Social learning, innovative adaptation and community resilience to disasters: the case of flash floods in Bangladesh

Abstract

PurposeExisting literature on how social learning stemming from flood experience influences management and adaptation to flood-risks, and resilience-building is scant. In this context, the purpose of this study is to map the processes and examine the application of social learning in formulating coping measures and adaptation strategies in Bangladesh's wetland communities.Design/methodology/approachTo bridge this research gap, conceptually, we formulated the Social Learning from Disasters (SLD) Framework to explain the process of social learning from flood experience and the mechanism of its influence on community resilience. Applying a qualitative research approach, the empirical investigation was carried out in the Fenarbak Union of Sunamganj District, Bangladesh. Using a participatory approach and qualitative techniques, the required primary data were procured.FindingsThe results of the study yielded three key findings: (1) social learning and memory have often enabled wetland communities to adopt diverse coping and adaptive measures in response to flash floods; (2) social learning-based actions have resulted in reduced flood-risk and enhanced community resilience to flash floods, especially when these actions were supported by both local and external innovations and (3) the aforementioned social learning stemmed primarily from first-hand experience of flash floods, which was shared via various collective learning platforms.Research limitations/implicationsThe study followed a participatory methodology and the data were procured from two communities in the union level unit of Bangladesh. Therefore, generalization to apply to the larger context should be made with caution. Also, the study represents a cross-sectional study, and thus understanding of the long-term trend is not possible.Practical implicationsThe findings of the study have direct and profound implications for local community-level disaster-risk planning. As there are serious deficiencies in documenting and preserving social learning for community resilience and development planning, this study offers a conceptual framework, along with empirical evidence, for transforming these lessons learned into practical actions for change.Social implicationsThe findings of the study highlight the importance of social learning as a collective effort and provide empirical evidence of innovative adaptations to change. These results are critical to formulating societal strategies for disaster-risk management as well as to enhance community resilience.Originality/valueLimited efforts have hitherto been made to determine (1) how the actual process of social learning from disaster shocks takes place, and (2) how innovative adaptation strategies lead vulnerable communities to take up social learning-based actions. Our research attempts to fill these knowledge gaps by providing an evidence-based account of community resilience-building responses to flash flood disasters.

Mapping Urban Disaster Adaptation Typology of Cebolok Community of Semarang City

“…This strategy based on household preference of social and financial condition. This has also been proven in several studies [19,20]. Amadi [21] is also said that level of education, duration of residence, age, and income of household are some variables that impact on the willingness to undertake adaptation action.…”

“…The adaptation strategy in Cebolok were a form of social learning process from their experiences in previous flood disasters. It is also said by Haque, et al [20] that direct encounter with flooding would transformed into flood-related knowledge and they would understand or find some solutions to dealing with the flood. This strategy is at household scale and depends on social and economic characteristics of the households.…”

Transmission of knowledge and social learning for disaster risk reduction and building resilience: A Delphi study

“…It is also a challenge for the scholarly community in the area of social learning and DRR. Even though there is growing recognition of the importance of social learning (Armitage et al, 2008), there is relatively little understanding of how social learning can help take advantage of disaster experiences to improve DRR (Haque et al, 2022). A crucial part of this endeavor is the transmission of social learning to and among DRR practitioners and decision‐makers.…”

“…Disaster management is a complex and multi‐faceted endeavor, requiring examination of the potential for disasters and their many dimensions of exposure and risks. As well, it requires inter‐ and multidisciplinary perspectives, multiple views from practitioners and other actors, and especially social learning for continual improvement and adaptation (Choudhury et al, 2021; Haque et al, 2022). However, the conventional practice of disaster management has generally been reactive, using the linear logic of prevent‐prepare‐respond‐recover, known as the PPRR framework, as the dominant approach in many countries (Wenger, 2017).…”

Learning capacity and diversification, enabling and constraining factors, and external assistance: A cross-national comparative analysis of long-term livelihood recovery

“…Moreover, such interventions can jeopardize long-term recovery if not livelihood-focused and community-centered. Several studies documented that external interventions are more likely to succeed when aligned with local strengths and practices (Shahidullah, Choudhury, and Haque 2020;Haque, Kalam Azad, and Choudhury 2022;Imperiale and Vanclay 2020).…”