- Title
- Mainstreaming approaches for disaster risk reduction in non-disaster risk reduction non-governmental organizations interventions in Bangladesh
- Creator
- Seddiky, Md. Assraf
- Relation
- University of Newcastle Research Higher Degree Thesis
- Resource Type
- thesis
- Date
- 2021
- Description
- Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Description
- Global indexes rank Bangladesh as the fifth most disaster-prone country in the world, with colossal loss of life and property. In this frightening narrative of death and damage, rural people are often the most vulnerable, with limited access to infrastructure (e.g., information, governance, education, and clean water), leaving them unable to cope with the effects of a disaster. There are some recognized and registered Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) working for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) globally. More than 2,500 registered NGOs deliver numerous community-level programs in Bangladesh alongside the local government. However, most of these NGOs are non-Disaster Risk Reduction (non-DRR) in their core business, lacking the expertise and resources to implement programs that directly impact DRR. While a wide range of scholarly works has focused on NGOs’ roles in DRR, very few studies have focused on the part played by non-DRR NGOs in mainstream catastrophe hazard lessening, which has motivated this researcher to investigate further how community-based DRR can be mainstreamed in the interventions of Non-DRR NGOs in Bangladesh. This study aims to develop an approach for mainstreaming disaster risk reduction in the interventions of non-DRR NGOs in Bangladesh. For this, the study examines non-DRR NGO interventions in various development sectors. It also focuses on disaster risk reduction approaches and activities, international principles, and the good practices of NGOs for community-based DRR mainstreaming to initiate an effective approach to mainstreaming DRR in NGOs’ interventions using empirical experience to reduce the immense loss and damage from disasters in Bangladesh. The theoretical framework was developed using the community-based disaster risk reduction theory. The research methods and methodology are based on the fundamental philosophy of social constructivism. The researcher conducted a qualitative study in Satkhira District, the South- Western coastal part of Bangladesh, to collect data from the NGO officials, local government bodies, and beneficiary communities through face to face interviews, applying the purposive sampling method. A total number of forty-five interviews conducted with the participants. The results of this study are analysed using NVivo12 software based on the thematic analysis method. The study findings revealed that most of the NGO programs in the research area are related to the livelihoods of the disaster-affected people. NGOs’ awareness-raising, training, and social capital building programs effectively changed the capacity of communities to cope with disaster risk. The NGO contribution to the formation of community-level associations (Samity) has reinforced community networking capacity and existing social capital through the proper utilization of local resources, meetings and informal discussions, skilled development training, and development of human rights. However, the NGO microcredit program has trapped rural people in a vicious cycle of poverty due to its disciplinary payment rules, high interest rate, and exclusion of the absolute poor who deserve welfare services. Furthermore, the physical infrastructure, education, and housing-related programs offered by NGOs has increased the community’s vulnerability and exposure to disaster risks due to a short-term orientation, unplanned and unsustainable programs, and overwhelming external dependency. NGOs are mainly reactive rather than proactive in DRR, lacking capacity, technology, coordination, and community attachment. Moreover, NGOs prefer to work with non-DRR projects, which are susceptible to malpractices and often result in diversion of funds towards elites rather than the vulnerable. The findings of this study significantly contribute to identification of the specific areas to which NGOs may contribute to enhance CBDRR (Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction). Since this study critically explores and develops the leverage of DRR mainstreaming for non-DRR NGOs, the study finds that NGOs would contribute more effectively to disaster risk reduction by learning from the lags and deficiencies within their current policies and practices at the community level. The developed framework regarding DRR mainstreaming would provide clear directions to non-DRR NGOs for integrating DRR within their regular relief and development programs, which would be helpful enough to manage the future hazard risks including overwhelming damage to lives, properties, livelihoods, and structures. It is expected that the study would attract the attention of development practitioners and policymakers looking to integrate NGOs effectively in development ventures.
- Subject
- mainstreaming; disaster risk reduction; non-governmental organization; interventions; community-based DRR; Bangladesh
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1513899
- Identifier
- uon:56779
- Rights
- Copyright 2021 Md. Assraf Seddiky
- Language
- eng
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| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
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| View Details Download | ATTACHMENT01 | Thesis | 3 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download | ||
| View Details Download | ATTACHMENT02 | Abstract | 541 KB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |