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The purpose of this study is to emphasize the crucial role of supply chains in humanitarian and development interventions, specifically targeting gender-based violence in East Asia and the Pacific, regions prone to climate change-induced disasters. It explores optimizing development supply chains for humanitarian use, and the plausible impacts on community peacebuilding.

By adopting an abductive approach to the action research methodology, based on 11 case studies, including intensive fieldwork in seven, this study evaluates development supply chains for their adaptability, institutionalization and flexibility to support humanitarian needs and analyzes the potential interlinkages of peacebuilding.

The research uncovers the irregular and unsystematized present humanitarian efforts and highlighting a lack of advancement in development channels for implementing effective humanitarian preparedness and response. By focusing on the Triple Nexus framework and based on the findings, the study rather proposes enhancing the humanitarian supply chain, suggesting a restructured mechanism for development channels that fosters synergies across the dimensions. It intricately connects peacebuilding applying a Triple Nexus Analytical Framework, examining the potential impact on micro-level peacebuilding outcomes.

The research recognizes the challenge in conceptualizing peacebuilding within the Triple Nexus framework, calling for a nuanced understanding of peacebuilding across different levels. Contrary to expectations, the case studies yielded unexpected results, suggesting a need for a reversed approach in the applied methodology, hence advancing humanitarian supply chains with synergies to development channels that in the specific cases studies lack efficiency in their current set-up.

This study examines the collaboration between humanitarian efforts and development initiatives and how they can collectively contribute to peacebuilding. It pushes forward the conversation on improving humanitarian preparedness by leveraging development supply chains and explores the effects of peacebuilding on local levels.

The notion that disasters are not natural is longstanding, leading to a growing number of campaigns aimed at countering the use of the term “natural disaster.” Whilst these efforts are crucial, critical perspectives regarding the potential risks associated with this process are lacking, particularly in places affected by violent conflict. This paper aims to present a critical analysis of these efforts, highlighting the need to approach them with care.

The author draws upon insights and discussions accumulated over a decade of research into the relationship between disasters and conflict. The article includes a critical literature review on the disaster–conflict relationship and literature specifically addressing the idea that disasters are not natural. The analysis of field notes led to a second literature review covering topics such as (de) politicisation, instrumentalisation, disaster diplomacy, ethics, humanitarian principles, disaster risk reduction, peacebuilding and conflict sensitivity.

This analysis underscores the importance of advocating that disasters are not natural, especially in conflict-affected areas. However, an uncritical approach could lead to unintended consequences, such as exacerbating social conflicts or obstructing disaster-related actions. The article also presents alternatives to advance the understanding that disasters are not natural whilst mitigating risks, such as embracing a “do-no-harm” approach or conflict-sensitive analyses.

The author offers an innovative critical approach to advancing the understanding that disasters are not natural but socio-political. This perspective is advocated, especially in conflict-affected contexts, to address the root causes of both disasters and conflicts. The author also invites their peers and practitioners to prioritise reflective scholarship and practices, aiming to prevent the unintentional exacerbation of suffering whilst working towards its reduction.