Lessons learned: comparing the importance and performance of flood adaptation strategies in resource-limited regions: an analysis of Malawi

Lessons learned: comparing the importance and performance of flood adaptation strategies in resource-limited regions: an analysis of Malawi | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Lessons learned: comparing the importance and performance of flood adaptation strategies in resource-limited regions: an analysis of Malawi Atupele George Msongole, Blessings Isaac Kanyangale, Chun-Hung Lee This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6230692/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 21 Jan, 2026 Read the published version in Natural Hazards → Version 1 posted 5 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract In recent years, the world has witnessed an increased frequency of natural hazards, including floods. Despite advancements in flood prediction, managing such hazards requires a renewed focus on Community-Based Disaster Management (CBDM), which emphasizes participatory approaches that leverage local insights. This study, conducted in Malawi's Karonga and Nkhotakota districts, employed Factor Analysis, Cluster Analysis, and Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) to evaluate flood CBDM strategies and stakeholder dynamics in adaptive capacity initiatives. (i) It assesses and categorizes various stakeholders based on their perceptions and attitudes toward adaptive capacity programs. (ii) Investigates stakeholders' views regarding diverse adaptive strategies implemented within the CBDM framework in the context of flood responses. (iii) Explores critical factors that can promote sustained engagement in flash flood disaster management efforts. The findings indicate significant weaknesses in essential strategies, such as providing construction loans and promoting dyke building, alongside ineffective information-sharing mechanisms. Disturbingly, the use of early warning systems and disaster education has shown negative trends, highlighting issues in their deployment. In contrast, communities with historically low engagement in flood CBDM—along with participants who are open to resource sharing, influenced by policies, and actively engaged in risk awareness, environmental mitigation, and Nature-Based Solutions—demonstrated significantly higher levels of positive engagement. Additionally, partnerships with governmental and non-governmental organizations proved vital for enhancing stakeholder involvement and improving outcomes. The study recommends a framework tailored to local contexts to strengthen adaptive capacity in developing regions facing resource challenges. Ordos Basin Dolomite reservoir Fracture identification Conventional logging Rescaled range analysis Full Text Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 21 Jan, 2026 Read the published version in Natural Hazards → Version 1 posted Reviewers agreed at journal 02 Apr, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 25 Mar, 2025 Editor invited by journal 24 Mar, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 17 Mar, 2025 First submitted to journal 14 Mar, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6230692","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":433639865,"identity":"d1a05ddc-ab0b-4529-9bea-d6f4a5243412","order_by":0,"name":"Atupele George Msongole","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"National Dong Hwa University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Atupele","middleName":"George","lastName":"Msongole","suffix":""},{"id":433639866,"identity":"bd80e1dc-0d8f-46f9-86b5-5ea0b6c96a7b","order_by":1,"name":"Blessings Isaac Kanyangale","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"National Dong Hwa University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Blessings","middleName":"Isaac","lastName":"Kanyangale","suffix":""},{"id":433639867,"identity":"8e2f7cc2-087f-4fc9-b454-283365f1defa","order_by":2,"name":"Chun-Hung Lee","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA5klEQVRIiWNgGAWjYDACCeYGBoYKCFsaTB4gqIURqOUMqhaQEAEtjG2kaOGf3dj44OO82mj5Bt6DtwvbGOT4biSwP+bBZ8mdg82GM7cdz91wgC/ZemYbg7HkjQTGZnxaDCQS26R5tx3L3cDAYybN28aQuAGkJQe/lvbff+ccy53fANFST4yWNmbGhprchgMQLQkGhLRI3Ehsluw5diB3w2EeY2uecxKGM888bJz9B48W/hnJBz/8qKnLnd/eY3ibp8xGnu948oGPM/BogYLDDAzMEFuBmEBMQkEdMYpGwSgYBaNgpAIACeFP2gqitkwAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7122-0866","institution":"National Dong Hwa University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Chun-Hung","middleName":"","lastName":"Lee","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-03-15 05:58:44","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6230692/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6230692/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-025-07834-8","type":"published","date":"2026-01-21T15:58:20+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":101151843,"identity":"61460722-4cca-4dae-a21d-4a4a097761e9","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-01-26 16:06:46","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1235063,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Manuscript2025withauthors.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6230692/v1_covered_2719e89a-3592-4bff-a8f2-cc23700f3d1b.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"","formattedTitle":"Lessons learned: comparing the importance and performance of flood adaptation strategies in resource-limited regions: an analysis of Malawi","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":true,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"natural-hazards","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"nhaz","sideBox":"Learn more about [Natural Hazards](https://www.springer.com/journal/11069)","snPcode":"11069","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/11069/3","title":"Natural Hazards","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Ordos Basin, Dolomite reservoir, Fracture identification, Conventional logging, Rescaled range analysis","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6230692/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6230692/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"In recent years, the world has witnessed an increased frequency of natural hazards, including floods. 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