Reduce risk and vulnerabilities in providing equitable reconstruction solutions after urban disasters

The increasing debate on urban reconstruction and risk highlights the importance of improving the understanding within humanitarian organisations of preparing for and responding to urban disasters. While this evolving issue has prompted some encouraging developments, e.g., use of creative approaches to post-disaster housing through direct cash transfers and host families’ support; mobile technology to spread life-saving messages; research and practice on clarifying land issues after disasters through participatory methods (participatory enumeration of neighbourhoods and community planning), many international organisations are finding housing solutions in cities as extremely complex.

Humanitarian and development workers are facing unprecedented challenges in cities like Port-au-Prince, in Rio’s landslide-vulnerable favelas or in Asian cities like Padang. Regulatory barriers that undermine equitable reconstruction are seldom addressed; housing vulnerabilities are replicated by the lack of technical support or financial means; and the root causes of risks remain unchanged.  Recurrent dilemmas such as the loss of lives and expertise, disruption of supply chains, the urgent need to identify equitable solutions for both renters and owners, and political and legal constraints on land and tenure are among the many issues to consider.

Through dialogue, presentation of promising practices and debate, this session will explore viable options and solutions, including: lessons learned through the Haiti property law working group in building and reaching consensus among public, private and civil society partners developing land transaction tools and processes; influencing policies to promote equitable reconstruction when administrative bodies are weak or disempowered; addressing an array of land and building contexts; building codes and regulations geared to incremental construction over time rather than rapid reconstruction at scale and other related complex challenges.