Post-disaster affordable and sustainable house design and delivery: An international non-governmental organisation (INGO) perspective

The frequency and devastation of disasters, both natural and manmade, are becoming, both more common and extreme, resulting in large numbers of displaced populations throughout the world. Combined with population growth, housing shortages in many regions continue to escalate beyond previous records and based on current trends, are set to increase further in the coming years. In the context of least developed and middle-income countries, these are often the worst effected, due to their inherent vulnerabilities. This vulnerability is often caused by common issues which are experienced in many these countries, including development in areas susceptible to natural disasters, unsettled governments, poor construction standards and techniques, insufficient resources and knowledge in post disaster recovery. The built environment, and housing in particular, is often worst effected by disasters, resulting in large numbers of displaced populations in these counties. In this context, the permanent reconstruction phase of recovery following disasters can be viewed as an opportunity to rebuild, in a more sustainable manner, with beneficiaries and communities central to the process, to help build resilience against future disasters. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are often tasked with the design and delivery of post disaster housing in many of these contexts. The purpose of this study is to explore the approach of an international NGO in the design and delivery of post disaster housing. A case study approach from Sri Lanka with a leading international NGO is used to explore this complex area. The research unearths the various design and project management stages and considerations the NGO undertakes, from inception to completion of the project, and offers a unique evidence based insight in to the real life practice and decision-making process of an NGO, working in a challenging post disaster context.