<![CDATA[The increasing frequency and severity of disasters worldwide have underscored the critical role of local governments (LGs), which are the political authority closest to local communities and are rooted at the local level where disasters occur. While many studies have conducted systematic literature reviews on disaster risk management (DRM), there is a lack of systematic reviews on the role of LGs across the entire DRM value chain in the Global South, despite the region's high disaster susceptibility. This study is the first systematic review of peer-reviewed literature on LGs’ role in DRM, aiming to synthesise findings and inform future research and policies. The systematic review of 32 peer-reviewed articles across three databases was guided by the 2020 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Analysis of articles was conducted using Atlas.ti, yielding 199 codes, which were grouped into six themes. The study reveals that while LGs in the Global South have made progress in establishing DRM units, significant challenges, including a lack of political will, reactive disaster responses, insufficient resources, and limited capacity building, persist. The findings indicate a bias towards pre-disaster measures, particularly disaster preparedness and community awareness, while other stages of the DRM value chain receive relatively less attention. The study calls on local-level policymakers to prioritize DRM by integrating it into LG programs and ensuring adequate resources and funding for all stages of the DRM value chain. Community resilience can be strengthened by moving beyond basic disaster awareness to community-led initiatives that empower local communities.]]>
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