In recent years, the global community has recognized a critical gap in disaster risk governance: the underrepresentation and disempowerment of women. Addressing this issue is not just a matter of social justice but a fundamental strategy for reducing disaster vulnerability and enhancing resilience. A groundbreaking study published in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Science by Hemachandra, Amaratunga, and Haigh (2025) offers an innovative and comprehensive framework specifically aimed at empowering women within disaster risk governance structures in Sri Lanka. This research represents a pivotal step in rethinking how policy, community engagement, and institutional mechanisms integrate gender perspectives to build more inclusive and effective disaster management systems.
Sri Lanka, an island nation highly susceptible to various natural hazards such as floods, landslides, and cyclones, presents a unique context where disaster risk governance often overlooks the critical role women play. Historically, women have been marginalized in decision-making processes about disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, despite their central role in family and community resilience. This study’s framework emphasizes the multi-dimensional barriers women face—ranging from socio-cultural norms to limited access to resources and information—that curtail their participation and leadership opportunities in disaster risk governance.
The conceptual framework proposed by the authors is grounded in an integrated approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of social, economic, and political factors shaping women’s empowerment. It advocates for actionable policy reforms that promote gender-sensitive disaster governance, combined with grassroots initiatives to enhance women’s capacities and confidence. The framework also stresses the need for inclusive governance paradigms that do not merely pay lip service to gender equality but embed it in all stages from risk assessment to policy implementation and monitoring.
A key technical aspect of this framework lies in its layered methodology for assessing and addressing empowerment gaps. This includes the use of participatory risk mapping that involves women directly in identifying vulnerabilities and hazards affecting their communities. It also integrates social network analysis tools to delineate the influence and leadership potential of women within local governance structures, enabling targeted interventions that support their agency. Importantly, the framework aligns with international standards such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, advocating for global-to-local coherence in gender-responsive disaster policies.
The authors highlight that empowering women is not only a matter of equity but also instrumental for enhancing community-level adaptive capacities. Women’s distinct knowledge, particularly regarding household management and social support networks, often constitutes an underutilized resource in disaster risk governance. The study’s findings illustrate that when empowered, women act as critical agents of change who can mobilize communities, innovate coping mechanisms, and improve early warning dissemination, thereby fostering resilience across vulnerable populations.
To translate the framework into practice, the paper underscores the importance of institutionalizing gender-sensitive training programs for disaster management officials and community leaders. Such programs are designed to dismantle entrenched gender biases and provide women with the technical knowledge necessary for active participation. This includes education on hazard identification, emergency planning, resource management, and leadership skills. By promoting women’s capacity development, governance systems become more representative, accountable, and effective in disaster risk management.
The research also advocates for enhanced coordination across sectors, including collaboration between disaster management authorities, gender affairs departments, and civil society organizations. This multi-stakeholder approach ensures that women’s empowerment is mainstreamed, preventing fragmentation and duplication of efforts. Furthermore, it calls for comprehensive data collection disaggregated by gender to inform evidence-based policies and track progress toward empowerment objectives.
An important insight offered by the framework is the need to challenge socio-cultural constraints that hinder women’s mobility and public engagement. In many parts of Sri Lanka, patriarchal norms limit women’s participation in decision-making forums. The study recommends culturally sensitive community dialogues and awareness campaigns to shift perceptions about gender roles, paving the way for more inclusive governance. It also highlights the role of male allies in supporting women’s empowerment as part of an overall strategy to cultivate equitable partnerships.
The economic dimension of empowerment is another critical pillar detailed in the framework. Access to financial resources, livelihoods, and credit plays a decisive role in women’s resilience to disasters. The study proposes mechanisms such as microfinance, women’s cooperatives, and livelihood diversification programs aimed at reducing economic vulnerabilities. By securing economic independence, women gain greater agency to advocate for their needs and contribute actively to disaster risk reduction initiatives.
Technological innovation is also integrated within the proposed framework as a vehicle for empowerment. Digital platforms offering disaster information, knowledge-sharing, and networking opportunities are presented as tools to bridge information gaps faced by women in disaster-prone areas. The framework suggests the deployment of mobile-based early warning systems and community alert apps tailored to women’s needs, ensuring timely and accessible communication during emergencies.
The study’s empirical basis includes extensive fieldwork in multiple districts of Sri Lanka, combining qualitative interviews with key stakeholders and quantitative surveys among local women. The participatory nature of the research ensures that the framework reflects the lived realities of women impacted by disasters, lending the recommendations both practical relevance and cultural sensitivity. Moreover, the iterative design process involving feedback from community representatives enhances the framework’s applicability and potential for scalability.
Significantly, the research contributes to the broader discourse on intersectionality by recognizing that women’s experiences with disaster risk governance are shaped by intersecting identities such as ethnicity, age, education, and disability. The inclusive framework seeks to address diverse vulnerabilities within the women’s demographic, ensuring marginalized groups receive appropriate attention and support. This nuanced approach challenges homogenizing policies that fail to capture the complexity of women’s empowerment.
The implications of this framework extend beyond Sri Lanka, presenting a model adaptable to other disaster-prone regions globally. By integrating gender perspectives robustly into disaster risk governance, policymakers and practitioners can stimulate transformative change that not only safeguards vulnerable populations but strengthens societal resilience as a whole. The study thus marks an important advance in the science of disaster risk reduction, reinforcing that gender equality is indispensable for sustainable and inclusive disaster management.
As governments and international agencies pursue commitments under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Sendai Framework, such cutting-edge research offers actionable pathways to bridge policy and practice gaps. Empowering women with appropriate tools, resources, and institutional recognition will be essential to achieving equitable and effective disaster governance in the face of growing climate-related hazards.
In conclusion, the comprehensive framework proposed by Hemachandra, Amaratunga, and Haigh outlines a strategic, multi-dimensional approach to empowering women in disaster risk governance. Through integrating policy reform, capacity building, economic empowerment, cultural transformation, and technological innovation, the framework promises to recalibrate Sri Lanka’s disaster governance structures toward inclusivity and resilience. As the global climate crisis intensifies, such gender-responsive disaster management approaches will prove critical in safeguarding vulnerable communities and advancing shared prosperity.
Subject of Research: Empowerment of women in disaster risk governance in Sri Lanka, focusing on gender-sensitive policy frameworks, community engagement, and institutional capacity building to enhance resilience against natural hazards.
Article Title: A Comprehensive Framework for Empowering Women in Disaster Risk Governance in Sri Lanka
Article References:
Hemachandra, K., Amaratunga, D. & Haigh, R. A Comprehensive Framework for Empowering Women in Disaster Risk Governance in Sri Lanka. Int J Disaster Risk Sci (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13753-025-00676-9
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