Exploring resilience in public services within marginalised communities during COVID-19: The case of coal mining regions in Colombia
Date
2023
Authors
Weber, Gabriel
Cabras, Ignazio
Peredo, Ana Maria
Yanguas-Parra, Paola
Prime, Karla Simone
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Cleaner Production
Abstract
This paper examines the impact of COVID-19 on marginalised communities and its effects on the provision of public services. Focusing on two coal mining regions in Colombia during the pandemic crisis, and examining Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities, we analyze the provision of public services at a local level, identifying both shortcomings and resilience. Findings show that the lack of resilient public services amplified the effects of COVID-19 and its containment measures, exacerbating existing structural inequalities within local marginalised communities. It also reinforced the control exercised by coal mining companies within local economies. However, the substantial lack of public service provision also provided space for the development and strengthening of several resilience strategies among local communities, such as solidarity networks and schemes and the revitalization of local environmental knowledge. The study identifies multiple shortcomings in how the national and local administrations handled the COVID-19 outbreak and highlights the potential of enhancing resilience in public services to support marginalised communities in times of crisis.
Description
Keywords
resilience, coal mining regions, public services, marginalised communities, COVID-19, Colombia
Citation
Weber, G., Cabras, I., Peredo, A. M., Yanguas-Parra, P., Prime, K. S. (2023). Exploring resilience in public services within marginalised communities during COVID-19: The case of coal mining regions in Colombia. Journal of Cleaner Production, 415, 137880. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.137880