Essential elements of recovery programming - Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami

With a focus on the immediate post-disaster recovery phase (one to six months)
This document aims at providing a brief on the essential elements for successful recovery programming and to act as a guide in developing an overall humanitarian early-recovery framework that will inform options and strategies to assist those who have been displaced and lost their homes and/or livelihoods. More specifically, this paper will:

• Provide the basis for a significant realignment of the activities of the UN and other key actors towards recovery, as we near the stage where the emergency relief needs have been addressed.
  
  
• Act as a catalyst for supporting the governments to develop a more holistic framework to ensure that a more complete range of recovery options is available to those affected.
  
  
• Align significant resources towards supporting the self-settlement options already underway to complement the existing governments initiatives, such as the relocation sites.

An overarching goal for the recovery phase is to make sure we do not create dependencies and increasing social tensions. It is also essential to avoid hampering of current relief developments, and block the dialogue with the governments concerned, which will obviously be used in due course, to deal with the broader issues of reconstruction, development and the stability that should accompany this. The recovery plan should broadly:

(i) describe the range of affected population groups;

(ii) elaborate on the assistance options that are already available and

(iii) outline where alternative or complementary options need support;

(iv) review the current strategies of the IASC toward assistance options and

(v) provide the basis for 'Plan of Action' for each sector.

The recovery plan and the sector 'Plans of Action' must be seen as living document and continue to be revised and updated as the situation changes and consultations evolve. The underlying assumption of this strategy is that the humanitarian community must work under the leadership of the host Government and in constant dialogue with the affected populations to complement current efforts and ensure a comprehensive range of assistance options that responds to the diverse needs and preferences of those who have lost their homes and support livelihood recovery efforts. This will require;

(1) working together with those affected so that we can accurately assess needs and priorities,

(2) providing additional inputs and support to existing assistance plans,

(3) initiating and resourcing activities that are not yet underway but required and

(4) mobilizing all UN-led sector working groups and corresponding ministries to monitor population needs and ensure access to basic services

The elements listed below should hence be considered in the planning process;

1. Improving/maintaining coordination: Information exchange and coordination mechanisms established during the emergency phase must be maintained and enhanced during the recovery process. Continuing a strong coordination will constitute a permanent dialogue and consensus building mechanism with government agencies, civil society, cooperation agencies, donors and lending institutions. Priorities can be defined and an adequate picture of the who-is-doing-what-and-where can be drawn and systematically updated.

2. Participatory approaches and decentralized planning and programming: Recovery programming must be based upon a sound, participatory assessment of the needs and capacities of the affected population, so that local initiatives, resources and capacities are fully understood and utilized. National consultation mechanisms - involving decision-makers, technicians and local actors, - and priority setting activities such as national workshops, contribute to building consensus around recovery priorities, roles, responsibilities and resources. This ensures country ownership for the recovery process. Local level recovery activities best begin as early as possible after the disaster, which is essential for avoiding the rebuilding of risks.

3. Improving the living and environmental conditions of the affected communities: An important feature of the immediate post-disaster recovery is improving the living conditions of the affected communities through housing, restoring basic services and the revival of production, trade and the creation of income and employment generation opportunities. Highest priority should be placed on quickly re-engaging the affected population in economic activity thus taking the pressure from other recovery needs as people start taking their own initiative.

4. Resettlement: The relocation of affected populations out of devastated areas into new sites is intricate and often accompanied by objections from local residents which required strong negotiation skills. Issues such as land acquisition, assessing the disaster risks of new sites; livelihood security, environmental impacts, etc are all issues meriting attention at an early stage. The transition from no shelter to temporary shelter needs to be managed thoughtfully. At times housing sector recovery is a lengthy process requiring more than provisional shelter, whilst in other cases people make their own arrangements soon.

5. Building local and national capacities: It is widely recognized that post-disaster recovery interventions need to be initiated in a timely manner to be successful. Nevertheless, important opportunities for capacity building in the initial post-disaster phase cannot be missed. External support must build upon and not duplicate existing capacities, knowledge and strengths and fill gaps where needed through technology transfer, know-how and awareness raising. This approach may include formulation/revision of disaster preparedness plans, hazards and risk mapping, training and simulations exercises, as well the development of early warning capacities.

6. Engaging the private sector in recovery: More and more, the private sector has expressed interest in how its resources can be used in the recovery and rehabilitation process. Public-private partnerships in disaster risk management are still a fairly new phenomenon and the real potentials must be further analyzed. Possible avenues such as the provision of basic needs including micro-insurance, micro-credit and the development of micro-entrepreneurs should be investigated. In addition the private sector has considerable procurement capacity to meet the demands of the affected population for goods and services.