A comparative study on community‐based disaster management in selected countries and designing a model for Iran

Abstract

Purpose Iran is located among the top disaster‐prone countries in the world and, therefore, disaster management is considered to be one of the most important issues in this country. One of the existing and worldwide approaches for managing disasters is the so‐called community‐based disaster management (CBDM). Community participation means that people's contribution in the disaster management cycle can be started from the basic steps of a process and ends in the achievement and institutionalization in the community. The purpose of this paper is to make a comparative study on the CBDM in various selected countries in order to design a model for Iran. Design/methodology/approach A descriptive‐comparative study was undertaken through a methodology including six steps in which a few countries have been chosen based on their contribution to issues such as policy making, planning, coordination, and control and organizing of disasters as well as their experience in disaster management and access to related information. Findings The results of the study show that, in order to achieve a successful disaster management, there is a need for the participation of the community in various disaster management lifecycles. However, it is evident that the type of contribution may differ according to the characteristics of each specific country. Practical implications By using the CDBM, it is hoped that, with updating and implementing this model, the government's capability enhances in order to encounter disasters more effectively in the future. Originality/value On the basis of these findings, a model was designed to use CDBM in Iran. The issue most emphasized by this model is the presence and contribution of community at the local level in villages and neighborhoods in a city.