Collaborative governance for coastal community resilience: A systematic review and framework

Abstract

Coastal communities are increasingly vulnerable to climate-induced threats such as sea-level rise, shoreline erosion, and ecological degradation, posing significant challenges to livelihoods, infrastructure, and governance. This study conducts a systematic literature review of 95 peer-reviewed articles (2019–2024) using PRISMA guidelines to explore how collaborative governance enhances the resilience of coastal populations. The review identifies key enabling factors including inclusive participation, indigenous knowledge integration, and cross-sectoral coordination, and critical constraints such as institutional fragmentation, low adaptive capacity, and marginalization. Thematic and bibliometric analyses reveal evolving research trends and dominant theoretical lenses, including Collaborative Governance Theory and Social-Ecological Systems. Synthesizing these insights, a conceptual framework is proposed, highlighting institutional, relational, and contextual drivers that shape resilience outcomes. The findings emphasize the importance of equitable stakeholder engagement, adaptive institutional design, and context-sensitive strategies. This study contributes to the climate adaptation literature by linking governance processes to social, ecological, and institutional resilience, offering practical guidance for policy and research communities.