A Systematic Literature Review of the Role of Informal Urban Networks in Enhancing Disaster Risk Resilience in terms of preparedness and response, in informal urban settlements

Abstract

Informal settlements in urban areas are highly vulnerable to disasters due to their high population density, poor infrastructure, and limited access to resources. Despite this, these areas are economic powerhouses, which makes it important to study and enhance their resilience mechanisms. While academic literature has extensively examined formal institutional interventions, there remains a significant research gap regarding the role of informal urban networks in enhancing disaster resilience. The aim of this systematic literature review is to critically analyse the role of informal urban networks in enhancing disaster risk resilience in terms of preparedness and response within informal settlements. Using the PRISMA methodology, a systematic literature review was conducted across two academic databases, namely google scholar and SCOPUS, guided by a set of carefully developed keywords. Using the keywords, the initial search results were screened and refined based on certain inclusion and exclusion criteria, and finally 52 relevant peer-reviewed articles were chosen. A thematic analysis of these studies identified five key categories of informal urban networks: (1) Family and kinship networks, which provide immediate shelter, material aid, and emotional support during crises, (2) Community-based organisations (CBOs), grassroots organisations, and women’s groups, who are generally the first responders in a disaster and push for collective action, (3) Community and youth leaders, who serve as trusted intermediaries for information dissemination and coordination; (4) Community entrepreneurs, who leverage their connections for rapid relief, and (5) Membership-based organisations (MBOs) and faith-based organisations (FBOs), which offer both structured and culturally embedded mechanisms for mobilisation, social support and relief distribution. This review finds that informal urban networks play a critical yet often under-recognised, role in DRR by enhancing trust, ensuring culturally appropriate interventions, and enabling faster responses more suitable for local conditions. By documenting and analysing their functions, this research fills a crucial knowledge gap in disaster studies and offers insights for policymakers, practitioners, and humanitarian actors seeking to integrate informal networks into inclusive and contextually grounded disaster preparedness and response strategies in informal settlements.