Mapping participatory approaches in disaster risk management: A scoping review

This scoping review examines participatory research and citizen science approaches applied across DRM phases. A total of 51 studies were analyzed using both inductive classification and deductive classification typology, capturing a spectrum from consultative to transformative engagement. Findings reveal that higher levels of participation, such as co-creation and co-acting, are concentrated in preparedness and mitigation, while response and recovery phases feature limited engagement. Participatory action research and co-creation demonstrate potential to enhance local agency, resilience, and knowledge co-production. However, constrained by persistent barriers, including power asymmetries, limited resources and time, uneven representation, and difficulties in integrating community knowledge into formal decision-making.

The findings indicate that engagement is not uniform across the disaster cycle. Participation is concentrated in preparedness and mitigation phases, where there is sufficient time to build trust, co-design solutions, and integrate local knowledge. In contrast, response and recovery phases demonstrate lower levels of meaningful engagement, reflecting the logistical, temporal, and structural constraints inherent to these contexts. Moreover, even when participatory processes are present, they do not automatically ensure inclusivity or equitable outcomes. The interplay of power dynamics, stakeholder heterogeneity, and context-specific challenges can limit the transformative potential of these approaches.