Community-Driven Reconstruction and Recovery: A Systematic Review of Successes and Challenges

Abstract This article examines the potential of community-driven approach in post-conflict recovery through a systematic review of 41 peer-reviewed and grey literature sources published between 2000 and 2024. The review searched Scopus, Web of Science, JSTOR, Google Scholar, and institutional repositories, and applied predefined inclusion criteria. All included studies were appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT 2018) to ensure methodological quality. Guided by theories of collective action and resilience, the review applies Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA) to address three key questions: the types of activities undertaken by CDR programmes; the core components that differentiate CDR from broader community-based interventions; and the ways decision-making, trust, ownership, and collective action interact to shape its logic and outcomes. It also highlights challenges, including social division, elite capture, weak accountability, and limited empowerment strategies. The findings advance debates on bottom-up reconstruction by demonstrating how CDR can strengthen community resilience when supported by inclusive frameworks, while also identifying conditions that may undermine its sustainability.