A framework for appraising the status of disaster resilience within the multi-hazard environment of coastal Bangladesh

Abstract

Fostering resilience is widely acknowledged as a crucial strategy for mitigating the escalating risks posed by climate-related disasters around the world. Resilience assessment plays a vital role in this endeavour by assessing the baseline level of resilience, identifying the key resilience factors, and monitoring progress towards building resilience with time. Given this context, and considering the evolving conceptualization of resilience, we devised a framework for appraising the status of resilience across the coastal region of Bangladesh. Our framework represents a significant scholarly contribution, as it encompasses a broad spectrum of resilience dimensions, including stability, recoverability, and transformability. To operationalize this framework, we selected thirty context-specific variables and organized them systematically around these three overarching components. Employing a simple weighted average methodology, we constructed sub-indices for each component, which were subsequently aggregated into a composite resilience index. For spatial visualization, our findings were mapped in a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment. Our analysis revealed Chattogram, Barguna, and Khulna as the most resilient districts. This manifests the potential for resilience enhancement even within areas exposed and inherently sensitive to multiple hazards through the optimal use of available resources. Notably, in the trio of districts, Barguna exhibited the highest stability index score, Chattogram showcased the highest recoverability score, and Khulna emerged with the top transformability index score. This finding underscores the significance of incorporating diverse capacities in resilience frameworks. These insights offer valuable guidance for refining resilience assessment frameworks in other developing countries of the world. Furthermore, the outcomes of our assessment can serve as a baseline for the coastal administrators of Bangladesh while developing disaster management policies and actions centering around fostering resilient communities. Thus, our study not only contributes to disaster theory, but holds practical implications for evidence-based decision-making to secure a more resilient future of the coastal communities of Bangladesh.