ABSTRACT

Despite widespread recognition that social learning can potentially contribute toward enhancing community resilience to climate-induced disaster shocks, studies on this process remain few and far between. This study investigates the role of local institutions (formal, informal, and quasi-formal) in creating learning arenas and translating social learning into collective action in flash flood-prone Sunamganj communities in Bangladesh. We follow a Case Study approach using qualitative research methods. Primary data were collected through 24 key informant interviews, 10 semi-structured interviews, six focus-group discussions, and two participant observations events. Our results reveal that the diversity and flexibility of local-level institutions creates multiple learning platforms in which social interaction, problem formulation, nurturing diverse perspectives, and generating innovative knowledge for collective action can take place. Within these formal and informal learning arenas, communities’ desire and willingness to be self-reliant and to reduce their dependency on external funding and assistance is clearly evident. Social learning thus paves the way for institutional collaboration, partnership, and multi-stakeholder engagement, which facilitates social learning-based collective action. Nurturing institutional diversity and flexibility at the local level is therefore recommended for transforming social learning into active problem-solving measures and to enhance community resilience to disaster shocks.

摘要

尽管人们普遍认识到社会学习可能有助于增强社区对气候引起的灾害冲击的复原力，但关于这一过程的研究仍然很少而且相去甚远。本研究调查了当地机构（正式、非正式和准正式）在创建学习场所并将社会学习转化为孟加拉国易发山洪的 Sunamganj 社区的集体行动方面的作用。我们使用定性研究方法遵循案例研究方法。主要数据是通过 24 次关键线人访谈、10 次半结构化访谈、6 次焦点小组讨论和两次参与观察活动收集的。我们的研究结果表明，地方级机构的多样性和灵活性创造了多个学习平台，其中社会互动、问题制定、可以培养不同的观点，并为集体行动创造创新知识。在这些正式和非正式的学习领域中，社区自力更生和减少对外部资金和援助的依赖的愿望和意愿是显而易见的。因此，社会学习为机构合作、伙伴关系和多方利益相关者参与铺平了道路，从而促进了基于社会学习的集体行动。因此，建议在地方层面培养机构多样性和灵活性，以将社会学习转化为积极的问题解决措施，并增强社区对灾害冲击的抵御能力。社区自力更生和减少对外部资金和援助依赖的愿望和意愿是显而易见的。因此，社会学习为机构合作、伙伴关系和多方利益相关者参与铺平了道路，从而促进了基于社会学习的集体行动。因此，建议在地方层面培养机构多样性和灵活性，以将社会学习转化为积极的问题解决措施，并增强社区对灾害冲击的抵御能力。社区自力更生和减少对外部资金和援助依赖的愿望和意愿是显而易见的。因此，社会学习为机构合作、伙伴关系和多方利益相关者参与铺平了道路，从而促进了基于社会学习的集体行动。因此，建议在地方层面培养机构多样性和灵活性，以将社会学习转化为积极的问题解决措施，并增强社区对灾害冲击的抵御能力。