Toward participatory participation: A community perspective on effective engagement in post-disaster recovery and reconstruction

Engaging citizens is crucial in disaster recovery efforts, yet its actualization remains elusive. Communities often find themselves relegated to passive recipients, leading to suboptimal reconstruction projects. The primary objective of this study was to explore the community’s perspective regarding optimal processes and outcomes requisite for their meaningful participation, aligning these insights with community development principles. Utilizing qualitative research methodologies such as face-to-face interviews, observations, focus group discussions, and questionnaire surveys the study identified key processes, including equitable stakeholder representation, empowerment in decision-making, integration of indigenous knowledge, early community engagement, and capacity enhancement. These processses are pivital for achieving sustainable development outcomes such as project ownership and successful attainment of project objectives. This research provides critical insights into engaging residents in post-disaster recovery and reconstruction efforts emphasizing the integral role of community development in facilitating inclusive and effective recovery and ensuring projects meet community needs and expectations.