Disasters
July 2015 Volume 39, Issue 3 Pages 407–609
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/disa.2015.39.issue-3/issuetoc

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Papers
Building disaster-resilient micro enterprises in the developing world
Sameer Prasad1, Hung-Chung Su2, Nezih Altay3 andJasmine Tata4
Article first published online: 29 DEC 2014
DOI: 10.1111/disa.12117
Abstract
Family-owned micro enterprises operating within the informal sector of most developing countries provide millions of citizens with a livelihood and are the economic backbone of many communities. Yet, the turbulence that emanates up or down respective supply chains following a disaster can cause these entities to fail. This study develops a model that recognises the relative weakness of micro enterprises to such disaster-related shocks. The model proposes that micro enterprises can moderate the effect of such shocks by creating resilience through cognitive preparation, continuous learning, and the generation of various forms of social capital (cognitive, relational, and structural). The propositions for the model are established through an extensive literature review, coupled with examples drawn from the documents of humanitarian agencies performing disaster relief work in India. This model also serves as a preliminary basis with which to derive metrics to set benchmarks or to assess the viability of a micro enterprise’s ability to survive disaster-related shocks.

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Papers
The impact of humanitarian context conditions and individual characteristics on aid worker retention
Valeska P. Korff1, Melinda Mills3, Liesbet Heyse4 and Rafael Wittek5
Article first published online: 9 JAN 2015
DOI: 10.1111/disa.12119
Abstract
High employee turnover rates constitute a major challenge to effective aid provision. This study examines how features of humanitarian work and aid workers’ individual characteristics affect retention within one humanitarian organisation, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Holland. The study extends existing research by providing new theoretical explanations of employment opportunities and constraints and by engaging in the first large-scale quantitative analysis of aid worker retention. Using a database of field staff (N=1,955), a logistic regression is performed of the likelihood of reenlistment after a first mission. The findings demonstrate that only 40 per cent of employees reenlist for a second mission with MSF Holland, and that workplace location and security situation, age, and gender have no significant effect. Individuals are less likely to reenlist if they returned early from the first mission for a personal reason, are in a relationship, are medical doctors, or if they come from highly developed countries. The paper reflects on the findings in the light of policy.