#20 - Community Participation in Post-Disaster Reconstruction and Rehabilitation: Case Studies in Japan and Zimbabwe (Dr. Nombulelo Kitsepile Ngulube)

Summary:

Nombulelo’s doctoral thesis explores the critical role of community participation in the “Build Back Better” (BBB) framework for post-disaster reconstruction. It emphasizes that while theory and policy widely endorse community involvement as essential for resilient and sustainable recovery, a gap remains between this advocacy and its practical implementation. Through case studies in Kamaishi, Japan, and Tsholotsho District, Zimbabwe, following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Cyclone Dineo in 2017, the study reveals complex realities in disaster recovery. In Japan, community engagement aided decision-making and livelihood restoration but was constrained by internal conflicts, demographic shifts, and trauma. In Zimbabwe, lack of community inclusion led to project failures, political interference, and cultural disregard. Using a qualitative, interpretative approach, the research argues that effective community participation requires more than procedural formalities. It calls for equitable representation, indigenous knowledge integration, early engagement, and capacity building. The thesis advocates a shift toward decentralized disaster governance that genuinely values community input, stressing that without meaningful collaboration, BBB objectives will remain unmet. Overall, it contributes both theoretical and practical insights into improving post-disaster recovery through inclusive and transformative approaches.

Guest: Dr. Nombulelo Kitsepile Ngulube [Kyoto University, Japan]

Co-Hosts:

• Dr. Mark Ashley Parry [Northumbria University, United Kingdom]

• Dr. Haris Rahadianto [Lund University, Sweden]

Music: "Sunset" by Kai Engel, available at ⁠Free Music Archive⁠, licensed under CC BY 4.0.