Supporting post-disaster social recovery to build back better

Abstract

Purpose – This paper aims to propose a set of principles for implementation of successful post-disaster social recovery in-line with the concept of “building back better” (BBB). Design/methodology/approach – A set of preliminary principles for post-disaster social recovery was established from literature review. The 2009 Victorian Bushfires was chosen as a case study to examine the implemented social recovery approaches and impacts. Findings – Analysis of the literature and case study have led to the creation of a set of modified BBB principles for social recovery under two categories, first, community support and, second, community involvement. Key principles under first category include: providing personalized support for affected families, specialized support for vulnerable groups and improved psychological support; building community cohesion; and keeping the community informed. Key principles under second category include: involving the community in designing and implementing recovery projects; providing support to the community; and maintaining full transparency. Research limitations/implications – This study focusses on one case study. The appropriateness and applicability of the proposed principles can be further tested using a range of different case studies in both developed and developing countries. Practical implications – The principles presented should be incorporated into post-disaster social recovery programmes implemented by governments. Originality/value – This research takes a unique look at drawing from international experiences to form a set of practical and universal principles to aid post-disaster social recovery as an important part of BBB.

Pathways to Livable Relocation Settlements Following Disaster

“…As a result, transfer dynamics require further study. The majority of researchers have stressed the importance of keeping communities intact throughout the relocation process in order to preserve existing social ties [58,59]. Jumbling relocated households both severs them from their prior social relations and burdens them with forging new ones, and potentially weakens their social capital [60,61].…”

Resettling, disconnecting or displacing? Attending to local sociality, culture and history in disaster settings

“…Yet an increasing focus in current disaster literature on vulnerability reduction or the political and socioeconomic roots of disaster (e.g. Often seen as an opportunity to implement structural design improvement and change (Mannakkara and Wilkinson, 2013;Ophiyandri et al, 2013;Mochizuki and Chang, 2017), BBB has since been expanded beyond a more narrow focus on the built environment to also include social recovery (Mannakkara and Wilkinson, 2014;Mannakkara and Wilkinson, 2015;2018). When such procedural vulnerability (Veland et al, 2013;Hsu et al, 2015) is not addressed or remains invisible, it essentially equates to continuing cultural domination through marginalisation of representation, aspirations and values of the people whomwith good intentionsthe experts, institutions and representatives of the dominant culture intend to assist.…”

“…Now widely used in disaster risk reduction and recovery, and post-disaster recovery plans, BBB was even featured in the 2015 Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (Maly, 2018). Often seen as an opportunity to implement structural design improvement and change (Mannakkara and Wilkinson, 2013;Ophiyandri et al, 2013;Mochizuki and Chang, 2017), BBB has since been expanded beyond a more narrow focus on the built environment to also include social recovery (Mannakkara and Wilkinson, 2014;Mannakkara and Wilkinson, 2015;2018). However, we want to dismiss the term BBB because in the absence of a commitment to integrating local sociality into recovery processes, and in post-colonial contexts, what is meant by the term 'better' too easily reflects the values, ambitions and prejudices of dominant or colonial cultures, well-intentioned but poorly informed outsiders, or an international expertocracy.…”

A Framework for Disaster Vulnerability in a Small Island in the Southwest Pacific: A Case Study of Emae Island, Vanuatu

“…Despite this logical criticism, the physical science view of resilience in social-ecological systems became a dominant paradigm, which is well represented through the work of Folke (2006). Researchers are beginning to address this contradiction through concepts such as ''build back better,'' which is becoming more established in the literature (Mannakkara and Wilkinson 2015). However, there are criticisms of the feasibility of such concepts when operationalizing them, due to possible constraints to capacities caused by poverty, weak institutions, or unproductive environments, among other examples (Jauhola 2015).…”