The International Journal of Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies

In a novel approach, this paper adapts the economic model of production and applies it to the production of community disaster resilience and psychosocial recovery. Utilising field data collected through in-depth interviews within three regions of Bangladesh, namely Sirajganj, Sunamganj, and Satkhira districts, we apply the 'Production Model' to community disaster resilience and recovery, demonstrating that in the response phase local communities are almost entirely reliant on self-generated social capital. In the individual and community recovery phase, as with the preparation phase, the state is not relied upon to generate or organise adequate resources to rebuild communities. The proposed `Production Model' demonstrates that an increase in state resourcing is necessary to better plan, respond and recover from flooding in Bangladesh. The model, in this specific case, clearly demonstrates that there is great potential for building community resilience through increasing the state disaster prevention activities, while the community contribution is already strained. Based on the field data, we conclude that in Bangladesh it is increasingly necessary to stabilise communities and build on their existing resilience strategies through greater government action, the provision of additional resources, and the development of strategies to ensure an integrated response by the government, NGOs, and the disaster-affected people.