Explaining factors affecting the participation of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in disaster management: A systematic review.

Background and objective: Numerous disasters have occurred over the recent years. Moreover, there has been a considerable rise in the number of victims, injured people, and damages caused by disasters worldwide. Governments cannot meet needs alone due to the complicated nature of crises and accidents. Therefore, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and communities must assist the states during disasters. The present study aimed to derive the factors affecting the participation of NGOs in disaster management using a systematic review in 2022.

Design: This systematic review was done using ISI, Science Direct, Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, ProQuest, and Cochran Library based on the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews (PRISMA) standard from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2021. The articles were selected based on the search keywords (population, intervention, comparison, outcome (PICO)). After studying the titles, abstracts, and full texts of the articles, the factors affecting the participation of NGOs in disaster management were derived.

Results: The final assessment was done on 13 articles. Cooperation and coordination with other organizations, education, communication between NGOs, social empowerment, access to adequate references, and flexibility were the criteria with the highest frequency.

Conclusion: As multiple NGOs take part in responding to disasters and performing relief operations, establishing a unified command and supervision system for effective coordination and collaborations among NGOs and other stakeholders is highly suggested. Further research is needed to develop a -measurement tool for assessing the effectiveness of NGOs' activities during disasters.