Enablers and barriers to implementing effective disaster risk management according to good governance principles: Lessons from Central Vietnam

Abstract

Despite the increasing frequency and intensity of natural hazard-induced disasters, global disaster risk governance predominantly focuses on theoretical frameworks and broad policies, with a noticeable gap in the effective local implementation of strategies grounded in good governance principles. This research aims to address this gap by evaluating the alignment of local disaster risk management policies with key good governance principles including: accountability, collaboration, transparency, information sharing, decentralization and autonomy, responsiveness and flexibility. Using Thua Thien Hue province in Central Vietnam, a region highly vulnerable to natural hazards, as a case study, this research combines legal document analysis and expert interviews to assess both enablers and barriers in disaster risk management. The findings identify several enablers, including clear legal frameworks, public transparency in resource allocation, active multi-stakeholder collaboration, and localized governance approaches that empower community involvement. However, persistent barriers include accountability gaps due to the lack of enforceable sanctions and incentives for proactive disaster prevention. Collaborative efforts remain predominantly government-led, with limited engagement from the private sector. Challenges in information sharing arise from insufficient dissemination of risk maps and hazard assessments at the community level. Decentralization and autonomy efforts struggle with personnel shortages and inadequate training. Responsiveness and flexibility suffer from the failure to adequately integrate vulnerability scenarios into legal frameworks. These findings highlight the importance of addressing barriers while leveraging existing enablers to strengthen governance frameworks in hazard-prone regions, providing valuable lessons that can be adapted to other disaster-prone areas globally.