Disaster Resilience and Sustainability: An Interdisciplinary Investigation of Community-Based Initiatives

Abstract

Disasters and sustainability challenges have intensified globally from 2005 to 2025, necessitating innovative approaches to resilience and sustainability. This interdisciplinary study investigates the effectiveness of community-based initiatives in enhancing disaster resilience and sustainability, integrating perspectives from engineering, management, and social sciences. Through qualitative case study research and cross-case analysis, the study identifies critical success factors, including community participation, resource availability, and policy support, while highlighting challenges such as socioeconomic barriers, technical limitations, and long-term sustainability concerns. The findings reveal that community-driven initiatives, when supported by interdisciplinary collaboration and local knowledge, significantly reduce disaster risks and promote sustainable development. However, disciplinary silos and inequities in resource distribution hinder their scalability and impact. The study contributes to advancing interdisciplinary research in disaster resilience and sustainability, offering practical recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, and communities. By bridging theoretical insights with empirical evidence, this research underscores the transformative potential of community-based approaches in addressing complex, interconnected challenges, ultimately fostering resilient and sustainable societies.