A comparative study on the national counterpart aid model for post-disaster recovery and reconstruction: 2008 Wenchuan earthquake as a case
Abstract
Purpose
External assistance is often urgently required when an area is struck by a catastrophe. Central government-oriented aid (CGA), national non-governmental organizations aid (NNA), and international humanitarian aid (IHA) are three typical aid models, and national counterpart aid (NCA) is an innovative model for post-Wenchuan earthquake recovery and reconstruction (PWERR). The purpose of this paper is to make a comparative study of the aid models in order to develop recommendations on external assistance for better post-disaster recovery and reconstruction (PDRR).
Design/methodology/approach
This study was performed in three steps: a case study on the NCA model during the PWERR; a documentary research on the CGA, NNA and IHA models; and a comparative analysis of the four models.
Findings
The results of the comparative study show that the NCA model is more efficient and effective than the other three typical aid models. However it must be based on the premise of a centralized government.
Practical implications
The NCA model contributes to disaster management in a developing country context. It develops a viable model for developing countries in coping with the catastrophe, can enhance their ability for domestic self-assistance, and has reference to the construction of national integrated disaster management systems.
Originality/value
This paper empirically researches the innovative NCA model, and compares it with commonly used aid models for the PDRR. Although it is a Chinese experience, the systematic inter-governmental collaboration of the NCA model has reference to other countries in disaster management.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by Major Bidding Program of National Social Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 08 & ZD009) and also partially sponsored by the project of Investigation Propaganda Department of China Association for Science and Technology (Grant No. 2009DCYJ12). The authors are also grateful to Sichuan University for providing research funding, No. SKG2013001.
Citation
Xu, J. and Lu, Y. (2013), "A comparative study on the national counterpart aid model for post-disaster recovery and reconstruction: 2008 Wenchuan earthquake as a case", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 22 No. 1, pp. 75-93. https://doi.org/10.1108/09653561311301998
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2013, Emerald Group Publishing Limited