Institution and Governance Related Learning from the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

Abstract

The developing countries, which have weak governance and institution, face various difficulties for quick recovery in the aftermath of megadisasters. They have weak disaster management agencies, limited skilled and experienced staff and weak finance resources. Local governments are greatly overstretched because of a wide range of response and recovery activities. It takes some time for international development agencies to respond to disasters. This study aims to propose the practical institutional and governance mechanisms of quick recovery for developing countries and development agencies by examining practices in the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in 2011. The study observes that institutional and legislative features contributed to prompt recovery. For example, the governments opened roads leading to cities on devastated coasts in less than a week. Quick recovery can be attributed to robust measures prepared at normal times, which Japan have improved by learning lessons from past disasters including the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995. The national government established the advance financial arrangements of subsidizing rehabilitation of public infrastructures to the local governments. Government offices have arranged prior agreements with the private sector to immediately commence recovery works. The government agencies organized to mobilize expert teams through their national networks. Structural measures of reinforcing bridges and other structures decreased recovery workloads and financial burdens. Also, the study argues challenges faced. The financial mechanizes focus on public facilities, and unfairly covers facilities owned by the private sector, such as railway, school and electricity. Local construction companies, which play crucial roles in quick recovery, are weakening capacities to respond to disasters because of budget decrease of public works.