An Integrated Framework for ICT in Flood Disaster Management: Synthesizing Quantitative Pathways and Qualitative Realities in the Nigerian Context

Abstract

The discourse on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for disaster risk reduction is often fragmented, oscillating between quantitative studies measuring predictive relationships and qualitative critiques highlighting contextual barriers. This study bridges this divide by developing a comprehensive, empirically-grounded framework that synthesizes the quantitative pathways of ICT efficacy with the qualitative realities of its implementation in complex, resource-constrained settings. Drawing on a mixed-methods study of flood-prone communities along Nigeria’s River Benue (n=378 survey; n=10 interviews), we first establish, via Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), significant positive relationships between ICT adoption and all phases of flood disaster management: mitigation (β=0.459), preparedness (β=0.437), response (β=0.328), and recovery (β=0.164). These quantitative pathways confirm ICT’s potential as a systemic enabler. However, qualitative thematic analysis reveals the realities that mediate this potential: critical deficits in ICT readiness (infrastructure, literacy, affordability), socio-technical frictions in recovery, and governance challenges. Synthesizing these findings, we propose the Integrated ICT for Flood Disaster Management (I²-FDM) Framework. This dual-component framework visually maps (1) the Technical-Operational aspect, detailing the specific ICT tools and their sequenced application across the disaster cycle, and (2) the Socio-Contextual Enablers aspect, comprising the foundational pillars of Community Agency & Digital Literacy, Pro-Poor Infrastructure & Access, Supportive Policy & Multi-Stakeholder Governance, and Culturally Sensitive Design. The framework’s core innovation is its dynamic Mediation Zone, which explicitly models how the socio-contextual enablers directly moderate the effectiveness of the technical operational tools. We argue that without strengthening these enablers, technical investments will yield suboptimal returns. The paper concludes with clear implications for policy and practice in Nigeria and similar contexts, advocating for a paradigm shift from isolated technology projects to holistic, enabling-environment approaches that are both technically sound and socially legitimate.