Construction After DisasterRebuilding After Human-Made Disasters: A Build Back Better Approach

Historically, and even in recent events, when a community is struck by a disaster, a speedy return to the status quo is often hoped for. But one of the most significant lessons of the last few decades has been that simply rebuilding communities to pre-disaster standards will recreate the vulnerabilities that existed earlier and expose them to continuing devastation from future disasters. Over the years there has been an appreciation that reconstruction is an opportunity to build back better. Today recovery is defined as the restoration and improvement of facilities, livelihoods and living conditions of disaster-affected communities, including efforts to reduce disaster risk factors. This “build back better” approach first gained global attention during the reconstruction of Aceh, Indonesia, following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. While building back better has been defined in many ways, at its core, it advocates for the restoration of communities and assets in a manner that makes them less vulnerable to disasters and strengthens their resilience. The Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) called for the ‘incorporation of disaster risk reduction’ measures into post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation processes and use opportunities during the recovery phase to develop capacities that reduce disaster risk in the long term’. The concept was further promoted through the International Recovery Platform, and the annual International Recovery Forum. The Global Platforms on Disaster Risk Reduction and the World Reconstruction Conferences 1 (in 2011) and 2 (in 2014) have consolidated the experiences given a higher profile to the concept of build back better. Resilient recovery and reconstruction are now recognized as imperative for sustainable development. To maintain a path toward sustainability, recovery and reconstruction programs require predictable technical and financial resource commitments for planning, implementation, and performance management. Additionally, at national levels, governments must have the capacity to develop policies and mechanisms that ensure integration of disaster risk reduction in recovery and reconstruction efforts. According to the 2007-2013 Hyogo Framework of Action Monitor, while many countries have successfully introduced policies to integrate disaster risk reduction in recovery planning, they often encounter difficulty during implementation. To be successful, recovery and reconstruction programs require high levels of political commitment and strong institutional frameworks, which provide greater opportunity for promoting risk reduction and building resilience, as well as a greater chance for recovery and reconstruction to be implemented in an efficient and effective manner that avoids negative consequences. Deliberations on a post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction have highlighted “build back better” as a key priority. This brief presents a concept of resilient recovery: what it is; why it is important; and what measures communities, countries, and regions can adopt to ensure that efficient and effective recovery leads to sustainable development. This paper seeks to identify and categorise challenges encountered in managing post-disaster reconstruction projects. quality and workmanship; contractual, legislation and policy; management and collaboration; resources; community engagement and culture; financial; physical/territorial; natural causes; and other challenges.