A comparison of the governance landscape of earthquake risk reduction in Nepal and the Indian State of Bihar

Type Journal Article - International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction
Title A comparison of the governance landscape of earthquake risk reduction in Nepal and the Indian State of Bihar
Author(s)
Volume 15
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2016
Page numbers 29-42
URL http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420915301278
Abstract
On 25 April 2015, a Mw 7.8 earthquake struck central Nepal, killing more than 8700 people. An earthquake of this magnitude has long been anticipated in Nepal and the neighbouring northern Indian state of Bihar, which straddle the active Himalayan frontal fault system. Drawing on field research undertaken before the earthquake, this paper traces the progress made in earthquake risk reduction efforts at the national scale in Nepal and at the sub-national scale in Bihar. With their contrasting ‘governance landscapes’, we examine the political and institutional context and power relations among different stakeholder groups, as well as the interests and political will motivating earthquake risk reduction. Nepal is a post-conflict country, with a weak legislative and institutional setting for earthquake risk reduction, and a multitude of different stakeholders (government, multi and bi-lateral donors, UN organisations, and national and international NGOs) engaged in the disaster risk reduction process.

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