The Role of Self-help Women’s Groups in Disaster Risk Reduction and Community Resilience in Nepal

Introduction: The differential impact and needs of women during disasters are highlighted in contemporary research, there is limited understanding the distinctive contribution they make ways cope. Women key drivers livelihood, therefore, economic losses resulting from natural hazards may have massive impacts on their mental health. This study examines how self-help women's groups rural Nepalese communities provide economic, social, socio-political, public-health support to build safer, sustainable, resilient communities. Method: In-depth open-ended interviews were conducted between January 2021–April 2021 with grassroots leaders(n=8) representing (women’s/mother’s) group inquiring about activities related risk reduction perspectives cope hazards. findings analyzed discussed using two analytical frameworks namely, Sustainable Livelihood Approach (SLA) Bronfenbrenner’s Socio-Ecological Model (SEM) as scaffolds. Data analysis followed thematic technique. Results: Two major themes emerged in-depth interviews: 1) doing part 2) Help-seeking behavior a barrier facilitator. traditional female household roles such cooking, feeding, caring pre-disaster states extended rescuing, protecting, laborious cleaning, providing physical emotional disasters. pre-and post-disaster care responsibility help-seeking implications for health, safety, well-being sustainability. also suggest inevitability self-care post-disasters. Conclusion: involve both livelihood health benefits family entire community. To mitigate burden amplified hazards, should be critical component advocacy disaster awareness campaigns promoted strength rather than insufficiency.