Community Participation in Flood Mitigation Programs and Its Effect on Social Resilience in Semarang City

Authors

  • Nyta Sulaeman Fakultas Ekonomi, Universitas Fajar Makassar Indonesia
  • Aldy Sawar Fakultas Ekonomi, Universitas Fajar Makassar Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37899/mjdpp.v2i3.246

Keywords:

Community , Participation , flood mitigation, Social Resilience

Abstract

Flooding remains a recurrent threat to urban coastal areas in Indonesia, and Semarang City has been one of the most vulnerable cities in this regard. This study examines how community participation in flood mitigation programs contributes to the development of social resilience. Using a qualitative case study design, data were collected through interviews, focus group discussions, and direct observation in three flood-prone neighborhoods: Tambak Lorok, Kaligawe, and Tlogosari. The results show that participation takes various forms, including mangrove planting, drainage cleaning, and community-based training programs. These activities not only reduce physical risks but also build trust, solidarity, and adaptive capacities within communities. However, challenges remain, such as socio-economic disparities that affect inclusiveness, limited trust in institutional support, and the sustainability of participation over time. The findings highlight that while community engagement is central to resilience-building, it requires supportive governance, long-term commitment, and inclusive approaches to ensure effectiveness. This study contributes to the understanding of disaster risk reduction by emphasizing the synergy between grassroots participation and institutional frameworks. Strengthening this synergy is essential for developing resilience strategies that are not only reactive to crises but also proactive, inclusive, and sustainable.

References

Abid, S. K., Sulaiman, N., Al-Wathinani, A. M., & Goniewicz, K. (2024). Community-based flood mitigation in Malaysia: Enhancing public participation and policy effectiveness for sustainable resilience. Journal of Global Health, 14, 04290. https://doi.org/10.7189/jogh.14.04290

Aldrich, D. P., & Meyer, M. A. (2015). Social capital and community resilience. American Behavioral Scientist, 59(2), 254–269. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764214550299

Azad, M. A. K., Haque, C. E., & Choudhury, M. U. I. (2022). Social learning-based disaster resilience: collective action in flash flood-prone Sunamganj communities in Bangladesh. Environmental Hazards, 21(4), 309-333. https://doi.org/10.1080/17477891.2021.1976096

Cahyono, S. A., & Ngadisih. (2025). The Role of Community Resilience in Disaster Risk Reduction. In Examining Disaster Risk Reduction in Indonesia: Building Social Resilience (pp. 113-126). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-4182-6_8

Cvetković, V. M., & Šišović, V. (2024). Community Disaster Resilience in Serbia. Scientific-Professional Society for Disaster Risk Management, Belgrade.

Gaillard, J. C., & Mercer, J. (2013). From knowledge to action: Bridging gaps in disaster risk reduction. Progress in Human Geography, 37(1), 93–114. https://doi.org/10.1177/0309132512446717

Haldon, J., Binois-Roman, A., Eisenberg, M., Izdebski, A., Mordechai, L., Newfield, T., ... & Wnęk, K. (2021). Between resilience and adaptation: A historical framework for understanding stability and transformation of societies to shocks and stress. In COVID-19: Systemic risk and resilience (pp. 235-268). Cham: Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71587-8_14

Hamamra, B., Mahamid, F., & Mayaleh, A. (2025). Childhood under siege: battling malnutrition, disease, and despair during genocide in Gaza. Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, 44(1), 321. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-00948-6

Husein, R. (2022, February). Localizing disaster risk reduction: a case study of community-based disaster preparedness in Bima and Palangkaraya Indonesia. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 989, No. 1, p. 012027). IOP Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/989/1/012027

Idowu, D., & Zhou, W. (2023). Global megacities and frequent floods: correlation between urban expansion patterns and urban flood hazards. Sustainability, 15(3), 2514. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032514

Ishiwatari, M., & Aldrich, D. P. (2025). Enhancing Community Resilience: Lessons from Disaster Responses and Policies for Effective Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction. In Two Decades from the Indian Ocean Tsunami: Key Challenges and Advancements (pp. 171-181). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-2669-4_11

Johnston, K. A., Taylor, M., & Ryan, B. (2024). Evaluation of community engagement for resilience outcomes: A pre-engagement approach. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 110, 104613. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2024.104613

Kristian, I., & Ikhsan, O. M. F. (2024). Integrating community-based approaches into national disaster management policies: Lessons from recent natural disasters. The International Journal of Law Review and State Administration, 2(4), 115-125. https://doi.org/10.58818/ijlrsa.v2i4.150

Lugova, H., & Haque, M. (2024). Dynamics of Community Resilience in Flood-prone Areas of Southeast Asia: A Key Component of the Public Health Agenda. Advances in Human Biology, 14(4), 379-382. https://doi.org/10.4103/aihb.aihb_74_24

Mahmud, R. (2021). What explains citizen trust in public institutions? Quality of government, performance, social capital, or demography. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Administration, 43(2), 106-124. https://doi.org/10.1080/23276665.2021.1893197

Maulana, I. N. H., & Wardah, T. F. (2023). Fostering community resilience through social capital. Journal of Transformative Governance and Social Justice, 1(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.26905/j-tragos.v1i1.9229

Meshkani, T. (2024). Climate change and flooding: governmental responses to displacement and relocation in Jakarta’s informal neighborhoods. International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 15(4), 551-570. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJDRBE-02-2023-0037?urlappend=%3Futm_source%3Dresearchgate

Paton, D., & Johnston, D. (2017). Disaster resilience: An integrated approach (2nd ed.). Charles C Thomas Publisher.

Qin, P., Jiang, Y., & Cheng, C. (2024). How do structural safety, ecological functions and social development influence construction of ecological seawalls for coastal protection and sustainability?. Water Resources Management, 38(5), 1807-1824. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-024-03768-1

Ruan, X., Sun, H., Shou, W., & Wang, J. (2024). The impact of climate change and urbanization on compound flood risks in coastal areas: A comprehensive review of methods. Applied Sciences, 14(21), 10019. https://doi.org/10.3390/app142110019

Schröder, J. M., & Neumayr, M. (2023). How socio-economic inequality affects individuals’ civic engagement: a systematic literature review of empirical findings and theoretical explanations. Socio-Economic Review, 21(1), 665-694. https://doi.org/10.1093/ser/mwab058

Şen, G. (2021). An overview of disaster resilience. Turkish Journal of Health Science and Life, 4(3), 106-115.

Shaw, R. (2012). Community-based disaster risk reduction. Emerald Group Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2040-7262(2012)0000010005

Soundararajan, V., Sharma, G., & Bapuji, H. (2024). Caste, social capital and precarity of labour market intermediaries: The case of Dalit labour contractors in India. Organization Studies, 45(7), 961-985. https://doi.org/10.1177/01708406231175319

Thaler, T., Hudson, P., Viavattene, C., & Green, C. (2023). Natural flood management: Opportunities to implement nature‐based solutions on privately owned land. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Water, 10(3), e1637. https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1637

Tierney, K. (2014). The social roots of risk: Producing disasters, promoting resilience. Stanford University Press.

Twigg, J. (2015). Disaster risk reduction. London: Overseas Development Institute.

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). (2015). Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030. UNDRR. https://www.undrr.org/publication/sendai-framework-disaster-risk-reduction-2015-2030

Visave, J., & Aldrich, D. P. (2025). The role of social capital in strengthening community resilience against floods: A case study of Mumbai, India. Climate Risk Management, 47, 100685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crm.2024.100685

Downloads

Published

2025-10-16