From Mandates to Mechanisms: Institutional Vulnerability, Decentralized Governance, and the Challenges of Local Disaster Risk Reduction Implementation

Abstract

Despite the increasing global emphasis on decentralized disaster risk reduction (DRR), the capacity of local institutions to implement effective risk governance strategies remains inconsistent and often inadequate. This study conducted a comparative analysis of institutional vulnerability at the municipal level in two hazard-prone regions: Teziutlán, Mexico, and Tola, Nicaragua. It employed comparative case study methods alongside structured surveys administered to local DRR actors. An integrated analytical framework was used, synthesizing the Pressure and Release model, the Forensic Investigations of Disasters approach, the MOVE framework, and the Institutional Analysis and Development model. The research identified key institutional vulnerabilities, including preparedness, coordination, information access, infrastructure, legal enforcement, climate integration, and informal governance. The findings indicate that the deficiencies within these institutions are not merely technical but are significantly influenced by systemic disparities in power, resource allocation, and political stability. Both municipalities exhibit notable gaps between formal DRR mandates and their operational implementation, reflecting a structural disjunction between institutions articulated in policy (institutions-in-form) and those in practice (institutions-in-use). The study concluded that effectively addressing institutional vulnerability necessitates transitioning from compliance-driven reforms towards integrated strategies that foster institutional learning, enhance cross-sectoral coordination, promote climate adaptation, and acknowledge informal and community-based governance structures. These findings offer policy-relevant insights for national and regional policymakers seeking to strengthen the institutional foundations of local DRR implementation within Latin America and comparable decentralized governance contexts.