Sustainable Livelihood in the context of culturally acceptable resilient post-disaster resettlement infrastructure – A systematic review

Climate change and the devastating, catastrophic events that accompany it have intensified the discourse on the provision of post-disaster resettlement (PDR). The literature indicates that most PDRs are not acceptable mainly due to a lack of beneficiary involvement, including their peculiar needs such as cultural and religious beliefs, in the planning and implementation of the PDR. However, limited studies have addressed the integration of culture into sustainable theories that encompass the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of PDRs. The research aims to (1) identify the challenges of the current PDR planning and Implementation and (2) explore principles that may be used to enhance the cultural acceptability of PDRs. This study employed a systematic literature review using the PRISMA approach. Using keywords, the search year was set between 2020 and 2025. A total of 148 documents were retrieved from Scopus and Google Scholar digital databases, and Endnotes 21 software was used to remove duplicates. After screening and sorting, 22 eligible papers were used for the study. The results showed that achieving culturally acceptable sustainability and resilient PDR infrastructure is possible if policymakers see affected community members as partner stakeholders and involve them in the recovery, reconstruction and resettlement of the communities. The other key finding of this study is that the principle of sustainable resettlement can be achieved by adopting a holistic approach, which encompasses resilience, cultural beliefs, and the factors outlined in the Sustainability Livelihood Framework, in PDR planning and implementation to ensure cultural appropriateness and acceptability.