Corruption in cyclone preparedness and relief efforts in coastal Bangladesh: Lessons for climate adaptation?

► 99% of households suffered from corruption before or after Cyclone Aila. ► Ultra-poor households were particularly affected by corruption in pre-disaster interventions. ► Wealthy households were affected more by corruption in certain post-disaster interventions. ► Negligence to provide services and nepotism were the most common forms of corruption within pre-disaster interventions. ► In post-disaster interventions, wage/asset stripping, bribery and the misuse of resources were widespread. This article seeks to draw possible lessons for adaptation programmes in Bangladesh by examining whether cyclone preparedness and relief interventions are subject to corrupt practices. Based on a random sample survey of 278 households, three focus-group discussions and seven key-informant interviews, the article investigates the nature and extent of corruption in pre- and post-disaster interventions in Khulna before and after Cyclone Aila in May 2009. Ninety nine percent of households reported losses from corrupt practices. Post-disaster interventions (such as food aid and public works schemes) suffered from greater levels, and worse types, of corruption than pre-disaster interventions (such as cyclone warning systems and disaster-preparedness training). Using an asset index created using principal component analysis, the article assesses how corruption affected wealth quartiles. Ultra-poor households were affected more by corruption in pre-disaster interventions, the wealthiest quartile more in certain post-disaster interventions, in particular public works and non-governmental interventions. These findings may hold lessons for attempts to increase resilience as current adaptation measures mirror some cyclone preparedness and relief efforts.