FROM EVIDENCE TO ACTION: STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY RESPONSES TO SOCIAL VULNERABILITY
Keywords:
Social vulnerability, Community resilience, Evidence-informed decision-making, Adaptive governance, Disaster risk reductionAbstract
Social vulnerability has become a critical concern in disaster risk reduction
and sustainable development because it reflects the social, economic, environmental, health, and institutional conditions that influence the capacity of communities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from adverse events. This review synthesizes current evidence on the conceptual foundations, determinants, assessment approaches, community-based interventions, implementation challenges, and emerging directions related to social vulnerability. The review draws upon recent literature to examine how vulnerability is measured using multidimensional indicators, spatial assessment techniques, and vulnerability indices, while highlighting the interconnected roles of poverty, education, health, governance, urbanization, and climate change. The findings indicate that community resilience is strengthened through participatory governance, knowledge co-creation, community-led development, early warning systems, and integrated planning supported by evidence-informed decision-making. However, persistent barriers, including socioeconomic inequalities, fragmented governance, limited institutional capacity, and policy–practice gaps, continue to hinder effective implementation. The review further emphasizes the growing importance of adaptive governance, digital innovation, nature-based solutions, and collaborative partnerships in enhancing long-term resilience. An integrated evidence-to-action framework is proposed to illustrate how scientific knowledge can be translated into practical community responses through continuous learning, stakeholder engagement, and adaptive policy implementation. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive synthesis of current knowledge and offers a practical perspective for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers seeking to strengthen inclusive and sustainable community resilience.
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