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Gender and Post-Disaster Reconstruction

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Gender and Post-Disaster Reconstruction Gender and post-disaster reconstruction: An analysis of gendered perceptions and interventions in the context of post-earthquake Pakistan. ELDRI L. BERGER MASTER THESIS 30 CREDITS 200 DEPARTMENT OF NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIES, NORAGRIC 8 The Department of International Environment and Development Studies, Noragric, is the international gateway for the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB). Eight departments, associated research institutions and the Norwegian College of Veterinary Medicine in Oslo. Established in 1986, Noragric’s contribution to international development lies in the interface between research, education (Bachelor, Master and PhD programmes) and assignments. The Noragric Master theses are the final theses submitted by students in order to fulfil the requirements under the Noragric Master programme “Management of Natural Resources and Sustainable Agriculture” (MNRSA), “Development Studies” and other Master programmes. The findings in this thesis do not necessarily reflect the views of Noragric. Extracts from this publication may only be reproduced after prior consultation with the author and on condition that the source is indicated. For rights of reproduction or translation contact Noragric. © Eldri L. Berger, May 2008 [email protected] Noragric Department of International Environment and Development Studies P.O. Box 5003 N-1432 Ås Norway Tel.: +47 64 96 52 00 Fax: +47 64 96 52 01 Internet: http://www.umb.no/noragric Declaration I, Eldri L. Berger, declare to the senate of the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB) that this thesis is a result of my research investigations and findings. Sources of information other than my own have been acknowledged and a reference list has been appended. This work has not been previously submitted to any other university for award of any type of academic degree. Signature……………………………….. Date………………………………………… “When women move forward, the world moves with them” (CEDPA 2008) Acknowledgements First and foremost I would like to thank my supervisor Ingrid L. P. Nyborg for her positive attitude, guidance, discussions and valuable inputs throughout the thesis writing. I have truly valued having you as my supervisor. I am thankful to the librarians at Noragric, Liv Ellingsen and Ingeborg Brandtzæg, for the trust and patience they hold towards the students and for their assistance in booking literature found outside of the UMB library system. I also want to thank Ola, graduating last year from Noragric, for his knowledgeable inputs on the earthquake affected area and the challenges faced by the organisations working there. I am grateful to my family for their support and understanding throughout the thesis process. I want to thank my mother, Anita for always being there for me and particularly for her critical and analytic inputs to this thesis. Last but not least, I want to thank Arild for bearing with me throughout the process of writing. Thank you for the patience and support you have showed as a boyfriend and a friend. i Abstract This thesis is an analysis of varying ways in which different actors and stakeholders conceptualise and operationalise gender in the Pakistan post-earthquake context. The earthquake affected areas from the 2005 earthquake now find themselves in a reconstructional setting. The degree to which gender considerations and women’s development measures have been incorporated in the reconstruction is studied throughout this thesis. This study is a literature review and analysis, focusing on various post-earthquake reports, briefings and analyses. In order to detect the gendered nature of the reconstruction, the literature has been studied through various perspectives; the post-earthquake gender institutional and policy context, direct reconstructional efforts and finally through the perceptions and perspectives of various stakeholders involved in the reconstruction. It becomes evident throughout the thesis that there are vast challenges in addressing gender and women’s development in the reconstruction. First and foremost, addressing gender issues is a challenge. In particular this applies to the most conservative parts of the earthquake affected areas, where strong patriarchal norms and strict traditional and cultural practice prevail. Moreover during times of crisis a common perception is that gender and women’s development are not pressing issues. The main finding of this study shows that perceptions and understandings are influential in determining how actors conceptualise and operationalise gender considerations. It turns out that the perceptions held by various stakeholders on gender and reconstruction are in fact interlinked with their chosen reconstructional efforts. Looking at the reconstruction as a whole, gender and women’s development approaches are not included in the overall characterisation. However, a number of reconstructional approaches contain gender elements to various degrees. At the policy level, it becomes evident throughout the thesis that the prevailing attitude towards the governmental agencies suggests that the policies are lacking the necessary operational anchorage. It is further argued throughout the thesis that the organisations with the highest probability of including gender considerations in their reconstructional approaches, are the organisations addressing gender issues prior to the earthquake. ii Table of contents Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................i Abstract ..................................................................................................................................ii Table of contents ...................................................................................................................iii Abbreviations ......................................................................................................................... v 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Problem statement ............................................................................................................ 3 1.2 Thesis structure ................................................................................................................ 4 2 The Pakistan earthquake...................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Description of the earthquake area................................................................................... 5 2.2 The societal structure of the earthquake area ................................................................... 6 2.3 The earthquake ................................................................................................................. 9 2.4 The earthquake response ................................................................................................ 11 2.5 Gender issues in post-earthquake Pakistan .................................................................... 14 2.6 Post-earthquake Pakistan................................................................................................ 16 3.0 Methodology ..................................................................................................................... 17 3.1 Research strategy and design ......................................................................................... 17 3.2 Literature analysis .......................................................................................................... 18 3.2.1 Desk study ............................................................................................................... 18 3.2.2 Literature review procedure.................................................................................... 19 3.3 Main sources of information .......................................................................................... 20 3.3.1 International institutions......................................................................................... 21 3.3.2 Governmental institutions ....................................................................................... 22 3.3.3 Local non-governmental organisations .................................................................. 23 4 Post-earthquake institutional and policy context............................................................. 29 4.1 Earthquake recovery policies ......................................................................................... 29 4.2 Gender specific recovery................................................................................................ 32 4.3 Earthquake recovery policies and gender theory ........................................................... 35 4.3.1 Gender mainstreaming in ERRA Gender Policy..................................................... 35 4.3.2 Empowerment of women ......................................................................................... 38 iii 5 Post-earthquake gender initiatives .................................................................................... 42 5.1 Gendered relief efforts.................................................................................................... 42 5.2 Gendered reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts........................................................ 44 5.2.1 Reconstructional gender efforts .............................................................................
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