Exploring social workers' roles in building disaster resilient communities in Nepal

Nepal is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world due to its complex topography, fragile geology and socio-economic inequalities. Recurrent hazards such as earthquakes, floods and landslides have profound impacts on communities, livelihoods and development. Although disaster management in Nepal has largely been dominated by humanitarian actors, the role of social workers in disaster response and in building disaster-resilient communities remains under-recognised and under- researched. This qualitative case study explores the roles of social workers in building disaster-resilient communities in Nepal. The study draws on eleven (11) online semi-structured, in-depth interviews with eleven Nepali social work practitioners engaged in disaster preparedness, response, recovery and resilience-building initiatives. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis to generate an in-depth, context-specific understanding of participants’ experiences and perspectives. The findings indicate that social workers play multifaceted roles across different phases of disaster management, including community mobilisation, psychosocial support, advocacy for vulnerable groups and strengthening social capital. This study also highlights the importance of Indigenous knowledge and community participation in shaping disaster resilience. However, social workers face significant challenges, including professional recognition, unclear role definitions and weak policy and institutional support. This study contributes to the limited body of knowledge on disaster social work in Nepal and underscores the need for stronger policy recognition, professional integration, and curriculum development to enhance social workers’ contributions to disaster-resilient communities. The study provides policy and practice-relevant recommendations aimed at strengthening the contribution of social workers to disaster-resilient communities in Nepal and in other disaster-prone, low- and middle-income countries.