Interagency Communication in Southeast Asian Disaster Governance: A Model Development Using Ism and Micmac Analysis

Southeast Asia’s high vulnerability to natural hazards demands robust disaster governance mechanisms, with effective interagency communication as a central pillar for coordinated response. Despite regional frameworks such as the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER), persistent challenges including fragmented coordination, unclear responsibilities, and limited resource sharing undermine disaster management effectiveness. This study aims to determine and propose a consensus-based model for interagency communication in Southeast Asian disaster governance using Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) and Cross-Impact Matrix Multiplication Applied to Classification (MICMAC) analysis. Expert input from seven professionals in communication, disaster management, and information technology was integrated through the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) to identify seven key approaches: Coordination and Cooperation, Information Sharing, Institutional Relationships, Strategic Communication, Capacity Building, Use of Technology, and Legal and Policy Frameworks. The Structural Self-Interaction Matrix (SSIM) and Reachability Matrix (RM) quantified the driving and dependence powers of these variables. Results show Information Sharing, Strategic Communication, and Capacity Building with the highest driving power (7), indicating their central role as systemic enablers, while Use of Technology had the lowest (3), acting more as a dependent enabler. Level Partitioning positioned all variables at Level 1, revealing a highly integrated network without hierarchical tiering. The MICMAC analysis placed all seven variables in Quadrant III (Linkage Variables), indicating high driving and high dependence powers, where changes in any element could produce cascading effects throughout the system. The study concludes that strengthening interagency communication in Southeast Asian disaster governance requires simultaneous, multi-pronged interventions across all seven approaches, with priority given to enhancing Information Sharing, Strategic Communication, and Capacity Building within strong legal and technological frameworks. The proposed ISM–MICMAC model offers a decision-support tool for policymakers to foster resilient, adaptive, and collaborative disaster governance.