An analysis of International NGOs design decision making for housing reconstruction in developing country contexts

The purpose of this paper is to explore the current design decision making process of selected foreign international non governmental organisations (INGO’s) operating in the field of housing and post disaster housing design and delivery in developing countries. The study forms part of a wider on-going study relation to a decision making in relation to affordable and sustainable housing in developing
countries. The paper highlights the main challenges and opportunities in relation to the design and delivery of low cost sustainable housing in developing countries as identified in current literature on the subject. Interviews and case studies with INGO’s highlight any specific challenges faced by foreign INGO’s operating in a developing country. The preliminary results of this research study provide a concise insight into the design decision making process of leading foreign INGO’s operating in developing countries and will be beneficial to policy makers, NGOs, government bodies and community organisations in practice as it offers unique evidence based insights into international bodies housing design decision making process.

A Community Driven Approach to Reconstruction Management

Without human beings, and human activities, hazards can strike but disasters cannot occur, they are not just natural phenomena but a social event (Van Der Zon, 2005). The rapid demand for reconstruction after disastrous events can result in the impacts of projects not being carefully considered from the outset and the opportunity to improve long-term physical and social community structures being neglected. The events that struck Banda Aceh in 2004 have been described as
a story of ‘two tsunamis’, the first being the natural hazard that struck and the second being the destruction of social structures that occurred as a result of unplanned, unregulated and uncoordinated response (Syukrizal et al, 2009). Measures must be in place to ensure that, while aiming to meet reconstruction
needs as rapidly as possible, the risk of re-occurring disaster impacts are reduced through both the physical structures and the capacity of the community who inhabit them. The paper explores issues facing reconstruction in a post-disaster scenario, drawing on the connections between physical and social reconstruction in order to address long term recovery solutions. It draws on a study of relevant literature and a six week pilot study spent in Haiti exploring the progress of recovery in the Haitian capital and the limitations still restricting reconstruction efforts. The study highlights the need for recovery management strategies that recognise the link between social and physical reconstruction and the significance of community based initiatives that see local residents driving recovery in terms of debris handling and rebuilding. It demonstrates how a community driven approach to physical reconstruction could also address the social impacts of events that, in the case of places such as Haiti, are still dramatically restricting recovery efforts.