Built Environment Professions in Disaster

Management

Shailesh Kataria

RICS Disaster Management Commission

RICS

• Non-profit international organisation - 100,000 members in 140 countries. Explicit ‘public interest’ mandate

• Role: Set standards, regulate members and promote best practices for all aspects of land, property and construction

• RICS Disaster Management Commission - 18 Commissioners, 2-3 operational staff

• Role: Improve disaster management efforts by better linking built environment professions with humanitarian/dev. agencies and governments

‘Mind the Gap’ – Key Recommendations

RICS Actions

Gap 1 - Emergency response and long-term recovery: reduce by increasing involvement of BE professionals in disaster management

a) 2008: BuildAction initiative set up

b) b) 2009: DMC to work with/within needs of Shelter Cluster

Gap 2 - BE professions and ‘disaster management sector’ cultures: a)build understanding of BE professions b)strengthen BE professionals’ capacity to work more effectively with communities

a) Guide to BE Professions in DM

b) Best practices training and resources planned for BE professionals – incl. DM & Reconstruction Process Protocol

Guide: Disaster management ‘spiral’ as framework for involving

BE professions

Disaster Management Phases and Role of

Professionals

Example: Assessment, risk reduction and disaster preparedness phases

Disaster Management & Reconstruction Process

Protocol• Focus on disaster management and

reconstruction as processes• Framework to enable built environment

professionals to work more collaboratively with other stakeholders

• Consultative guide – needs considerable feedback/work

Next steps – scaling up

RICS DM Commission & BuildAction supporting work of:• Shelter Cluster, surge capacity, etc• Indian Government/EMI for Mumbai DM Plan• UNICEF Child-friendly schools programme• Good Earth Trust – for sustainable reconstruction• World Bank’s publications for reconstruction• Partnerships - other BE professional institutes,

Universities (Salford/Westminster), Development from Disasters Network for promoting best practices and training of BE professionals

Open call for collaboration with any operational partners.Contact: skataria@rics.org