The role of youth voluntary actions in Disaster Risk Reduction in the Ganges Brahmaputra and Meghna (GBM) delta

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Youth volunteerism in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) has recently received significant recognition in international policy debate and research agenda (UNISDR, 2015; Haddock & Devereux, 2016). From the Haitian earthquake to the recent Covid-19 pandemic, youth volunteering has significantly gained global attention (Hill et al., 2009). The United Nations (UN) has declared 2020-2030 as the 'Decade of Action' acknowledging young people as key partners to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (UN, 2020). However, whilst the youth volunteers in the Western countries are getting recognition as a promising development actor, youth volunteers' experiences in the global South remained excluded despite their historical and numerical significance (Pastran, 2014, Baillie Smith et al., 2018). Bangladesh has witnessed many exemplary contributions from youth volunteer during natural disasters, post-disaster recovery and even in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. For example, from the beginning of the pandemic, youth volunteers organized and arranged 'Ek Takay Ahar' (food for a penny) for the marginalized people in Dhaka city which is later extended to the whole Bangladesh (Onetakameal, 2020). Similarly, the landless people volunteered tirelessly to repair the embankment in polder 22 after the massive hit of cyclone Amphan in the south-west of the GBM delta, where youth volunteers played a significant role to mobilize the people (Nijera kori, 2020). The previous record confirms, between 1980 and 2008, the country suffered more than 219 severe natural disasters and has experienced the highest casualties from natural disasters in history and all forms of disasters cut the aspects and sectors of development (ADPC, 2019). So, to safeguard delta futures through more resilient communities and sustainable development, it is urgent to make the community disaster-resilient and voluntary actions in DRR can be useful to achieve these goals. The history of volunteerism reveals that local volunteers are the first respondents whenever disaster strikes (Haynes and Tanner, 2015). For instance, in Bangladesh Cyclone Preparedness Program (CPP) is one of the successful community-based volunteer structures which is significantly working to reduce the loss from the seasonal cyclones in coastal areas of Bangladesh (UNV, 2012). Many humanitarian aid agencies are also engaging local volunteers' in large-scale disaster (INEE, 2013; Hasan, 2015). Therefore, it is important to engage youth volunteer in community DRR planning and activities as they have a sound knowledge of their culture, language and religion which will help to gain the community's trust and cooperation, but very little attention is given on volunteering research on disaster risk reduction (UNV, 2012). In Bangladesh, JAAGO Foundation, one of the pioneers in volunteering activities, has arranged many skill development activities for the urban volunteers whilst the volunteers from disaster-prone areas are largely excluded (JAAGO, 2020). Considering the gaps, this study will analyse the role of youth volunteers in promoting DRR in disaster-prone area of Bangladesh which will ultimately help to strengthen the community disaster preparedness.