Owner-Driven Housing Reconstruction Guidelines

Whether we call them owner-driven, community-based or assisted self-help projects, there is evidence of growing interest in the use of participatory approaches for post-disaster recovery and reconstruction in both urban and rural areas.

These guidelines, produced with substantial contributions from many National Societies, capitalize on the expertise developed within the Movement through a number of post-disaster reconstruction projects. More specifically, they have been created following the successful post-tsunami programme developed in Sri Lanka within a partnership framework, which resulted in community-oriented processes that served to design spatial forms, enable livelihoods and build social infrastructures.

The programme has had a profound and durable effect on the local communities, which increased their sense of ownership and self-reliance, as well as on the organizations. The variety of designs of houses and settlements demonstrate the vitality of the building culture and local construction practices that can be produced when home-owners are encouraged to take the lead in the reconstruction process.