Community-based disaster risk management (CBDRM) is a process in which at-risk communities are actively engaged in the identification, analysis, treatment, monitoring and evaluation of disaster risks in order to reduce their vulnerabilities and enhance their capacities. This means that people are at the heart of decision making and implementation of disaster risk management activities. The involvement of most vulnerable social groups is considered as paramount in this process, while the support of the least vulnerable groups to them is necessary for successful implementation.

Due to the severity and widespread nature of natural disasters in the South East Asia, the need for the institutionalization of CBDRM in government policy-making and porgrammes has been considered as of significant value in the region. The institutionalization of CBDRM is meant to internalize and mainstream the concept in the government policy and planning; and all tiers of the government such as national, provincial, district and village/commune/local should recognize the need for involving communities and community groups in disaster risk management work in their policies and plans, allocate funds for CBDRM activities, assign responsibilities to operational level staff members to provide support to community groups, develop appropriate strategies and program to support community action and establish technical resource centers in the country.

CBDRM Committees were established in 56 Union Councils of 3 Earthquake affected districts. Committees were also provided with stockpiles.