Adapting to effects of climate change and disaster risk reduction at present requires that the community at risk takes a leading role. This paper presents a theoretical under pinning of community based disaster risk reduction and management (CBDRRM). Ideally it is government’s responsibility to reduce vulnerability in communities. So far emergency response effort is the main approach being used. While the community has been perceived as the powerless recipient of support in times of a disaster. The community have the capacity, knowledge and skills of understanding their daily hazards they are exposed to but it is the influence support from outside the community that make them less willing to apply their local coping strategies to address disasters and hazards they are exposed to. The article presents a theoretical orientation for community based disaster risk reduction and management.