Building Back Better: Delivering people-centred housing reconstruction at scale

"Experience has shown that participatory, people-centred housing reconstruction is far more effective that top-down, institutional delivery. However, these processes are more complex, and widely believed to be impractical for large-scale programmes. This important book demonstrates definitively that this assumption does not hold."--David Simon, Professor of Development Geography

"The timely message of this book is that participation in housing reconstruction after disaster gives a more sustainable result."--Judith Eversley, International Affairs Office

"The breadth of contributions provides considerable material for readers seeking to understand and support participatory and integrated approaches for reconstruction."--Diana Mitlin, University of Manchester and Senior Research Associate

The devastating impact of disasters on the world’s population is on the increase, influenced by climate change, urbanization, and persistent high levels of poverty, among other factors. There is a growing demand for reconstruction at scale. This book asks whether large-scale reconstruction can be participatory and developmental; can rebuilding be truly people-centered, contributing to breaking the cycle of poverty and dependence? Can reconstruction reduce people’s vulnerability to disasters and other shocks?

Building Back Better examines the context for reconstruction, and shows how developments in the fields of housing, participation and livelihoods have changed and enriched approaches to reconstruction. It goes on to explore the practice of implementing large-scale reconstruction through in-depth case studies of recent programs in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Indonesia and India. Finally, an analysis of selected projects in six additional countries over a longer period of time adds other relevant issues to people-centered reconstruction at scale.
The book intends to inform policy, program design, practice and evaluation.

It will be of interest to agencies regularly involved in reconstruction, to consultants and specialists involved, to aid agencies, to the authorities in countries regularly faced with disasters, as well as to students, academics and researchers.