Local self-government

This essay is based on a field survey in the central Himalayan highlands, Nepal, badly hit by earthquakes in spring 2015. The affected remote communities have always been constrained by spatial and economic marginality and have suffered not only from the earthquakes but also a number of geophysical hazards and economic problems, including the inexorable outbound migration of young and adult workforce in recent decades. Accordingly, they are one of the most vulnerable communities in Asia. Post-earthquake reconstruction represents an opportunity to reduce their vulnerability, to foster collective resilience, to stop (and reverse) outbound migratory movement by employing local workforce in recovery and reconstruction projects, and to develop a sustainable economy through use of well-targeted economic and fiscal policies and encouragement of entrepreneurial activism. Reducing human vulnerability is key to fostering sustainable economic development after disaster