Community Resilience and the Vulnerability to Climate Change in the Republic of Fiji : A qualitative field study on Mudu Village’s ability to recover from natural disasters

Abstract: The ability to recover from the effects of climate change among communities is acknowledged in previous research, where focus is laid on disaster recovery through adaptive capacities and resilience. The objective of this study was to investigate a rural community’s ability to cope with natural disasters in in the aftermath of Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston, by using the case of Mudu Village in Koro Island, Fiji. The data was based on observations through an ethnographically inspired approach, as well as 20 semistructured interviews with residents in Mudu Village and other relevant stakeholders. The study was based upon the characteristics of the concept of community resilience, which allowed for deeper understanding of disaster recovery and coping mechanisms among rural communities exposed to natural disasters. The result of the thesis has showed that disaster preparedness and social support systems within the community has increased due to the experience from past recovery processes. By using the concept of community resilience, it has further become clear that the dependence on natural resources has decreased the capacity to cope with and recover from natural disasters in Mudu Village, which thus constitutes the main hindrance to community resilience.