Factors Influencing Post-Flood Recovery Outcomes and Equitable Strategies amongst Marginalized Populations: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Flooding remains one of the most disruptive urban hazards in Africa, yet recovery outcomes are highly uneven. Marginalized groups such as women, informal settlement residents, and low-income households often face slower recovery and deepening resilience gaps. This review aimed to synthesize evidence on the main factors influencing post-flood recovery and to identify
strategies that promote equity in urban contexts. A scoping review was undertaken in line with PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Literature published between 2000 and 2025 was searched across Google Scholar, Semantic Scholar, and PubMed. Out of 112 records screened, 19 studies met the inclusion criteria. Data were charted into study characteristics, recovery factors, and equity strategies, and synthesized thematically. The review showed that governance failures such as fragmented coordination, politicized aid distribution, and exclusion of informal residents were the most consistent barriers to equitable recovery. Socio-demographic factors, including gender, income, health, and disability, further shaped recovery outcomes, while structural vulnerabilities such as insecure tenure, poor housing, and inadequate infrastructure prolonged displacement. Strategies to address inequities included community mapping, slum upgrading, social protection programmes, and psychosocial support, but they are mostly project-based, donor-driven, and poorly institutionalized. The findings show that inequities drive persistent recovery gaps. Equitable recovery requires stronger governance, deliberate inclusion of vulnerable groups, and the integration of community-driven approaches into formal planning frameworks.