Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction: Gender, Community-Based Approaches, and Local Governance in Mitigating Water-Related Hazards

Dear Colleagues,

As climate change accelerates, water-related hazards—including floods, droughts, and water scarcity—present escalating risks that disproportionately impact rural and urban communities worldwide. Vulnerable populations, especially women, children, and marginalized groups, are particularly affected by these climate-induced disasters, underscoring the urgent need for inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) frameworks. These frameworks must not only address the specific vulnerabilities of these groups but must also harness the valuable insights and adaptive capacities that local communities bring. However, despite their crucial role, local communities are often underrepresented in DRR planning and implementation processes. Achieving effective risk reduction requires coordinated, bottom-up approaches that empower communities, prioritize gender equity, and strengthen local governance. These inclusive strategies are essential for building resilience and ensuring that DRR efforts are both comprehensive and sustainable across diverse social and environmental contexts.

This Special Issue, titled “Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction: Gender, Community-Based Approaches, and Local Governance in Mitigating Water-Related Hazards”, aims to explore innovative and inclusive strategies to manage water-related hazards more effectively in the face of climate change. Recognizing that water hazards such as floods, droughts, and water scarcity affect communities differently based on gender, social status, and geographic location, this issue seeks to shed light on how tailored DRR approaches can foster resilience across diverse populations.

In this Special Issue, original research articles, reviews, and case studies are welcome. Research areas may include (but not limited to) the following:

• Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR);
• Gender and Disaster Risk Reduction;
• Community-based disaster risk management;
• Climate Change Adaptation (CCA);
• Community resilience and vulnerability;
• Local governance and DRR;
• Disaster Risk Reduction Education (DRRE);
• Risk characterization (urban/rural);
• Public health in emergencies;
• Bottom-up approaches to climate-induced hazards;
• Sustainable development and disaster resilience;
• Capacity building for climate resilience
• Role of NGOs in Disaster Risk Reduction
• Socio-economic impacts of water hazards;
• Nature-based solutions for DRR and CCA;
• Water hazards and social inequalities;
• Gender-based violence in response to water hazards.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Ashfaq Ahmad Shah
Guest Editor

Dr. Wahid Ullah
Guest Editor Assistant

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