The role of social capital in post-flood recovery in the Ba District of western Viti Levu, Fiji
Othniel Mintang Yila
Time: 12–1 pm
Venue: M107 Lecture Theatre, Marine Campus
Flood disasters are among the most frequent and significant hazards to affect communities in the Western Division of the Fiji Islands, leaving in their wake displacements and deaths, and putting thousands at risk of sliding into poverty. Using the examples of the impact of the 2009 and 2012 floods on five villages in the Ba District of western Viti Levu, we examine how social capital aids in post-disaster recovery among residents. The conventional assumption is that moving supplies, aid and expert assistance into flood-affected areas provides the best route to effective recovery. Information was collected through a questionnaire survey given to 97 households and semi-structured interviews with 20 respondents. The result indicates that residents in the Ba District adopt four patterns of deploying and creating social capital assets among themselves in order to assist with recovery. Broad policy recommendations are offered on how to integrate social capital into the overall process of flood disaster recovery.
