Women in Nepal and the Philippines, along with those in other Asian countries, suffer disproportionately from disasters caused by natural hazards yet are excluded from leadership in disaster preparedness and response (DPR). Even as women make a crucial contribution to community resilience, they are hindered from DPR participation by restrictive social norms, limited financial resources, and lack of institutional support.

Focusing on the local level, this research identifies the barriers preventing women’s participation and leadership in DPR, analyzes effective strategies for increasing women’s participation and leadership in DPR, and assesses how women’s participation and leadership strengthen overall community resilience to disasters caused by natural hazards.