairobi, Kenya, a community- based organisation is mobilising a group of artists and creating graffiti to build awareness regarding COVID-19. Daniel Onyango reports. This is the twenty-fifth in the series of stories from Voices from the Frontline initiative by ICCCAD and CDKN. With approximately 1,50,000 to 2,00,000 inhabitants, Korogocho is the third largest informal …
Guwahati, India: How informal settlers are building resilience in the face of compounding shocks
In Guwahati, India, residents of informal settlements are making collecting efforts and spreading awareness to tackle the impacts of COVID-19 and monsoon floods. Syeda Mehzebin Rahman and Minakhi Tamuli report This is the twenty-fourth in the series of stories from Voices from the Frontline initiative by ICCCAD and CDKN. Guwahati is a sprawling city beside the Brahmaputra River in the …
Bangladesh: Radical change needed to ensure justice for hijra communities at all times
In Dhaka, Bangladesh, a transgender activist is fighting relentlessly to uphold the rights and dignities of gender-diverse populations living in the country. Maheen Khan reports. This is the twenty-third in the series of stories from Voices from the Frontline initiative by ICCCAD and CDKN. As we battle for the rights and protection of marginal communities, one of the most important …
Colombia: How waste pickers have fought for their rights and cleaned cities during COVID-19
In Colombia, despite the nationwide lockdown, waste pickers have successfully advocated for their rights to continue collecting wastes from the streets to keep cities clean. Federico Parra interviews three waste pickers from different unions and collectives- This is the twenty-second in the series of stories from Voices from the Frontline initiative by ICCCAD and CDKN. Waste pickers in Colombia, as …
Sussundenga, Mozambique: How an agri-business has made itself resilient to multiple shocks
In the Sussundenga district of Mozambique, one woman is helping to address the aftermath of cyclone Idai and COVID-19 among the rural farmers through her sustainable agribusiness. Doreen Tekedese reports This is the twenty-first in the series of stories from Voices from the Frontline initiative by ICCCAD and CDKN. Amélia Rendição, a 51-year-old woman, lives in the small village of …