Capacity building towards resilience: context of post disaster waste management

Capacity building provides an opportunity to understand strengths, weaknesses, threats and
opportunities towards a resilient future through identification of broader issues around
sustainable development of a particular program, project or process, including their unique
cultural, social and ecological characteristics. Thus, concept of capacity building is an essential
component in development theory and practice. In particular, in post disaster scenarios, focus
has been placed upon local capacity building as a means of increasing resilience to natural
hazards. In this context, this paper focuses on concept of capacity building and its role in post
disaster waste management towards building future resilience. Case studies have been
conducted to gather information on existing capacities of post disaster waste management in
Sri Lanka. Semi-structured interviews were held as the main data collection method and
content analysis was used to analyse collected data. Results of existing capacities and
identified gaps of post disaster waste management are presented in key areas as skills and
confidence building, links and collaborations, continuity and sustainability, research and
development, communication and coordination, organisational implementations and
investments in infrastructure. Finally, the paper concludes with proposed recommendations for
enhancing capacities of post disaster waste management towards future resilience.