Overview

Original Research

EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT FOR PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE ASSETS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: SCOPING REVIEW

Dr. IRUKA CHIJINDU ANUGWO and Dr. CHIKEZIRIM OKORAFOR

Vol 20, No 12 ( 2025 )   |  DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17961032   |   Author Affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Construction Management and Quantity Surveying, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa 1, Department of Civil Engineering & Construction Studies Midland, Durban University of Technology Scottsville, South Africa 2   |   Licensing: CC 4.0   |   Pg no: 213-224   |   Published on: 17-12-2025

Abstract

This paper explores various effective strategies for disaster risk reduction and management (DRR) for public infrastructure assets in developing countries. Thus, this study highlighted the importance of integrating community engagement, institutional governance, and international cooperation into disaster preparedness and response plans. This study is an attempted addresses the challenges faced by developing countries, including financial constraints, lack of political will, and insufficient technical capacities, which hinder effective DRR implementation. Key themes include the need for robust infrastructure that can withstand hazards, the role of public-private partnerships, and the significance of local knowledge in disaster resilience. The review also addresses the challenges faced by developing countries, including financial constraints, lack of political will, and insufficient technical capacities, which hinder effective DRR implementation. It is often used to summarize existing knowledge, identify gaps, and offer theoretical insights rather than to produce quantitative evidence. Thus, only 24 literature resources were considered relevant towards understanding the effective strategies for disaster risk reduction and management (DRR) for public infrastructure assets in developing countries. The narrative review and its result emphasize comprehensive risk assessments, community engagement, institutional governance, international cooperation, resilient infrastructure investment, and public–private partnerships (PPPs) as some of effective strategies to reduce potentiality of public infrastructure to disaster incidents. It also examines challenges such as financial constraints, weak technical capacities, and political inertia, and draws on case studies and frameworks—particularly the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030. Economic evidence suggests that every US$1 invested in resilience yields roughly US$4 in avoided losses.

Keywords

Developing Countries, Disaster Risk Reduction, Effective Strategies, Public Infrastructure Assets.