Intercultural governance and disaster risk management: The Siona case in Ecuador

Abstract

The implementation of intercultural approaches in disaster risk management represents a major challenge for public administration in plurinational states. In Ecuador, the recent approval of the Organic Law on Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management incorporates principles of indigenous participation and plurinationality; however, its effective implementation in indigenous territories faces institutional and territorial constraints. A qualitative case study design was adopted, focusing on the Siona nationality located in Sucumbíos province. Documentary analysis of national and international regulations, public policy instruments, and the community Life Plan was conducted. Data were organized through thematic categorization and normative–territorial triangulation. Findings reveal structural gaps across all phases of the disaster risk management cycle, particularly regarding the integration of ancestral knowledge, intercultural adaptation of interventions, and effective participation in recovery processes. The study concludes that normative progress alone does not ensure effective intercultural governance. Strengthening territorial mechanisms of co-responsibility is essential to align legal frameworks with community dynamics.