Impact of Non-DRR NGOs’ interventions for community-based DRR mainstreaming in Bangladesh

Abstract

Presently, there is a worldwide discussion concerning the role of NGOs in addressing community-based disaster risk reduction. Global indices rank Bangladesh as the world’s fifth most hazard-prone nation. Natural hazards are an ever-present concern for rural farmers and coastal communities of the country, with limited access to infrastructure. More than 2,500 registered non-governmental organizations (NGOs) deliver community-level programs in Bangladesh; however, the majority of these NGOs are non-Disaster Risk Reduction (non-DRR) in their core business. This paper aimed to assess the role of their interventions in mainstreaming community-based DRR in Bangladesh. Researchers conducted a field study in Satkhira district, the most natural hazard-prone coastal zone in Bangladesh, and interviewed 45 respondents including community beneficiaries, local government bodies, and NGO officials using purposive sampling techniques. Authors also collected relevant documents of the selected NGOs, and analyzed them along with the primary data. For analyzing data, researchers used thematic analysis method with the assistance of NVivo12 software. Study findings reveal that many development programs of NGOs contributed to DRR through strengthening the communities’ capacity, but some program outcomes increased long-term vulnerability of the beneficiary community. NGOs could contribute to the communities’ resilience by including DRR principles and practices within their regular relief and development programs. It is expected that the study findings would provide directions to non-DRR NGOs for integrating DRR within their regular development programs. This would help manage the future hazard risks including overwhelming damage to lives, properties, livelihoods, and structures and build capacity rather than increase vulnerability in communities.