Longer term issues: Economic, Social, Cultural and Environmental

1
Group 6

• Longer term issues Economic, Social, Cultural
  and Environmental

2
Introductory comments

• The group consisted of individuals with
• On-the-ground expertise in Indonesia, Thailand
  and Sri Lanka
• Broad range of expertise across a range of
  disciplines and industries

3
Introduction (cont.)

• Time constraints meant we could not focus on a
  comprehensive discussion of the four issues
  (cultural, social, economic and environmental)
  instead we focused on macro issues
• However, we believe that emphasis should be given
  to unpacking each dimension as well as
  recognising their interconnectedness and the
  dynamic relationships between them systemic,
  integrated approach required

4
What is our current knowledge and capacity?

• Situation on the ground
• The Tsunami has had a differential impact on
  communities, nations, and economies
• Macro-level phenomenon poor communities are the
  most affected demographic change significant
  enormous impact on livelihoods environmental
  dimensions still unknown
• Micro-level issues trauma fatigue fear
  resilience

5
What we know (cont.)

• Reconstruction efforts must
• Involve local communities (they must have a sense
  of responsibility and ownership for
  strategies/interventions to work)
• Be sustainable
• Cost effective
• Politically acceptable

6
What we know (cont.)

• Australia has significant demonstrated expertise
  in
• Socio-cultural and political context
• Asian languages
• Disaster management
• Technical and scientific knowledge
• Social sciences and humanities (e.g. development
  studies, analysis of demographic change,
  cross-cultural communication, environmental
  reconstruction)

7
What we suspect

• However, our knowledge may be
• Inaccurate (because we lack of on-the-ground
  experience)
• Politically tainted
• Not be sustainable over longer term (language
  skills, social and cultural knowledge are
  declining)
• Culturally bounded and value laden (shown through
  development experience of last 50 years)

8
What are the priority gaps in our knowledge and
capacity?

• Our knowledge of what is actually happening in
  disaster affected areas is
• Fragmented
• Lack of coordination across disciplines,
  industries, institutions
• Lack a dissemination strategy for research
  findings
• Our knowledge may not draw on the expertise of
  those with local and/or on-the-ground experience

9
Priority gaps (cont.)

• Gaps in expertise
• Are we using our local capacity in culture and
  language?
• Are we identifying other key resources in the
  community?
• Are we building on the experiences of those who
  have built and maintained successful
  cross-cultural partnerships?
• Do we know how decisions made in one area impact
  on other sectors?

10
Why are these gaps significant?

• Decisions made now will have long term effects
• One size does not fit all (i.e. we need tailored
  solutions)
• Need to ensure that our socio-cultural knowledge
  informs our scientific and technical work

11
What might be our national contribution to our
region?

• 1. Enhance teaching, learning and research
  capacity in Australia
• Our social, cultural, economic and political
  knowledge of our region is diminishing need to
  strengthen area studies
• Language training in Asian languages is declining
• Historical studies can assist in reconstruction
  efforts

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Recommendations (cont.)

• 2. Training/education in affected communities
• English language training
• Graduate training to replace loss of human
  resources
• Technical training in disaster management and
  reconstruction/relief
• Exchange programs

13
Recommendations (cont.)

• 3. Harnessing Australian expertise
• Building networks across disciplines
• Cooperation and collaboration across industry and
  institutions
• Identifying key resources in migrant and
  expatriate communities
• Pooling resources and developing effective
  dissemination strategies

14
Recommendations (cont.)

• 4. International/regional pact to address natural
  disasters
• Focus on disaster recovery
• Focus on developing architecture for regional
  collaboration (rather than Australian-based
  solution)
• Find solutions that build on local knowledge and
  capacity