Table 3 Recommendations table

1 - Economic

a - Budget per House

1a1 - Budget per House

Funding per shelter is based on donor constraints to maximize beneficiaries and not based on needs.

Donor funding should be flexible to allow the aid organization to adapt cost per household based on the needs.

Donors, Shelter Cluster

b - Donors

1b1 - Donor Support

Donors vary considerably in terms of their acceptance of cash and self-recovery support modalities. Donors were consistently the largest barrier to further self-recovery programming.

Advocacy and donor engagement is recommended for agencies to highlight the benefits and risks of this modality in all contexts, but most importantly in post-conflict.

All

1b2 - Time and Risk Concerns

Donors were hesitant to provide funding due to concerns over the timeframe and risk of the situation changing.

Programs should be designed to be flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances. Risk management is key in program planning and implementation.

Donors, NNGOs, INGOs

1b3 - Demographic Changes Concerns

Donors were hesitant to fund projects based on concerns over contributing to demographic changes within the country.

Donors and the academic community should conduct further research to demonstrate any connection between demographic changes and self-recovery support programming.

Donors

1b4 - Donor Priorities

Donors were more interested in projects with higher beneficiary reach than in long-term outcomes such as the social wellbeing of the population.

Donors and the academic community should better quantify the social benefits of self-recovery support programming. Aid organizations should host donors for site visits to demonstrate the benefits first-hand.

Donors, NNGOs, INGOs

1b5 - Donor Trust

A lack of trust in local NGOs by donors prohibited some funding for self-recovery support projects.

Donors should embrace localization and shift their perspective on local NGOs. Many local NGOs are formed quickly after conflicts and will require time to meet the same standards and compliance requirements as large organizations. Local NGOs are often the best-positioned implementing partners for self-recovery projects since they have knowledge of the local culture and construction methods and are dedicated to the long-term vision.

Donors

1b6 - Government Interaction

Donors are hesitant to fund programs which require interaction with the local government.

Donors should seek to build capacities of the local government alongside self-recovery support interventions. Specific risk identification and mitigation in certain locations is recommended instead of blanket policies.

Donors

1b7 - Emergency Phase Constraints

Donors are hesitant to support longer-term shelter interventions due to the risk of re-emergence of the conflict.

The risk of re-emergence of the conflict should be evaluated against the potential impact of the work, considering the length of displacement and needs of the displaced population.

Donors

c - Payments to Homeowners

1c1 - Payments to Homeowners

A best practice identified in Syria is to split payments to homeowners throughout phases of the project.

Iterative payments based on project milestones is a best practice that should be followed in post-conflict situations as it helps to avoid fraudulent beneficiaries and to monitor the project progress.

NNGOs, INGOs, IGOs

d - Market

1d1 - Market

Price fluctuations are common in post-conflict situations and are most severe in the initial phases of the conflict.

Self-recovery programs should be adaptable and flexible to account for changes in the prices of materials and services throughout the execution of a project.

All

e - Labour Market

1e1 - Labour Market

Post-conflict economies result in skilled labour leaving the country.

Technical capacity building should be included in programming to help restore skills to local labourers.

INGOs, IGOs

f - Institutions

1f1 - Banking System

Banks are difficult to access and services are expensive, specifically for money transfers.

When relying on cash transfers, the state of the banks should be considered and factored into planning and budgeting.

All

2 - Social

a - Community Participation

2a1 - Community Participation

Community-level milestones associated with payments to homeowners can motivate the community to work together and rebuild social bonds.

Community-level targets for self-recovery projects is best practice that can be adopted in other contexts, depending on the conflicts/tensions in the community.

NNGOs, INGOs

b - Vulnerable People and Women

2b1 - Prioritization

Vulnerable people and certain groups of women (such as single-headed households) often require the most support with post-conflict self-recovery.

Prioritization of women and vulnerable people is a best practice which should be continued in other post-conflict contexts.

NNGOs, INGOs

2b2 - Additional Assistance

Additional assistance to vulnerable populations is beneficial including more frequent monitoring visits and assistance with finding contractors and labourers.

Additional technical support should be provided to vulnerable households. Contractor-led modalities should be considered for use in these cases since homeowners may not be able to complete repairs themselves.

NNGOs, INGOs

c – Permanence and Stability

2c1 - Desire of Homeowners

Homeowners may not want to return home due to changes brought on by the conflict or due to psychological trauma associated with that place.

Self-recovery modalities should be accompanied by other shelter modalities as they will not be appropriate in all cases.

Donors, NNGOs, INGOs, IGOs

2c2 - Further Research

There is a lack of research into self-recovery programming at large, specifically in terms of the social benefits which are harder to quantify.

Further research should be completed by aid organizations, academics, donors, and all stakeholders involved to facilitate and promote the benefits of this approach.

All

2c3 - Young Men Engagement

Employing young men returning from the conflict in self-recovery works can facilitate reintegration in the community.

Where applicable, programming should seek to include vocational training and employment directed at young men.

NNGOs, INGOs

d - Equity of Aid

2d1 - Beneficiary Screening

Households without the proper HLP documentation or at the proper damage level of their home can be left without aid.

Programming should provide alternate shelter options for those not eligible for self-recovery support.

NNGOs, INGOs, IGOs Shelter Cluster

2d2 - Other Needs of Homeowners

Projects may not be initiated due to the perception that homeowners would choose to spend money on other things prior to shelter.

Multisectoral approaches should be implemented to ensure other needs of homeowners will be met as well. Further research should be done regarding how cash is spent in post-conflict situations.

All

3 - Governance

a - Local Authorities

3a1 – Varying Governing Bodies

Conflicts can result in various geographic areas being under different forms of control such as opposition and government-controlled areas.

Programs may require different designs in various areas of governance. Cooperation with the governing bodies in power is necessary in all cases to implement self-recovery support projects.

All

3a2 - Local Authorities

Cooperation with local authorities is key in implementing self-recovery programs. Agreements may be written or verbal.

Supporting organizations should actively engage with local authorities throughout the project cycle and remain flexible in terms of the method of cooperation and agreement.

All

3a3 – Government Permits

Cash-to-homeowner type projects were not approved by the Syrian government. Contractor-led projects took up to 6 months for approvals.

IGOs should advocate and build capacity with governments and authorities to allow permits for self-recovery project and to streamline approvals processes.

IGOs

b - State Policies

3b1 - Bureaucracy

Non-government-controlled areas were easier to implement projects in due to a lack of normative/institutional barriers of government policy.

Due to the lack of oversight, in non-government-controlled areas, aid organizations assume more responsibility to build safely, verify HLP, and select beneficiaries appropriately.

All

3b2 – Government Acceptance of Aid

Approximately three times more NGOs were operating in the opposition-controlled areas than government-controlled areas. This could be due to additional restrictions for aid work in government-controlled areas.

In other similar post-conflict contexts where aid must be delivered in government-controlled areas with many restrictions, government capacity building and advocacy should be prioritized through collaborative efforts.

All

c - Shelter Sector Perception of self-recovery

3c1 – Operational Definition of Self-Recovery

Self-recovery is not a well-defined concept operationally and many organizations had varying understandings of it.

International guidelines should better define self-recovery and it should be done so in terms of levels since one definition cannot capture the entire scope of projects.

All

3c2 – Relevance of Self-Recovery

In post-conflict situations, there are higher levels of women-headed households sometimes without construction skills. In most cases, even when given cash directly, women will hire contractors to complete the work.

Due to the lack of men, post-conflict self-recovery requires revision of modalities considering whether the homeowners themselves will complete the works. Lists of skilled labourers and guidance on hiring contractors should be provided.

All

d - Capacity of Supporting Organization

3d1 - Organizational Knowledge

Previous organizational knowledge of self-recovery can be a key advantage, but local knowledge of the context is also important.

INGOs should capacity build with NNGOs, sharing previous relevant experience. In return, NNGOs should share their knowledge of local construction techniques.

INGOs, NNGOs

3d2 - Managing Dispersed Projects

Aid organizations are challenged with the dispersed nature of self-recovery support, which differs from traditional support to sites or camps.

Implementing organizations should have robust logistical capabilities and staffing to monitor projects.

All

3d3 - Competing Priorities

Dynamic post-conflict situations result in ad hoc emergency response being prioritized over self-recovery modalities.

Self-recovery should be considered within both emergency and recovery responses and should be designed to be flexible to changing situations in the context.

All

3d4 - Control and Coordination

Contractor-led projects improved the control and coordination of these projects, especially for organizations working in cross-border aid.

Contractor-led projects are recommended when control and coordination are more difficult, especially when managing projects remotely from across a border.

All

3d5 - Organizational Policies

Organizational policies such as Build Back Better may not be applicable in post-conflict responses due to a non-recurring damage modality.

Build Back Better policies should not be needlessly implemented when not required as this will only increase costs. Risks should be contextualized to the location.

All

3d6 - Selection of Self-Recovery Modality

Contractor-led projects are more expensive but easier to control and more efficient for smaller standardized repairs such as doors and windows. Beneficiary-led repairs are cheaper, lead to higher levels of beneficiary satisfaction, but are more difficult to manage and control.

Both contractor-led and homeowner-led modalities should be used in conjunction, depending on the situation. Beneficiaries should have decision making power over the selected modality. Wherever possible, cash-to-homeowner projects should be chosen as these lead to the highest levels of beneficiary satisfaction.

NNGOs, INGOs

e - Aid vs Development

3e1 - Aid vs Development

Self-recovery is often seen as a humanitarian action but has many ties to urban development. There lacks coordination between humanitarian and development sectors.

Coordination between the aid and development sectors should be prioritized.

NNGOs, INGOs, IGOs

f - Capacity of Government

3f1 - Capacity of Government

The capacity of the government is greatly reduced throughout conflicts and its ability to control state-led reconstruction is diminished.

Capacity building of the government should be prioritized. Cross-imbedding government and aid staff in each others’ organizations can facilitate cooperation.

NNGOs, INGOs, IGOs

g - International Coordination

3g1 - Intersectoral Approaches

Projects require integration with water, sanitation, and hygiene, health, transportation, and other sectors. There is a need for low-level intersectoral coordination bodies to accomplish this.

Intersectoral coordination mechanisms should be in place at various levels. International operational networks could be established to support low-level technical coordination.

NNGOs, INGOs, IGOs, Shelter Cluster

3g2 - Shelter Cluster Guidelines

Shelter Cluster guidelines for rehabilitation and HLP greatly facilitate the coordination of self-recovery responses.

Shelter Cluster guidelines such as the rehabilitation and HLP guidelines should be replicated across other post-conflict contexts.

NNGOs, INGOs, IGOs, Shelter Cluster

3g3 - Additional Guidelines

A lack of international guidance made projects more difficult to implement and convince donors of.

International guidelines for self-recovery support projects should be created. Additionally, guidance should be created on area-based approaches, urban vs rural self-recovery, conflict vs disaster self-recovery, repairing war-damaged buildings, and long-term shelter cash modality strategies.

Universities, IGOs

4 - Legal

4a - Tenure / HLP

4a1 - Lost Documentation

Homeowners lost tenure documents due to the conflict, thus making HLP verification difficult. The Shelter Cluster HLP Due Diligence Guidelines allowed for alternative methods of verification through utility bills or community leaders.

Cluster-level HLP guidelines should be replicated in other post-conflict responses including details for alternative documents that can be accepted for HLP. A complaint and review mechanism should be in place so homeowners can appeal decisions about tenure status.

All

4a2 – Land Registries

Land registries can be targeted and destroyed during conflicts, compounding existing administrative issues before the conflict. This can result in long delays in tenure verification by the government. Support from NNGOs to help rebuild registries was beneficial.

Capacity building can be done to assist governments in rebuilding registries. Alternative forms of tenure verification can be used to rebuild these registries more expediently. Advocacy with governments to accept alternative tenure documentation temporarily could help facilitate project approvals.

All

4b - Leasing Contracts

4b1 - Leasing Contracts

Exchanging housing repairs for free rent for an IDP family for a certain period of time is an approach that has been effective.

Repairs-for-rent modalities should be replicated in other post-conflict responses.

Donors, NNGOs, INGOs

5 - Contextual

5a - Conflict and Security Situation

5a1 – Prolonged Conflicts

Repair and rehabilitation projects (including self-recovery modalities) can become more relevant later in a conflict as other shelter options have been exhausted, housing stocks have been reduced, and people have started to return home.

Self-recovery programming may be most relevant to implement at later stages of a prolonged conflict, but it greatly depends on the context.

All

5a2 – Changing Conflict Situation

Projects can take up to one year to complete. With the changing conflict situation, this creates a high risk of projects not finishing on time.

Projects should be designed with flexibility to adapt to changing conflict situations and risk assessments should be a part of project planning

All

5b - Returnees

5b1 - Reasons for Return

Returnees may return due to the conflict situation becoming more stable, the lack of sufficient aid provided in overcrowded camps, and, in the case of Syria, the COVID-19 crisis in the camps.

Supporting organizations should monitor returnee inflows and plan self-recovery programs strategically.

All

5c – Access of Aid Organizations

5c1 – Organizational Security Policies

Aid organizations have different security policies. UN Agencies are not able to access Syria from Turkey due to security policies, whereas many of the other INGOs and NNGOs are able to.

Smaller organizations with more flexible security restrictions are better suited to conduct self-recovery support in post-conflict settings. Organizations with access restrictions can consider using implementing partners.

All

5c2 - Cross-border Aid

Security restrictions lead to organizations conducting cross-border support in a neighbouring country, which causes monitoring and controlling issues. Cell phone application technology to communicate with implementing partners facilitated monitoring works.

Innovative methods to monitor and control projects remotely will be beneficial to cross-border management of self-recovery support, depending on internet connectivity. Information, education, and communication (IEC) materials could be used to support homeowners with construction remotely.

All

6 - Technical

6a - Building Codes

6a1 - Building Codes

Due to the absence of building codes in some post-conflict responses, aid organizations follow their own standards.

The Shelter Cluster should standardize building codes for organizations to follow to ensure a standardized response. Where possible, local building codes should be followed and improved as required such as through capacity building with private sector partnerships.

NNGOs, IGOs, Shelter Cluster

6b - Type of Damage

6b1 - Damage Classification

Various organizations have differing scales for damage classification.

International guidelines should standardize damage scales for post-conflict situations for ease of use and information sharing.

All

6b2 - Lack of Expertise in Conflict-Damage

There is a lack of understanding, technical expertise, and technical guides and manuals for repairing conflict-damaged buildings.

Research should be conducted into how ordnance affects structures and how to repair these structures. Technical manuals should be developed for aid organizations to support programming.

All

6b3 - Looting

Looting was noted as a major cause of secondary damage to homes.

Self-recovery programs should focus on houses that have not been left unattended for long periods of time.

NNGOs, INGOs

6b4 - Structural Damage

Structural repairs are not permitted by aid organizations due to the safety issues with these repairs and the perception that this is reconstruction, which should be done by the government. This can result in the most-affected households not receiving support.

Local NGOs should be permitted to conduct structural repairs if engineers are overseeing the works. For international organizations, further advocacy could be conducted to allow for some structural repairs to be within scope. Private sector partnerships could help to fill gaps in engineering resources for aid organizations.

Donors, IGOs, Shelter Cluster

6c - Infrastructure Systems

6c1 - Infrastructure Systems

Housing repairs were not possible in some cases due to the lack of infrastructure systems such as roads, water systems, electricity, and sewage is integral to self-recovery projects.

Infrastructure repairs should be done in conjunction with housing. One method to accomplish this is through area-based approaches, or the Settlements Approach, where one organization takes responsibility to ensure a multi-sector response.

All

6d – Supporting Organization's Technical Competency

6d1 - Professionals on Staff

Engineers and architects on staff greatly facilitate the technical aspects of self-recovery support projects.

Organizations should choose the level of self-recovery support (doors and windows vs. walls and roofs) depending on their technical capacities. Contracting this support from local professionals is possible.

All

6d2 - Quality Control

Due to security restrictions, there may be difficulties in controlling quality of works.

Quality control mechanisms such as thorough contracts, project completion inspections, and third-party quality audits can be used.

All

6e - Other Shelter Response Modalities

6e1 - Housing Stock

The repair and rehabilitation modality is limited by the number of damaged houses, their damage level, and location. Unfinished housing from before the conflict is sometimes used as another source for housing stock.

Self-recovery support strategies should be based on all available options including the repair of existing homes, completion of unfinished housing from before the conflict, and other new construction options such as transitional shelters.

Donors, NNGOs, INGOs, IGOs, Shelter Cluster

6f – IEC Materials

6f1 - IEC Materials

IEC materials such as easy instructions on how to repair certain damages or instructions on which materials to buy have been successful.

IEC materials should be shared amongst NGOs and resources like the Global Shelter Cluster’s IEC Compendium should be expanded with post-conflict content. IECs are especially useful to organizations in cases of cross-border support.

All

6g - Building Safety

6g1 - UXOs

There is a risk of houses containing unexploded ordnance (UXO)s which presents a significant safety risk for all involved.

UXOs require specialist support to remove. NGOs should collaborate with local authorities to facilitate this.

NNGOs, INGOs