Community participation in disaster recovery programs: A study of a coastal area in Bangladesh

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-1-2022

Abstract

This study explores disaster-affected local community participation in disaster recovery programs led by governmental organizations (GOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Focusing on programming in response to the devastating cyclone Aila in the coastal areas in Bangladesh in 2009, the study employed a mixed-method approach using qualitative data (interviews and focus groups) and quantitative data (surveys). Quantitative findings reveal a moderate level of participation in all four stages (decision-making, implementation, benefit sharing, and evaluation) in GO and NGO recovery projects. Qualitative findings reveal that the decision-making process was controlled by project authorities, local elites, and power politics; community participation was limited to passive participation. Furthermore, findings suggest that GO-led programs as less effective in facilitating community participation, compared with NGO-led programs. Findings point to the need for policymakers and practitioners to view community participation not as a monolithic concept, but as a multi-dimensional, dynamic process that can be facilitated more effectively when disaster recovery programming and policies are targeted and intentional in aiming for partnerships and empowerment especially during decision-making phases of programming, rather than nominal forms of community participation. Further, findings call for comparative studies of GO-led and NGO-led programs to better understand organizational culture and institutional mechanisms and their differential impact on community participation during disaster recovery. © 2021, European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI).

Keywords

Bangladesh, Community participation, Community resilience, Sustainable disaster recovery

Publication Title

European Journal of Development Research

Divisions

SocialAdministrationJustice

Funders

Yayasan Khazanah Asia scholarship

Volume

34

Issue

5, SI

Publisher

Palgrave Macmillan Ltd

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