ERRA International conference: Learning from experiences in reconstruction and rehabilitation for rebuilding lives and communities after disasters

The earthquake that struck Pakistan on October 8, 2005, measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale, was the most devastating natural disaster in Pakistan’s history. Faced with damage and destruction on an unprecedented scale, and that too in a very difficult geographical terrain, Government of Pakistan established Federal Relief Commission (FRC) to undertake relief operations.

Subsequently, the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) rising to the challenge, launched a very effective and comprehensive response to address the imperatives of early recovery and medium to long-term reconstruction and rehabilitation in the affected areas. The national and international reviews and validations have rated relief and recovery operations as very effective. Such progress was made possible only through an exemplary civil, military and international collaboration in handling a natural disaster of this proportion. Support from countries and many national and international organisations proved to be pivotal in this endeavour.

ERRA, with a total of over 13000 projects in its reconstruction portfolio, spread over 30,000 sq. km, is now well into the Reconstruction and Rehabilitation phase of its operations. Over 4,000 of these projects have been completed, already. Moreover the Owner Driven Rural Housing Programme has been completed with the assistance of donors and implementing partners. The reconstruction of over 430,000 houses within a period of mere 3 years warrants due recognition, besides sharing this experience with the world.

ERRA believes that its successes and the experiences gained and the lessons learned during the implementation of the housing programme and the reconstruction of destroyed infrastructure in education, health and water & sanitation sectors ought to be shared with the organisations, both at national and international level, working for Post Earthquake Recovery, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation.

These lessons have great value as they can prove helpful in designing reconstruction and rehabilitation programmes in similar post disaster situations. There is, at the same time, a continuing need to obtain the valuable feedback from academics and practitioners from around the world, on ERRA’s programmes and projects in the light of principles evolved, approaches designed and implemented in other disaster contexts to enrich our experiences. An International Conference structured around the theme; “Converting Adversity into Opportunity: Learning from Experiences in Reconstruction and Rehabilitation for Rebuilding Lives and Communities after Disasters” has been planned in April 2010.

Objectives

To share ERRA’s experiences in post earthquake reconstruction and rehabilitation with and to learn from the national, regional and global community. These experiences encompass a wide spectrum i.e. the rural housing programme, reconstruction of destroyed/damaged infrastructure in education, health and water and sanitation sectors,interalia, participatory models and activities relating to community programme, livelihoods, gender equality, environmental protection/safeguards and disaster risk reduction.

-  To reaffirm commitment of the Government of Pakistan and ERRA to ensure speedy completion of reconstruction and
rehabilitation programmes with the fullest involvement of the stakeholders and affected population.

-  To bring together the policy makers and practitioners to help find how far the conceived policy gets translated into practice.

-  To interact/network with regional and international disaster management institutions.