Keywords:
participatory governance
co-production
post-disaster reconstruction
social sustainability
adaptive management

  • Abstract

    Community participation is critical in housing construction. However, there is still little evidence to provide a deep understanding of the level of participation and its sustainability. This study synthesizes how community participation practices occur across the housing project lifecycle. In addition, the study also identifies meaningful participation strategies that contribute to long-term sustainability. Using PRISMA-based methods records were systematically retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science databases and assessed using predetermined eligibility criteria. The sample comprised 18 peer-reviewed articles, coded by project phase (e.g., planning, decision-making, design, construction, monitoring, evaluation, maintenance) and the mechanisms and results reported. Most commonly, participation was reported in construction (94.4%) and planning (77.8%), with an implementation-intensive pattern noted. Design (55.6%) and evaluation (55.6%) were moderately represented, while decision-making authority (38.9%), maintenance (22.2%), and monitoring (11.1%) were comparatively rare. Across contexts, participation had a positive effect on ownership, perceived legitimacy, and social cohesion, though the effects varied by governance arrangements. Participation is more likely to be formalized across multiple levels and more sustainable when NGOs act as facilitators. In contrast, conventional top-down approaches, which are usually developer-led, may constrain community influence and can undermine accountability. Overall, meaningful community participation is supported by five factors: effective facilitator roles, deliberative mechanisms, household choice architecture, ongoing capacity building, and responsive feedback and prompt action. Future research should prioritize strengthening community influence by considering equity and satisfaction, especially at the monitoring and maintenance levels. Overall, participation needs to be part of the governance system to ensure long-term housing sustainability.

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Yunan, W. R. W., Manaf, A. A., & Tambi, N. (2026). From planning to post-occupancy: A systematic review of community participation across the housing project cycle. Multidisciplinary Reviews, 9(12), 2026564. https://doi.org/10.31893/multirev.2026564
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