Learning capacity and diversification, enabling and constraining factors, and external assistance: A cross-national comparative analysis of long-term livelihood recovery

Despite a wide recognition of the importance learning capacity and diversification, enabling constraining factors, external assistance in facilitating long-term livelihood recovery (LTLR), there is paucity comparison for nuanced understanding interconnections among three themes (learning assistance) different societal disaster scenarios. Accordingly, this article employs cross-national comparative approach examining interplay these factors LTLR, within rural communities, following two international post-disaster case studies, 2007 Cyclone Sidr, Barguna, Bangladesh 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, Sichuan, China. This indicates that affected communities both cases experienced extreme challenges LTLR while illustrating differences. Learning diversification facilitated asset loss risk mitigation Sidr case, demonstrated limited opportunity diversification. Enabling were identified studies. Particularly, people-place connections positively shaped producing negative results case. External provisioning, protection, promotion case; contrast, giving little, if any, credence to local traditional practice, top-down interventions jeopardized LTLR. defends promoting grassroots participation community reconstruction strengthening practice capacities would advance