The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal will soon be providing increased support into remote, rural and regional communities to prepare for the impacts of drought after being selected by the Australian government to deliver its Networks to Build Drought Resilience (NBDR) program.
The NBDR program will help people in agricultural communities to develop skills, participate in risk management planning, and foster projects that encourage connectedness and improve wellbeing. It will also support small-scale infrastructure projects to make community facilities drought resilient to increase overall wellbeing and reduce social isolation.
Natalie Egleton, CEO of FRRR, said that the Networks to Build Drought Resilience program will support future-focussed initiatives led by local community groups and network organisations that play such a vital role in local and regional resilience.
“Networks and community leadership are the backbone of strong, vibrant communities and are essential to ensuring future preparedness for drought and the associated social, economic, environmental impacts that can be so devastating for remote, rural, and regional communities,” Egleton said.
“This is an exciting opportunity for building drought resilience from the ground up and we look forward to supporting the fantastic ideas and solutions that we know are ready to go across the country,” she said.
Meanwhile, the FRRR is also now a part of a consortium delivering the Drought Resilience Leaders program.
The Drought Resilience Leaders (DRL) program will enable rural leaders to access training and support that will help them to develop and undertake a project to build drought resilience in their communities.
Partnering with the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF) and the Rural Economies Centre of Excellence (RECoE), FRRR will manage a grants stream that will allow leadership program participants and their communities to activate their community-strengthening ideas.
Egleton said this program means more opportunities for local people to take the lead in finding meaningful and tailored solutions for their community’s increased climate resilience.
“Local leaders know how to get things done. They know how to bring people together, to motivate and to problem-solve. Backing these leaders is key to ensuring the long-term vitality of Australia’s remote, rural and regional communities, particularly those battling drought,” Egleton said.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with the ARLF and RECoE to provide these local leaders with access to such invaluable training and help them to bring their drought resilience projects to life,” she said.