Assessing Flood Resilience Through Indexing: A Comparative Analysis of Migrated and Non-Migrated Households in Nepal

This study assesses household resilience to flood disasters in Nepal, focusing on a comparative, index-based approach to evaluate non-migrant households (NMHs) and migrant households (MHs). The main research gap addressed by this study is the lack of comparative analysis of household resilience in disaster research, particularly between migrant and non-migrant households, an area that has received limited attention in prior studies. The study examines resilience across five dimensions social, physical, economic, institutional, and environmental based on data from 432 household surveys (158 MHs and 274 NMHs), 15 key informant interviews (KIIs), and 30 in-depth interviews (IDIs). The findings reveal that NMHs consistently demonstrate higher resilience across all dimensions due to stronger social networks, better infrastructure, and more effective governance systems. Statistical analysis confirms significant differences in resilience levels between the two household types. The study highlights the importance of targeted interventions to enhance MHs’ resilience and foster equitable and sustainable flood resilience through effective disaster risk reduction strategies. It emphasizes the need for policies that prioritize strengthening the social, physical, and institutional resilience of MHs while addressing the unique challenges faced by both household types.