Facing the Challenge of Rebuilding

Buddika Hapuarachchi

Practical Action – South Asia Programme

Sri Lanka

Sri LankaExtent : 65000 Square km

Population : 19.6 Mn

Ethnicities: Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim

Practical Action–about usPractical Action is a development organisation

interested in identifying and offering appropriate

technology options to combat situations of poverty

and marginalisation.

The brainchild of an economist of the 1960s, Dr. E F

Schumacher, the organisation has grown to reach

communities in several countries, the work being

co-ordinated from 7 offices from around the world

located in Bangladesh, Kenya, Nepal, Sri Lanka,

Sudan, Zimbabwe and Peru

Agro-Processing & Food Production Programme

• Access to markets • Technology

development• Micro enterprise

development

Infrastructure Programme

ITDG - South AsiaITDG - South Asia

• Labour based road technology for rural roads

• Intermediate mode of transport• Cost effective housing• Bricks &

compressed

soil blocks

Energy Programme

• Micro-hydro

• Bio-gas

• Small wind power generation systems

• Energy from biomass

• Energy Forum

• Wind-solar hybrid

Disaster Mitigation Programme • Livelihoods options for

disaster reduction in South Asia

• Livelihoods security• Regional network –

Duryog Nivaran• Lanka Rain Water

Harvesting Forum

Disasters are not isolated happenings, they are a combination of hazards & vulnerability

• In Sri Lanka, the tsunami that struck on the morning of December 26, 2004 left behind widespread destruction– killed over 41,000 people– destroyed over 85,000 homes,– Displaced 443,000 people– Affected more than 1 million– 250000 livelihoods– 24,000 boats (75% of the fishing fleet)– damaged natural ecosystems– Damage to infrastructure US$ 1.7 billion

Rebuilding effort

• Civil society played a significant role in relief

• International community pledged US $ 3.2 bn

• Private sector came forward to support the government

• New structures are formed to coordinate the effort (TAFREN, RADA)

• Approx. 3000 INGOs/NGOs started work in Sri Lanka

The problem of the rebuilding Process

• overlook special needs of particularly vulnerable groups

• affected Community participation minimal• agencies overlook locally available human and

physical resources• no long term and sustainable development

thinking• poor standards and practices• top down planning• resource intense approach

Goal/Aim:

To influence the plans and practical implementation of reconstruction activities in Sri Lanka (and South Asia more generally) following the December ’04 Tsunami, so that integrated, sustainable and participatory approaches to reconstruction are practiced and promoted.

Advocacy Programme

Core Advocacy Messages of Practical Action

Recovery process should be:

1. Participatory / Consultative

2. Include disaster risk preparedness

3. Community Specific (appropriate)

4. Environmentally sensitive

5. Conflict sensitive

6. Gender sensitive

7. Disability sensitive

Reconstruction and

Development Agency

Tsunami Affected Communities

•Human Rights Commission

•Practical Action

•Universities

•Like Minded Organizations

Practical Action

Activities Carried out

• Participating to coordination meeting• One to one discussions with policy makers and

implementers• Presentations and formal letters targeting key

officials• Alliance building• Workshops –Building Back Better – Are we on

track?• Providing recommendations and guidelines

Achievements

• Policies are changed but the practice?• Building the capacity of stakeholders

Challenges ahead

• Revised rebuilding policy included the people participation, disaster risk sensitivity, special attention to vulnerable groups, transparency and environmental sensitivity

Towards a regional road map for disaster risk reduction

• South Asia Policy Dialogue

• South Asia Disaster Report

• Duryog Nivaran – Regional network for disaster management

• Policy influencing and monitoring

Thank you!

www.practicalaction.org www.janathakshan.org