Disaster Advances Vol. 17 (8) August (2024) https://doi.org/10.25303/178da041048 41 Review Paper: Factors contributing to Participation in Community-led DRR Programmes in Malaysia Halim Bashah Muhammad Khudri 1 , Shamsuddin Noor Shaza Akma 1 , Abdullah Ruhaida 1 and Kamarudin Khairul Hisyam 2 * 1. Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, Kuala Lumpur 54100, MALAYSIA 2. Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Centre (DPPC), Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, Kuala Lumpur 54100, MALAYSIA *khisyam.kl@utm.my Abstract Community-led disaster risk management is a method that stresses community participation and involvement in disaster prevention, response and recovery. This approach acknowledges that communities possess unique knowledge, resources and capacities that can be used to improve disaster management. Community- led disaster risk management, which involves communities in decision-making processes and provides them with the appropriate tools and training, can improve local resilience and the overall efficacy of disaster response and recovery activities. This approach also recognizes the need to address social, economic and environmental issues that contribute to vulnerability and increase the risk of disaster. Community-led disaster risk management, sometimes known as the "bottom-up approach," brings together local community skills to effectively address and mitigate disaster risks. This method improves local resilience and increases overall disaster response and recovery efforts by actively engaging communities in decision-making processes and providing them with the appropriate tools and training. Furthermore, by addressing social, economic and environmental elements that contribute to vulnerability, community-led disaster risk management helps to reduce the risk of disasters. This bottom-up strategy enables communities to take proactive steps toward catastrophe preparedness, response and recovery, resulting in more sustainable and resilient communities. Previous studies have highlighted that involving communities in policy development and decision-making processes enhances sustainability, resilience and local engagement in policy implementation. As shown in many cases, local stakeholders including Government agencies at the national, state and local levels, local champions and leaders, as well as non- governmental organizations (NGOs), often collaborate closely to develop comprehensive and effective disaster management plans. Keywords: Community-led disaster risk management, bottom-up approach, resilience, local knowledge, NGOs. Introduction Community-led disaster management involves the active participation of local communities in preparing for, responding to and recovering from disasters 32 . It is ground in the notion that those who are directly affected by disasters, are best placed to identify their vulnerabilities and the resources they need to build resilience 15,29,32 . There are multiple key elements to achieve this approach: (1) Local knowledge and traditional skills are employed to address the specific needs and circumstances of community- based disaster management. The unique skills and experiences inherent to local communities can greatly benefit the development of effective strategies for disaster risk reduction; (2) Participation of community members in decision-making process, ranging from planning and preparation in pre- disaster stage to recovery and reconstruction post-recovery stages; (3) Empowerment that includes granting local community authority to design their disaster management with proper necessary resources, adequate training and support from the government; (4) Capacity building for strengthening the abilities of local communities to manage risks through education, training and by enhancing physical and social infrastructure; (5) Establishment of the early warning systems for early detection and warning of potential disasters at local vicinities to reduce their impacts to the society. Community-led approach or “bottom-up” approach creates a more sustainable strategy for effective disaster management 12 . This approach is tailored to fit the needs and social context of the local community. It also fostered collective action and social cohesion for the community, which are essential for resilience and effective recovery. This study shall explore the importance and utilisation of this concept with practices of community-led disaster risk management and pertinent correlation between local expertise, community engagement, strategies for mitigating