Women's roles in post-disaster recovery: the case of the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake, Nepal

Abstract

Disaster effects can be considered visible (hard) and invisible (soft). Hard (visible) part remains the focus, as the work is observable, whereas the soft part (invisible) remains neglected due to its invisibility. In post-disaster situations, most of the work done during the recovery phase is reconstruction. Therefore, this research focusses on the social aspects by using the gender lens for assessing women’s roles in the household, the community, and other arenas in the context of post-disaster recovery. The objectives of the research are (1) to assess women’s roles/participation in post-disaster recovery; (2) to study the psychosocial recovery of earthquake victims; (3) to compare urban and rural/peri-urban communities’ recovery in order to “build back better,” and (4) to identify the gaps in the inclusiveness of disaster risk governance. This study uses a mixed-methods approach based on primary data collected through key informants’ interviews, focus group discussions, household surveys, and direct field observation of selected earthquake-affected settlements. On the other hand, secondary data were collected through various available official online and printed documents. Kathmandu valley was selected as the study area since it was severely hit by the earthquake. Within the valley, two study areas were identified for the research, Kathmandu city as the urban area, and Sankhu town as the rural/peri-urban area. The study found that understanding the soft part is problematic or difficult to the Nepalese community due to lack of awareness, knowledge. and exposure. An unstable political situation, limited capacity and resources, and policy implementation gaps in the invisible part, for example, the gender sensitivity, and inclusiveness have been the biggest challenges to the post-disaster recovery during the 2015 Gorkha earthquake. The findings of this study have implications for (1) gender-inclusive disaster risk governance; (2) giving importance to psychosocial recovery; (3) understanding of the “build back better” concept among street-level policy implementers; and (4) sustainable development of Kathmandu valley.

Keywords: post-disaster recovery, Gorkha earthquake, women’s roles, gender relations, gender equity, gender mainstreaming, psychosocial recovery, coping mechanisms, build back better, disaster risk governance, stakeholders, policy and implementation, sustainable development