Asiri D Vitharana and Manjula Lankanath, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka.

Confronting the challenges and barriers to community participation in Post Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (PDRR) Process : A Study of Kathmandu, Nepal.

Introduction

Disasters are hazardous events, which affect communities in such adverse ways that essential social structures and functions are disrupted. In order to mitigate the impact and recover the community back in to normal life style, post disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction (PDRR) should be successfully implemented. The recent natural disaster in Nepal has significant impact on the communities in Nepal, as they are more vulnerable to disasters within its developing context. The Nepal government has announced to rebuild all the damaged structures of the individuals, public institutions, infrastructures and the heritage sites devastated by the earthquake, yet, the processes used by government and other key recovery agencies to interact with communities are critical due to lack of community participation which further has challenge the successful PDRR process

Hindrances for community mobilizations

Research Question

Methodology

Sampling:

The sample for the self-completion questionnaire and semi structured interviews were selected by using purposive sampling (non- probability sampling).

Logos

A number of issues limiting active participation of community in PDRR process were identified.

major barriers to communities' participation in Katmandu, Nepal:

• the lack of opportunities with proper PDRR process. PDRR process was not effective and efficient, as many needs of the communities were not addressed.

Other challenging factors, which hinders the ability and power of the community1. Corruption,2. ack of accountability, 3. the lack of good management from the government,4. Lack of information, 5. lack of manpower6. the cast system7. self oriented community attitude

respondent indicated that they feel responsibility towards the society, yet there are no much ways to support or get involved with.

Most of the community members agreed that communities should come together for the rehabilitation and reconstruction process and they are willing to be involved in the PDRR process.

possible contributions of community participation for PDRR process :1. Lobbying: as a means of participating to decision making process and providing and accessing information

from the community to government and vice versa. 2. Encourage owner driven process in post disaster situation which is known as bottom up process3. Improve the recognition of community capabilities and needs.4. Empower local Action and integrate local and community leaders for effective and efficient PDRR

process. 5. Contribute to reduce corruptions (accountability and transparency) and maintain community assets.

Acknowledgement

Thank you to the CPDS Programme, Tribhuwan Univerity and my research supervisor Prof: Hem Subeedi, my research assistants and all staff members of CPDS Nepal! Thank you University of Ruhuna for the given opportunity.

What are the challenges and barriers to community participation in Post Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (PDRR) Process in Nepal ?

Mixed DesignStudy Area:

1. Katmandu district,

Nepal; Basantapur (ward no 23 and 24) in Katmandu metropolitan city

2. Sakhu (ward number 9 and 11), in Sankapur municipality.

Research Instruments:

1. Questionnaire survey (QS),

2. Semi Structure Interviews (SSI),

3. Non Participant Observation (NPO).

67%

33%

Sakhu

47%40%

13%

Basantapur

57%37%

7%Total

Yes

NO

Don't Know