THE ROLE OF SOCIAL LINKS ON COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AND DEVELOPMENT: The case of Ambaro-Bekibo, Vatovavy Fitovinany Administrative Region - Madagascar

Abstract

This article analyzes the role of social links on a community resilience and development, the study is presenting the rural community of Ambaro-Bekibo in southeastern coast of Madagascar. From the literature perspective, a resilient community is capable to organize itself so as to be able to overcome the various hazards or disasters which could strike, and then to continue to sustain and improve its daily life as well as its environment by weaving social tie and by focusing more on solidarity. In Madagascar, this social link known as “fihavanana” is the basis of life in a community. It expresses a relation of alliance between members of an extended family. The fihavanana can play a role of community insurance against risks and constitutes a means for the community to bringing intra-community resources based solutions to its problems which increases its resilience and generally its capabilities leading to the development. The results of Ambaro-Bekibo case study through the application of an approach based on a non-parametric method of indices, indicate that the community recorded an improvement of its capacities and consequently its resilience thanks to the existing social links such as material and financial mutual aid as well as between individuals within the community. The existence of a functioning community market, community attic, education and health structures, anthropological practices tending to strengthen knowledge and traditional knowledge, as well as environmental protection activities are also listed as significant factors of development of the community. International Journal of Applied Science and Engineering Review ISSN: 2582-6271 Vol.2 No.2; Mar-Apr 2021 https://ijaser.org Page 125