Community orientated post-disaster sustainable housing recovery, rebuilding and community renewal: Sri Lanka case study

Disasters, both natural and manmade, are increasing in frequency and have devastating effects on many communities, resulting in destruction of the built environment, displaced population, and poverty. The losses and damage as a result of disasters are often worse felt in least developed and middle-income countries, due at times to increased vulnerability and lack of preparedness. Disaster management and appropriate post disaster housing design approaches are demanding issues required for the successful long-term sustainable recovery of the affected communities. To be sustainable, communities need to be empowered and self-reliant, to enable them to cope with the adverse effects of past and possible future disaster events. The aim of this study is to explore the approach and strategy undertaken by an international nongovernmental organisation (INGO) in the design and delivery of post disaster housing with a stated community participation orientated approach. A case study approach, utilising interviews with key INGO personnel, building studies and documentation evidence, of two post disaster housing projects in Sri Lanka is undertaken. The research uncovers the 5 key stages undertaken in the overall approach by the INGO. Each stage contains a subset of criteria considered by the organisation to enable meaningful community participation throughout the process. Participation approaches included design input, skills training in both labour and building product production and creation of enterprises. Non construction related aspects including the use of alternative simple household technologies and saving schemes were introduced by the organisation to further contribute to the community's long-term sustainability and resilience of the community.