6th International i-Rec conference: Sustainable post-disaster reconstruction - From recovery to risk reduction

The conference aims to consolidate knowledge and encourage future research in five interlinked areas related to post-disaster reconstruction and risk reduction that are particularly relevant to enhancing societal resilience to disasters.

The conference will focus on five themes:

i. Linking reconstruction with disaster risk reduction
ii. Post-disaster reconstruction in urban areas
iii. Sustainable housing designs and building technologies
iv. Long term impacts of reconstruction programs
v. Bridging the gap between theory and practice: towards a needs-based research agenda.

The impact of post-disaster reconstruction on affected communities’ livelihoods and on their resilience to future disasters cannot be analysed immediately after the reconstruction period is over. Yet, much research draws conclusions about the appropriateness of various reconstruction approaches based on research carried out during or shortly after their implementation. Significantly less attention has been given to the long-term changes triggered by reconstruction, and on whether the vulnerability of the concerned communities to eventual future disasters is indeed mitigated.

By inviting research-based papers on the long-term impact of disaster responses the conference aims at filling this gap. Within the framework of this session the main conference organizers will also have the opportunity to share the findings of their on-going research project on long-term impacts of reconstruction programs in India with the international scientific community, policy makers, and professionals...