Preliminary assessment of the pilot structure approach to humanitarian sheltering

This report brings forward the key findings of the Structure approach demonstrating how an incremental approach can foster community-driven shelter solutions in the onset of emergencies as well as in post-emergency contexts. The Structure approach builds upon the concepts of ‘transitional tent’ and ‘transitional shelter’, developed by Shelter Centre in recent years. The transitional approach, which implies the possibility of relocation, aims to provide immediate and continuous support, simultaneous to reconstruction efforts. Structure’s incremental approach aims to go one step further and allow beneficiaries to use local materials to adapt the shelter for local needs during the lifespan of the shelter and upon the restoration of the local supply chain. Key findings of this report include:

• The Structure has proven to perform well in different cultural and climatic contexts. The assessments showed that it can be easily clad with tarpaulin and supports well, the addition of locally sourced materials, to adapt it further to those operational contexts. Protection was achieved against extreme temperatures, water, and vectors.
• In post-emergency contexts, the Structure has proven to perform well and demonstrated with ease the ability to be upgraded using locally available materials.
• The Structure has demonstrated its potential to perform well in transitional contexts, where local materials used to improve the performance and appropriateness of the Structure to culture and climate can later be re-used, or upcycled, into permanent housing being repaired or reconstructed.
• The Structure pilot project intends to continue to gather data on various implementations in different contexts, and to continue to share findings with the broader humanitarian community. Further research or an extension of the pilot phase, is recommended, to understand the transitional opportunities offered by selecting materials which can subsequently be upcycled, as part of repair and reconstruction activities of permanent housing.