Sustainable reconstruction in urban areas

This handbook seeks to unpack the problems that many organizations are confronted with, while providing step-by-step guidance on how to design and implement housing reconstruction programmes in cities. It describes the specific dimensions of reconstruction and rehousing strategies, providing context-based options that have proven successful in recent disasters. It also incorporates risk-reduction measures within reconstruction methodology in order to prepare for any future disaster.

The handbook is focused on the reconstruction phase, in particular on permanent housing, not on transitional shelter. The handbook concentrates, primarily, on the transfer of emergency shelter to more permanent housing solutions following a disaster. It gives specific direction in how to overcome the complexity and challenges of reconstruction by ensuring that safe and sustainable approaches are taken within urban areas.

The handbook is not only relevant for the most recent Haiti emergency, but refers generically to similar post-disaster situations in less-developed countries in Latin America, Southern and Central Asia, and Africa. It is mainly intended for field practitioners who are planning and implementing housing reconstruction programmes in urban areas. This includes members of reconstruction operations such as programme managers, and housing and construction delegates. It has also been designed for use by government institutions as well as local authorities engaged in reconstruction activities.