Managing chronic crises in developing countries: water poverty in rural Cambodia and Viet Nam

[Truncated abstract] One perspective that is currently emerging in the disaster management field is that some communities and countries are experiencing a confluence of worsening hazards that, when manifest, are blurring the line between situations that traditionally trigger international disaster response and those that do not. This context, which is particularly evident in fragile or failed states in the developing world, is prompting some literature and practice to turn from how to reduce, manage and respond to disasters with a recognised peak of crisis to how states of protracted crisis or chronic crisis may be managed. Despite a growing body of knowledge, chronic crises are not yet conceptually well defined, well understood or well analysed. There is currently no universally accepted definition of chronic crises as distinct phenomena for management purposes. Such a definition is vital, as the way in which chronic crises are characterised shapes analytical and policy frameworks upon which management is based (Russo et al., 2008). It also influences how crises are perceived, and therefore how urgently and to what extent they are internationally and nationally recognised and funded. A lack of precise and distinct definition has led to a wide range of chronic crises being recognised, and therefore managed, as either disasters or as negative development outcomes. However, there is growing awareness that using disaster management or sustainable development processes to manage chronic crises has not been effective (for example, Tibbo and Drimie, 2006; FAO - Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, 2010b). In this vein, this thesis addresses two specific objectives: 1. To define and describe chronic hazards and chronic hazard conditions. 2. To show if and how an adapted management framework can be applied in the field to better inform the management of chronic crises.