As disasters and climate change risks, particularly droughts and floods, continue to affect food security globally, most governments, including South Africa, have resorted to the use of technology to incorporate climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction to address FS issues. This is because most institutions and policies that address climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and food security operate in parallel, which usually leads to the polarisation of interventions and conflicting objectives, thus leaving the issue of FS unresolved. The study aimed to investigate how food security projects are incorporating climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction using technology. A qualitative research design was applied, whereby in-depth interviews were conducted with ten project participants from two projects, while 24 key informants were purposively selected from government and research institutions. The study’s main findings revealed that both projects incorporate climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction measures in most of their food value chains. Although the projects are different, they still face similar challenges, such as a lack of expertise, resources, and funding, and an inadequate regulatory environment to improve their farming practices. The study brings in the practical side of addressing the coherence between food security, climate change adaptation, and disaster risk reduction through technology.

Purpose: This paper investigates the role of traditional authority in shaping community responses to cyclone early warnings in rural Madagascar. It examines how messenger legitimacy and cultural trust influence preparedness behaviours, arguing that disaster governance must engage formal and informal institutions to improve early warning uptake. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative case study was conducted in two cyclone-prone districts, Marovoay and Manakara, using 24 key informant interviews and four focus group discussions with traditional leaders, residents, disaster officers and relevant departments. The study applied thematic analysis to explore perceptions of trust, messenger authority and community behaviour in response to cyclone warnings. Findings: Results indicate that official early warning systems, typically disseminated via SMS or radio, are often treated with scepticism. In contrast, warnings endorsed by local kings (mpanjaka) and fokontany chiefs elicit quicker and more consistent responses. The findings demonstrate that messenger legitimacy, rooted in cultural authority and everyday trust, is decisive in community disaster preparedness. Hybrid governance arrangements, where traditional leaders and formal institutions collaborate, enhance warning effectiveness but also reveal tensions in authority and communication practices. Research limitations/implications: This study is limited by its qualitative design, reliance on retrospective accounts outside the cyclone season and potential translation loss during interviews. The findings are context-specific to rural Madagascar and cannot be generalised to all settings. Nevertheless, triangulation across interviews, focus groups and observations enhances validity. The research highlights the importance of messenger legitimacy and hybrid governance in disaster preparedness, with implications for policymakers seeking to strengthen last-mile early warning. Future studies could adopt longitudinal and comparative approaches to explore how trust and traditional authority shape resilience across diverse governance contexts. Practical implications: The study underscores the need to integrate traditional leaders into disaster risk governance as credible messengers in last-mile communication. Formal agencies should recognise customary authority structures not as competitors but as partners in strengthening preparedness. Co-producing warning strategies with community leaders can enhance trust, increase compliance and reduce loss of life during cyclones. Training, resources and partnerships that link technical accuracy with cultural legitimacy are essential. Policymakers and practitioners should embed these practices in early warning frameworks, aligning with global initiatives such as the Sendai Framework and Early Warnings for All. Social implications: The findings highlight the social significance of trust, legitimacy, and cultural authority in disaster preparedness. By recognising the role of traditional leaders, early warning systems can become more inclusive and equitable, ensuring that marginalised rural communities are not excluded from life-saving information. Strengthening community-state collaboration fosters social cohesion and enhances resilience, while reducing perceptions of neglect and mistrust towards government institutions. Embedding culturally legitimate messengers in risk communication not only improves immediate disaster response but also supports longer-term social transformation by bridging divides between formal governance and customary authority. Originality/value: This study contributes to disaster risk reduction debates by foregrounding messenger legitimacy and hybrid governance in fragile contexts. It highlights that the “last mile” challenge in early warning is not only technological or logistical but also deeply social and political. The paper calls for the formal recognition of traditional leaders within disaster governance frameworks to strengthen anticipatory action and resilience in vulnerable communities.

Purpose: To examine how indigenous knowledge intersects with formal early warning systems in cyclone-prone Mozambique, and how these interactions shape risk perception, trust and community preparedness within the EW4All agenda. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative case study was conducted in 24 coastal communities. Purposively selected key informants were interviewed, transcripts were translated and thematically analysed, drawing on PADM and SARF to interpret warning uptake. Findings: Communities interpret dreams, environmental cues and ancestral guidance as legitimate indicators of impending hazards. When these align with scientific alerts and are relayed by trusted leaders, credibility increases and protective actions occur earlier. Research limitations/implications: Findings are derived from a single district and a qualitative sample, which limits their generalisability. Future research should test hybrid warning approaches comparatively and evaluate behavioural outcomes using mixed methods. Practical implications: Embedding local leaders in dissemination pathways, documenting indigenous indicators, and co-producing messages with meteorological services can improve trust, comprehension and timeliness of community responses. Social implications: Recognising indigenous knowledge promotes inclusion, strengthens last-mile communication and builds locally legitimate systems that better reach vulnerable groups often underserved by purely technical warnings. Originality/value: The study reframes indigenous knowledge as an operational early warning asset, demonstrating how hybrid systems can enhance anticipatory governance when aligned with EW4All principles.

The impacts of disasters and climate change have been particularly devastating for vulnerable and marginalised communities. This study explores the resilience of ageing individuals, persons with disabilities, and people living with HIV during and after Cyclone Idai in Zimbabwe. The cyclone, which struck in March 2019, was one of the most destructive in the Southern Hemisphere, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. It exposed critical vulnerabilities among marginalised populations, including disrupted access to healthcare, mobility barriers, and increased health risks. These groups often struggle to access essential medication and adapt to altered environments in the aftermath of disasters. Using a case study of Manicaland Province, this research highlights the specific challenges faced by these populations and underscores the importance of inclusive disaster preparedness and response strategies. The study amplifies the voices of those often overlooked in disaster risk narratives and contributes to a broader understanding of resilience in the context of climate‐related crises. As climate change intensifies, it is vital to design adaptive and equitable frameworks that address the unique needs of marginalised groups to build sustainable and resilient communities.

Participatory data collection has become increasingly significant in urban planning, especially in the Global South, where informal settlements are expanding rapidly but remain excluded from official data systems. In South Africa, about one in four urban residents lives in informal settlements, yet their realities are frequently ignored in development planning. This marginalization is partly due to the absence of accurate, community-generated data, which deepens inequalities in service delivery, land tenure, and infrastructure provision. This paper explores how participatory data collection can support more equitable urban upgrading in South African informal settlements. Drawing on a mixed-methods study—using surveys, interviews, participatory workshops, and document analysis—we examine three settlements in Gauteng and the Western Cape. Our analysis focuses on the interactions among residents, NGOs, and municipal officials, and the extent to which participatory data shapes planning outcomes and governance. The findings indicate that participatory data efforts improve data reliability and promote community ownership. However, they also highlight persistent challenges: unequal power relations, superficial engagement, and resistance from formal institutions. While participatory approaches hold transformative potential, their impact is often limited by a lack of genuine co-production and institutional uptake. We argue that embedding participatory data practices within a broader framework of data justice and municipal accountability is vital. When formalized within planning systems, participatory data collection can shift urban upgrading from a top-down technical process to one that is inclusive, responsive, and grounded in the lived realities of informal settlement residents.