Aid Accountability and Participatory Approaches in Post-Disaster Housing Reconstruction

Abstract

In the last decade, housing has become one of the most prominent and best funded sectors in large-scale post-disaster reconstruction efforts. This has especially been the case in Asian developing countries where both official and private aid helped finance a significant amount of the housing reconstruction. Despite the emphasis upon community involvement, inclusive and participatory processes for housing reconstruction by international non-governmental organizations, recent experiences show that such ideas often do not readily translate in practice on the ground. This paper analyses the necessary conditions for successful involvement by local beneficiaries in rebuilding their homes following natural disasters. The analysis is situated within the context of community recovery, and the trade-off between centralized donor planning, and community driven initiatives, using primary and secondary data collected from post-tsunami Aceh, Indonesia. The paper also discusses how various stakeholders (including recipient government and donors) evaluate and make use of the practical capacities of affected persons and communities to be involved in planning, building and monitoring processes in the housing sector. Our research focused on the level and types of roles played by the aid beneficiaries in the housing reconstruction process in Aceh. In spite of considerable rhetoric about participation and inclusive reconstruction accompanying the post-tsunami reconstruction by various donors, a number of systemic barriers created considerable distance between beneficiaries and NGOs in Aceh in the housing sector. The drive for efficiency and need to produce tangible results quickly, mixed with the sheer number of stakeholders and resources involved, created a largely top-down environment in which decisions were centralized, and arbitrary standards imposed. This was exacerbated by an extensive chain of sub-contractors, a large supply of lower-cost imported labor, and highlighted the importance of local political affiliations, leading to weak accountability and reduced aid effectiveness.

Analysis of Measures for Managing Issues in Post-Disaster Housing Reconstruction

“…To make reconstruction funds more flexible and efficiently responsive to reconstruction needs [83]; Allows for efficient response to stakeholders' financial needs towards effective project implementation [83] Provide housing reconstruction budget through communities' government's budget system [6,83] Provides spending schedules and details Ensures transparency and accountability and donor confidence [6,83] Establish special finance mechanisms to provide for flexible reconstruction funds disbursement [83] Provides auxiliary mechanism for reconstruction financing other than government budgetary system [83] To provide effective disbursements and allocation of funds for reconstruction [83] Commission international consultant to coordinate and monitor reconstruction financing [135].…”

“…Impacts of disasters on the built environment lead to homelessness, mass population displacements and increased mortality [1][2][3]. Following disasters, considerable resources are often channeled to the reconstruction and recovery of affected communities [4], a substantial part of recovery funds being invested in permanent housing reconstruction [5,6]. Aside from being a visible investment choice, the reconstruction of permanent housing is considered the most effective means to return affected communities to better livelihood conditions [7][8][9] and providing safe and more secure housing to live in after temporary accommodation [10].…”

“…This study is premised on a trade-off between the centralized donor-led and beneficiary community driven, participatory approach [6] for large-scale housing reconstruction in low-income urban areas in developing countries.…”

Stakeholders and Their Significance in Post Natural Disaster Reconstruction Projects: A Systematic Review of the Literature

“…Stakeholders should be engaged in the reconstruction in a variety of ways (Dorosh et al, 2010) ranging from planning and designing (Chang et al, 2011;Hayles, 2010;Jigyasu, 2013) to its implementation and completion (Khan & Rahman, 2007;Vojinovic & van Teeffelen, 2007). Furthermore, stakeholder engagement has been included in the mission statements and organizational philosophies of a large number of non-governmental organizations and international aid organizations (Daly & Brassard, 2011).…”

Research trends on hazards, disasters, risk reduction and climate change in Indonesia: a systematic literature review

“…The topic that receives most attention in this category is related to the governance of DRR nationally (Bakkour et al, 2015;Chang Seng, 2013;Djalante et al, 2013;Guarnacci, 2012). The next topic that 290 receives greater attention is on the evaluation of recover and reconstruction that have taken place after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami which hit Aceh, located in the Island of Sumatera (Chang et al, 2011;Daly and Brassard, 2011;Godavitarne et al, 2006;Guarnacci, 2012;Karan and Subbiah, 2011;Telford and Cosgrave, 2007). Within the period after 2004, other topics that are also related to the impacts of tsunami and disasters in general is the role of culture, gender, or religion in helping the community to be resilient in facing disasters, and also how various disasters in Indonesia have impacted various 295 community groups differently in relation to their culture or gender (Balgos et al, 2012;Baumann, 2008;Donovan, 2010;Donovan et al, 2012;Gaillard et al, 2008b;Guarnacci and Di Girolamo, 2012;Hiwasaki et al, 2015;Islam and Lim, 2015;Siagian et al, 2014).…”