Adaptive governance and resilience: the role of multi-stakeholder platforms in disaster risk reduction

ISBN/ISSN: 15618633
Author(s): Djalante, Riyanti
Number of pages: 20 p.

Natural Hazards Earth System Sciences, 12, 2923–2942, 2012, doi:10.5194/nhess-12-2923-2012, 2012:

This article asserts that the disaster impacts are more frequent, deadly and costly. The social and environmental consequences are increasingly complex and intertwined. Systematic as well as innovated strategies are needed to manage the impacts. Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) is a systematic approach to manage disaster risks while adaptive governance (AG) is suggested as an alternative approach for governing complex problems such as disasters. The author proposes that the AG can be practicalised through a mechanism of multistakeholder platforms (MSPs), interpreted as multiplicity of organisations at different scales of governance working towards more coordinated and integrated actions in DRR. Ten MSPs are selected at the global, regional, national and local level, focussing on the Indonesian MSPs.

This paper utilises a combination of methods for data collection. Discussions of MSPs were sourced from the academic literature as well as from reports published by organisations with experience in implementing or researchingMSPs in different sectors. The author conducted Internet searches using the keywords “multi-stakeholder platforms or forums for DRR” performed both in English and Bahasa Indonesia. In-depth key informant interviews were conducted with 8 personnel of key organisations related to the Indonesian MSPs. The interviews took place between October 2010 and January 2011, focussing on collecting information on: i) activities related to DRR and CCA; ii) progress in building disaster resilience and iii) the roles of MSPs in building disaster resilience in Indonesia. Finally, the report suggests the need for more provision of technical supports to local MSPs (Multistakeholder platforms), more linkages with established networks in DRR and broader stakeholders involvement within the MSPs.