Disaster risk reduction

INTRODUCTION: Women represent half of the world's population and play a crucial, yet often unrecognized in disaster risk reduction, sustainable development, and social resilience. Their involvement in caregiving, informal leadership, and crisis response, especially in a disaster-prone country like Iran, has a significant impact on community recovery and long-term development. However, socio-cultural barriers often limit their formal participation in disaster management processes. METHOD: This narrative review employed a descriptive-analytical approach supported by a systematic literature search. A total of 20 key articles were selected from both Persian and English academic databases, including Magiran, Noormags, Civilica, ISC, SID, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Inclusion criteria focused on peer-reviewed literature published between 2010 and 2024 that addressed women’s roles in disaster management and sustainable development within Iran or comparable contexts. FINDINGS: The analysis reveals that women in Iran play essential roles in environmental sustainability, psychological recovery, and community rebuilding in the aftermath of disasters. Despite their critical informal contributions, structural challenges—such as limited access to education, healthcare, leadership positions, and disaster preparedness resources—continue to hinder their involvement in formal Disaster Risk Management (DRM). The findings highlight the effectiveness of grassroots efforts led by women and the need for institutional support to enhance their impact. CONCLUSION: According to the results, there is an urgent need for gender-sensitive disaster response policies that recognize and empower women as active agents of change. Involving women in disaster planning and response through targeted education, community participation, and legal reforms will not only reduce vulnerabilities but also advance sustainable development and societal resilience in Iran.