Abstract

Community participation in disaster risk reduction (DRR) initiatives is one of the key challenges affecting meaningful implementation and sustainability of DRR in most developing countries despite concerted efforts to change this status quo (Mijoni and Izadkhah, 2009; Shaw, 2006; Wisner et al. 2004). Situating developmental change as political in nature as purported by Leftwich (2000). The study sets to examine how political economy factors drive limited participation of local people in different disaster risk reduction interventions in Chikwawa district. A pure qualitative study design was employed to examine the problem from the experiences of people involved or participated in different DRR interventions in three sampled traditional areas of Kasisi, Makhuwira and Maseya in the district. Four DRR interventions implemented by local and international organizations in the sampled areas were examined to understand the nature of local participation in those interventions, the influence of actors’ interest, institutions (rules of the games) and structural factors among others in shaping participation dynamics in those interventions. A rational choice theory was used to interpret the research findings which were thematically analyzed using Atlas ti. The study established that limited space for local participation often characterized by co-option, and induced participation by material and cash incentives in pre-determined DRR interventions is mostly created and sustained by organizations who finance different interventions to satisfy their vested interests of controlling the disaster sector, and development in general. The study notes that, participation although sought for theoretically but practically meaningful participation which leads to empowerment and citizen control over development is blocked by external powerful development actors within the sector. This is made possible and sustained through supremacy of informal rules of the game, historical legacies and path dependent structural factors which puts local people control over development through meaningful participation at large at the mercy of powerful external actors who often provide financial support in most interventions in the country.

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School	: School of Law, Economics and Government
Issued Date	: 2021

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