Back to Building Better - 3.1 | 11. Build Back Better in Nepal Recovery | Disaster Preparedness & Planning - Vol 4
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Introduction to Build Back Better

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Teacher
Teacher

Today, we are diving into the concept of Build Back Better, or BBB. Can anyone tell me the basic definition or idea behind it?

Student 1
Student 1

I think it’s about rebuilding after disasters but making things better than they were before.

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! It’s about improving resilience through recovery. There are three main concepts: back to building better, better building back, and the holistic approach of build back better. Let's explore these further.

Student 2
Student 2

What’s the difference between those concepts?

Teacher
Teacher

Good question! 'Back to building better' refers to normal practices that prioritize disaster risk reduction. In contrast, 'better building back' emphasizes quick recovery to boost community resilience. The holistic approach includes social, cultural, and economic factors. Remember, BBB incorporates not just the physical aspects but also the community's capacity and trust.

Student 3
Student 3

What are those capacities you mentioned?

Teacher
Teacher

They include community cooperation, trust-building, and developing partnerships, which all contribute to a stronger society after disasters.

Teacher
Teacher

In summary, BBB targets enhancing resilience through a comprehensive understanding of both physical recovery and social rebuilding.

The Sendai Framework's Role

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Teacher
Teacher

Let's discuss the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Who can explain what it is?

Student 4
Student 4

It’s a framework created to reduce disaster risk by addressing various aspects of recovery, right?

Teacher
Teacher

Perfect! The Sendai Framework lays down 16 essential prerequisites needed for effective recovery and resilience. Can anyone name some areas it covers?

Student 1
Student 1

Government regulations and economic mechanisms?

Teacher
Teacher

Yes, that's correct! It also covers the ecological aspect and safety nets for vulnerable populations. Emphasizing these areas helps communities recover more effectively after disasters. Remember the acronym 'G-E-E-S', which stands for Government, Economy, Ecology, and Safety nets.

Student 3
Student 3

What role do safety nets play?

Teacher
Teacher

Safety nets ensure that the most vulnerable receive essential services during recovery. This includes healthcare, housing, and food security. Recall this: 'Safford E!' for Safety nets and essential services for vulnerable groups.

Teacher
Teacher

To summarize, the Sendai Framework provides guidelines crucial for implementing BBB in disaster recovery.

Impact of the 2015 Nepal Earthquake

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Teacher
Teacher

Now, moving to the 2015 Nepal earthquake, what are some of the key impacts we should be aware of?

Student 2
Student 2

I remember it caused a lot of casualties and structural damages.

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! It resulted in 8,896 fatalities and thousands of injuries, alongside the destruction of residential and public infrastructure. Can anyone describe how organizations coordinated relief efforts?

Student 4
Student 4

There was a national emergency operation center that coordinated everything.

Teacher
Teacher

Right. The coordination between the national and local levels was vital, ensuring effective communication and resource allocation. This is crucial in implementing BBB principles effectively. Remember, 'CCE' for Coordination, Communication, and Efficiency!

Student 1
Student 1

What challenges did they face during recovery?

Teacher
Teacher

There were challenges like funding allocation, effective stakeholder engagement, and addressing the needs of vulnerable groups. Overall, the Nepal earthquake underscores the importance of comprehensive recovery practices.

Teacher
Teacher

To conclude, the Nepal earthquake teaching us significant lessons about effective disaster management and the importance of BBB.

Introduction & Overview

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Quick Overview

This section discusses the concepts of disaster recovery, specifically focusing on the Build Back Better (BBB) approach as implemented in the context of Nepal's recovery after the 2015 earthquake.

Standard

The content highlights the principles of Build Back Better in disaster recovery, derived from the 2016 South Asian disaster report. It emphasizes the importance of holistic recovery, covering not just physical infrastructure but also social, economic, and environmental conditions. The section outlines the phases of recovery specific to the 2015 Nepal earthquake and relates it to similar South Asian disaster contexts.

Detailed

Detailed Summary

In the lecture by Prof. Ram Sateesh Pasupuleti at IIT Roorkee, the concept of Build Back Better in the context of Nepal's recovery from the 2015 earthquake is discussed. Drawing from the South Asian disaster report published in 2016, the lecture emphasizes that each disaster provides lessons to enhance future resilience. The report covers several disasters across South Asia, including the Nepal earthquake, highlighting common socio-economic and cultural vulnerabilities in the region.

The term 'Back to Building Better' refers to regular building practices that may not prioritize disaster risk reduction (DRR), raising concerns for future resilience. In contrast, 'Better Building Back' stresses the urgency of reconstruction to avoid compromising community resilience due to delays. The complete 'Build Back Better' approach involves surpassing physical considerations, incorporating social, cultural, and economic dimensions essential for overall community recovery and resilience.

Significant emphasis is placed on frameworks like the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, which identifies necessary prerequisites for effective disaster recovery. Key areas include government regulations, economic support through insurance, ecological conservation, and providing essential services for vulnerable populations. The session encapsulates the Nepal earthquake's aftermath, detailing its severe impact: significant loss of life, injury, and destruction of infrastructure, which underscores the importance of effective disaster management strategies and the implementation of the Build Back Better principles.

Audio Book

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Understanding the Concept of 'Back to Building Better'

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Number one, back to building better; it refers to the baseline conditions that is a regular building practice with or without a disaster. For instance, if we don’t have a building practice that focuses on the DRR or the qualities of resilience, we can scarcely hope to turn the practice around overnight after a disaster, so this is the first concept.

Detailed Explanation

The concept of 'Back to Building Better' emphasizes returning to baseline construction practices that exist before any disaster occurs. It's crucial because if the existing building practices do not incorporate disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies, then recovering and improving these practices in a hurry after a disaster is not realistic. For example, if a community regularly builds homes without considering their susceptibility to flooding, they are unlikely to transition to more resilient building practices just because a flood has occurred.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine a small town that always builds houses out of wood because it's cheaper and quicker. After a major storm knocks many houses down, the town decides to start building brick houses. However, if the builders are not trained in flood-resistant techniques, the new homes might still suffer damage. Thus, simply switching materials doesn't ensure better resilience unless there’s a strong foundation of planning and safety standards.

The Urgency of 'Better Building Back'

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Whereas, better building back; so this talks about a sense of urgency to build back. So, this is in the event of a disaster. Imagine, if we on the pretext of build back better, if we do it very slowly after a disaster, then on the pretext of build back better then, it will also compromise the community resilience because the slow process also will compromise the community resilience, so that is where the second concept is working.

Detailed Explanation

The concept of 'Better Building Back' focuses on the urgency with which recovery efforts must proceed after a disaster strikes. If recovery measures are delayed under the guise of 'building back better,' the delay can lead to further weakening of community resilience. For example, if a community takes too long to rebuild its infrastructure, the residents may face prolonged hardships, leading to economic distress and loss of trust among community members. Therefore, the rebuilding process must be swift to ensure that communities can regain stability and confidence.

Examples & Analogies

Consider a family that loses their home in a fire. If they take months to start rebuilding because they want to make it 'better' with more features, they might end up living in temporary housing, resulting in stress and uncertainty. If they rebuild quickly, even if it’s not perfect, they can regain a sense of normalcy and security.

Holistic Approach to 'Building Back Better'

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The third concept which is talking about the build back better, which is one of the important subject of our whole course. It is not just in the physical sense, you know that we build infrastructure, we build housing, we build the schools, we build hospitals, this is not just only in the physical sense. But in a more complete sense incorporating other social dimensions of recovery...

Detailed Explanation

The third aspect of 'Build Back Better' emphasizes that rebuilding should not only focus on physical structures like homes and schools but also address social and economic dimensions. This includes restoring community trust, enhancing cooperation among community members, and improving social capital. For instance, a community recovering from a disaster must engage its members in planning how to rebuild, foster relationships, and invest in local economies to ensure resilience is multi-faceted and long-lasting.

Examples & Analogies

Think about a school damaged by a hurricane. Rebuilding might involve creating a stronger structure; however, if the community doesn’t re-establish connections among teachers, parents, and students, the school’s ability to serve its educational purpose will be hindered. Just as a tree needs sturdy roots and branches to thrive, communities need both physical and social infrastructures to recover.

The Importance of Resilience in Recovery Processes

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So, it is not just only we build the housing and we are not only building the roads, we are not only building the infrastructure but we are also dealing with the capacities you know, of social, economic and then how this whole setup will also improve resilience...

Detailed Explanation

In this segment, the speaker explains that recovery is not solely about reconstructing physical elements like homes and roads. There is a crucial need to improve social and economic capacities within communities to foster resilience against future disasters. A comprehensive recovery plan considers how economic opportunities can be created and enhanced alongside physical rebuilding. This is fundamental to ensuring that communities can better withstand and recover from not only future disasters but also everyday challenges.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine a town that rebuilds its infrastructure post-disaster but does not reinvest in local businesses. If businesses do not thrive, people may still struggle to earn a living. Conversely, if the town encourages local entrepreneurship during rebuilding, it may not only restore physical structures but also invigorate the local economy, making the town stronger and more unified.

Definitions & Key Concepts

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Key Concepts

  • Back to Building Better: The baseline condition of regular building practices without an emphasis on disaster risk reduction.

  • Better Building Back: The urgency of rebuilding quickly to avoid compromising community resilience.

  • Holistic Approach: Going beyond physical reconstruction to include social, cultural, and economic dimensions.

  • Sendai Framework: A structured set of guidelines for disaster risk reduction and recovery.

  • Vulnerable Populations: Groups in communities that are at increased risk during disasters and require special consideration in recovery planning.

Examples & Real-Life Applications

See how the concepts apply in real-world scenarios to understand their practical implications.

Examples

  • The 2015 Nepal earthquake serves as a primary case to illustrate how BBB was applied and the need for improved resilience in future disaster management.

  • Comparative analyses of recovery from different disasters in South Asia demonstrate shared challenges and successes in implementing BBB principles.

Memory Aids

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🎵 Rhymes Time

  • When disasters hit and we need to rebuild, BBB helps the strong and the weak, so everyone’s thrilled.

📖 Fascinating Stories

  • Imagine a village after a storm; with Build Back Better, they rebuild their home! Not just walls, but trust and trade, ensuring a stronger future that won’t fade.

🧠 Other Memory Gems

  • S.E.E. for the Sendai Framework: Safety, Economy, Ecology.

🎯 Super Acronyms

G-E-E-S for the key areas

  • Government
  • Economy
  • Ecology
  • Safety nets.

Flash Cards

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Glossary of Terms

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  • Term: Build Back Better (BBB)

    Definition:

    A disaster recovery approach that emphasizes improving resilience through comprehensive recovery, encompassing physical, social, and economic dimensions.

  • Term: Sendai Framework

    Definition:

    A cooperative plan outlined to reduce disaster risk and enhance resilience through structured guidelines and prerequisites.

  • Term: Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)

    Definition:

    Efforts or strategies aimed at reducing the damage caused by natural hazards through prevention, preparedness, and mitigation.

  • Term: Vulnerable Populations

    Definition:

    Groups within a community that are at greater risk of harm due to various factors including socioeconomic status, disabilities, and age.