SEARCH Webinar #2: Lessons Learned from the Implementation of CCA-DRR in South East Asia’s Coastal Cities

On Wednesday 7^th of October 2020, RDI conducted a webinar with the topic of Coastal Resilience in Cities especially in the context of Southeast Asia, which was undertaken as part of the Southeast Asia Resilience Hub (SEARCH) network's research activity. SEARCH links scholars and practitioners from South East Asia (SEA) and the UK around the topic of disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA), community response, and socio-economic factors of coastal communities in the SEA region. SEARCH combines social science and natural hazard research into an interdisciplinary community of practice for at-risk coastal communities. In regards to this matter, RDI with partners from the United Kingdom, The Philippines, Vietnam, and Japan, will hold a webinar on the issue of CCA-DRR in coastal cities across Southeast Asia.

The speakers of the webinar includes Prof. Gavin Sullivan from Coventry University (United Kingdom), Dr. Saut Sagala (RDI Senior Research Fellow), and Dr. Mizan Bisri from UNU-IAS, Tokyo. Prof. Gavin Sullivan's presentation was titled: "Quality of Life, Subjective Social Status Connection to Community Resilience", in which he elaborated on how the social identity approach can be helpful towards increasing the social capital to bolster resilience. Prof. Gavin also elaborated on critical issues from existing literatures related to community resilience, such as Building back stronger, leaving no one behind, don't get even wider (for vulnerabilities), active participation. Furthermore, he also elaborated on the lessons learned from critial works and research as well as highlighting Palu as a study case in his presentation which requires the following recommendations to be taken: (1) Use a variety of social measures/identification of hazard impacts with affected communities in comparison to neighboring communities; (2) Improve social identity which integrated with ideas of social capital, relative deprivation, and coastal resilience challenges; (3) Conduct qualitative research that examines local cultural understanding of the challenges and inequalities within a solution and future-focused framework.  

Meanwhile, Dr. Saut Sagala's presentation was titled: "Coastal Community Resilience in Indonesia", where he elaborated on the concept of Coastal Community Resilience (CCR), which requires the optimal balance of three community-based frameworks which could help us in terms of how to reduce the risk, how is the social interaction worked, and how to achieve the ideal livelihood. He stated that these following aspects are key for resilience: (1) Community development; (2) Coastal management; (3) Disaster management, and; (4) The integration of all three frameworks. Furthermore, Dr. Saut also elaborated on the concept of adaptive capacity, and he highlighted lessons learned from coastal cities in Indonesia including Indramayu, Palu, Semarang, and Denpasar (Sanur). Lastly, Dr. Mizan Bisri's presentation was titled: "Early Recovery: Relocation or On-Site Coastal Communities Resilience Bulding in South-East Asia (experience from Mamboro Perikanan and Mamboro Induk, Palu City)". In his presentation, Dr. Mizan elaborated on the tipping point for realocation for disaster recovery which involves multiple stakeholders to relocate citizens and establish recovery shelters. He also stated that Early Recovery needs assessment especially to address land issues, extend organization, land ownership, and access to water/WASH and mentions several examples of early recovery efforts in Palu and Sigi. He highlighted that collaboration and competition between the organization, particularly communities group in Palu  is also one of the challenges related to social cohesion and livelihood, especially in navigating relocation efforts of host communities after disaster.

Finally, after the speakers have presented and answered all the questions raised by the audience, they presented their closing statements: 

1.  Dr. Saut Sagala

In terms of CCA-DRR assessment, not only do we need to focus on the local regional level, but also at the community level. First, by knowing the disaster is there, but in contrast, the awareness of it is limit, it will be difficult to bring the action. Second, by knowing the risk and the capacity, we could know how to deal with that and put it into the proper planning. Third, to not only connect with the government, but also other external resources such as NGOs, Think-tank, or private sector, that can provide resources. They could be the driving force for mobility resources, especially to ensure the quality of life of the community, and also mobilize potential local champion/leader in the area. 

2.  Dr. Mizan Basri

Based on my research and more or less the exposure of the mechanism of DCRRA in SEA countries. First, it is still about access to risk assessment that is treated as the probabilistic one and uncertainties of climate change (either currently or in the future). Second, the critical point is to navigate the programs across sectors in governmental ministries or actors that have co-function. All of them need to navigate government programs. Last, it needs to adapt to the complexity of governments, which is an affair but still focuses on disaster management. It is important to follow the partition and to understand the timing/entry point, by using an accessible mindset in the meantime. 

3.  Prof. Gavin Sullivan

I just want to repeat my key point in this webinar, where social identity and the emergence of expansive structural coastal or resilience areas are important to emphasizing environmental quality of life for community recovery. It is critical in the sense of equal social status among people or groups that are affected. Excellent collaborative work in the future could emphasize the possibility, and the more we can share or discuss it, the better it will become.  

For more information on our research activities including our research under the Southeast Asia Resilience Hub (SEARCH) network, visit this link: https://bit.ly/2H7bIIy, and updates of our activities can also be accessed through our social media. Instagram & Twitter: RDI_Global / Linkedin: Resilience Development Initiative. The recording of this webinar can also be accesed via youtube: https://youtu.be/PB3dafh7QEI