This document discusses social capital and recovery efforts after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in Aceh, Indonesia. It examines two case studies: a resettlement program in Geunteng village that provided housing, and a livelihood improvement program in Teunom sub-district that supported economic activities. Both aimed to rebuild infrastructure and strengthen communities through training, forums, and organization. However, the response was slowed by coordination issues between agencies. Lessons highlighted the need for participatory, community-based approaches and cultural considerations to best facilitate recovery and social capital development.

1. Raising the Social Capital for
Recovery Process after Tsunami in
Aceh:
Lesson Learned from Impacted Area in
Eastern & Western Coastal
Rissalwan Habdy Lubis

2. Earthquake &
Tsunami
Armed Conflict
Major Disaster
ACEH
Mostly
impacted in
western
area
Mostly
impacted in
eastern
area

5.  In Eastern area, a resettlement program running by
UN-Habitat at Geunteng Village at Batee Sub District,
Pidie District
 In Western area, a livelihood improvement program
running by Action by Church Together (ACT) at
Teunom Sub District, Aceh Jaya District.

7.  Located on eastern coastal of Aceh where moderately
impacted by tsunami.
 Tsunami has made Geunteng totally isolated because
of the only bridge had lost.
 Geunteng in local language mean almost separated,
because the area looks like to be separated by two
rivers in estuary.
 This area was also a place for Aceh paramilitary force
in armed conflict era.

8.  Located on western coastal of Aceh where highly
impacted by tsunami.
 Tsunami has made Teunom totally isolated because of
most of road and bridges along western coastal way had
broken or lost.
 Teunom in local language mean sink below water
surface, because most of subdistrict area were swamp

9.  Systemic events
Dramatic historical happenings that has been socially
constructed in people mind since human ancestors cope
and survive from the disaster for the first time
 Social catalyst
Collective reaction on disruption and harmful event for
human life. This reaction emerge in acceleration of
social dynamics, that can be strengthening or—the
other way—destructing the social structure.

10.  Explicit debonding of social structure  the lost of
family members or relatives
 Debonding on hidden social structure/relation  the
lost of trust, the emerge of suspiciousness  “hidden
plundering” phenomenon in the name of solidarity
to help.

11. Ideally
balanced
Networks
Trust
Norms
Bridging
Bonding

12. SOCIAL CAPITAL

13. Lesson Learned from Livelihood Recovery Program in
Teunom

14. 1. Providing direct services/materials related to
improve livelihood activities for tsunami survivor in
Teunom.
2. Building the capacity of community through
training activities, civic education and community
organization.

15. 1.Providing financial
support to certain
economic activities,
those are: farming,
fishery, animal
husbandry, home
industry, small trader
owned by women and
coconut grater.

21. 2. Capacity building and encouraging gender mainstream
through series of community forum / group discussion
about topics on livelihood management.
Activities (cont’d)

22. 3. Training and civic education for community
organizer and local leader.
Activities (cont’d)

23. Lesson Learned from Settlement Recovery Program in
Geunteng

24. 1. Providing direct services/materials related to
rebuild houses for tsunami survivors in
Geunteng.
2. Building the capacity of community through
community organization within housing
development group (consist of 10 household, who
received housing grand)

25. 1.Providing financial support
to build new house, for
survivor recommended by
village leaders.

26. 2. Series of community
forum / group discussion
about topics on financial
constraint issues
Activities (cont’d)

27. 3. Quality control on
rebuild houses
process that
conducted by
professional
engineers.
Activities (cont’d)

32. 1. Local government and also BRR (rehabilitation and
reconstruction body on Aceh and Nias) were to slow
in response on people needs in Teunom and
Geunteng to recover live of Acehnese survivors.
2. There were so many NGOs competing to seek
community to be assisted. That’s created confusing
situation and suspiciousness among the community,
whether someone get more helps while the others
probably get nothing.

33. 3. Cash for Work program that conduct by NGO
were shapely change the cultural context in
society. It has shifted local wisdom into
pragmatism.
4. Late of local budgeting. This includes unclear
allocation and distribution of budget that
planned by local government and BRR.
5. Lack of human resources and the problem of
salary. On the field, it’s difficult to find someone
with certain ability to match with the job that
team try to provide/ implement for.

34. • Participatory community-approach in all sectors,
not only in housing, but also in local economic
recovery and development is clearly the only hope
for a truly sustainable formation of social capital.
Therefore, enforcement and improvement with a
clearly formulated minimum standard of
participatory community-based practices is a must.
• Women participation in Aceh has increased within
certain recovery program

35. • It’s really important to understand that disaster
recovery effort is not just a type of charity activity.
Cultural factor such as peuseujuk (local custom of
giving a welcoming or farewell ceremony) and
meu’urup (the same customs in most of Asian
culture in working together within solidarity spirit)
needs to be maintained. Because those activities are
quite important to keep the bonded network among
the group member.