Integrating Local Knowledge into Disaster Risk Reduction: Current Challenges and Recommendations for Future Frameworks in the Asia-Pacific

Sammanfattning: The agenda of integration of local and indigenous knowledge (LINK) with disaster risk reduction (DRR) programmes has gained momentum since 1970s. Notwithstanding the incremental attention to LINK, researchers in this field agree that successful integration of local knowledge is difficult and the processes with such aims are not carried out fully and effectively. The purpose of this study is to provide practitioners, policy-makers and researchers with useful advice for full integration of LINK into DRR policies, programmes and education. The study explored current practices and examined challenges that arise in processes for integrating LINK with DRR by conducting literature review and eight expert interviews. The findings revealed that trust between local communities and implementing organisations, empowering the marginalized, institutional capacity and dissemination of LINK over generations are critical factors that help achieve the effectiveness and sustainability of such initiatives. Among these factors, institutional capacity showed strong connection with the others regarding lack of institutional arrangements and underfinancing. The study emphasizes the importance of enhancing institutional capacity by mainstreaming the agenda of integrating local knowledge in long-term national and local disaster risk reduction plans as well as diverting the funding from central to local institutions as one of the suggested steps to develop future frameworks in the Asia-Pacific.