Challenges in multi-agency collaboration in disaster management : a Sri Lankan perspective

Abdeen, FN; Fernando, TP; Kulatunga, U; Hettige, S; Arjuna Ranasinghe, KD

Abstract

This study was aimed at investigating the current challenges prevailing in relation to multi-agency collaboration during disaster management and at the strategies that should be implemented in order to overcome such challenges. The study was based on a qualitative approach under which 32 semi-structured interviews were carried out among agencies engaged in disaster management. The collected data were analysed using content analysis. The study identified seven challenges that hinder multi-agency collaboration (communication, environmental, social, political, inter-organisational, intra-organisational and infrastructure challenges) and corresponding strategies that can be used to overcome them. Communication was considered as the dominant challenge due to the lack of a technology platform and well-defined guidelines for sharing data among the agencies to establish a common view of the disaster context. Furthermore, the interoperability challenges that exist among the agencies seems to hinders the effective collaboration among agencies.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 12, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Jun 19, 2021
• Publication Date: Aug 1, 2021
• Deposit Date: Jun 22, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 28, 2021
• Journal: International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction
• Print ISSN: 2212-4209
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Volume: 62
• Pages: 102399
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102399
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102399
• Related Public URLs: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/international-journal-of-disaster-risk-reduction/
• Additional Information: Additional Information : ** Article version: AM ** From Elsevier via Jisc Publications Router ** Licence for AM version of this article: This article is under embargo. **Journal IDs: issn 22124209 **History: issued 19-06-2021; accepted 12-06-2021; Funders : Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF);Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC);GCRF;EPSRC; Projects : A Collaborative Multi Agency Platform for Building Resilient Communities;unspecified;EP/PO28543/1; Grant Number: EP/PO28543/1