Multidimensional collaboration in post-disaster recovery: The role of international NGOs and local CSOs in Agam Regency, Indonesia

¹ Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universitas Negeri Padang, Jl. Prof. Dr. Hamka, Air Tawar Barat, Padang 25132, Indonesia
² Master of Public Administration Study Program, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universitas Negeri Padang, Jl. Prof. Dr. Hamka, Air Tawar Barat, Padang 25132, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: aldri@fis.unp.ac.id

Abstract

Post-disaster recovery in disaster-prone areas such as Nagari Bukik Batabuah, Agam Regency, requires a multidimensional approach that integrates social, cultural, and economic perspectives. This study analyzes how international NGOs, in collaboration with the local civil society organization Jemari Sakato, contributed to recovery efforts following the 2024 cold lava flood triggered by the eruption of Mount Marapi. A descriptive qualitative method was employed, combining field observation, in-depth interviews, and document analysis to examine institutional strategies and community responses. The findings reveal that international NGO interventions strengthened community-based recovery by prioritizing vulnerable groups, particularly persons with disabilities, and embedding local wisdom into program design. Key initiatives included cash assistance to affected households, labor-intensive land rehabilitation, and the development of inclusive public infrastructure, which collectively enhanced socio-economic resilience. Despite these achievements, challenges persisted, including divergent approaches between NGOs and the nagari government, weak inter-organizational coordination, and limited accuracy of beneficiary data that complicated aid distribution. These results highlight that sustainable and effective recovery requires collaborative governance that is inclusive, transparent, and sensitive to local contexts, ensuring that post-disaster programs address immediate humanitarian needs while also building long-term resilience in disaster-prone communities.