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Technology and capacity building for the creation of sustainable livelihoods ..

"The search for human well being has led to a growing demand for models of development different from those that have thus far dominated economic and political thinking. While development must certainly create wealth, it must also directly and simultaneously enhance social justice and equity. At the same time, it has to care for environmental quality and the productivity of the resource base. And it must do so not only for everyone now, but also for the generations to come.

To achieve these complex goals, we need technologies and institutions that use resources efficiently, value systems that conserve and regenerate the environment and economic structures that promote self-reliant, endogenous choices.

The need for basic goods and services for the poor, livelihoods for the unemployed and action to save the environment continues to be unmet. The topmost priority in the national sustainable development goals for developing countries is the creation of sustainable livelihoods without further impoverishment of the environment. In developing countries, new economic opportunities must necessarily be enhanced as these countries are engaged in building up economic opportunities, infrastructure and housing.

Sustainability on a global scale must be driven by a mix of clean and efficient production systems at all scales, including the micro and small that create jobs by the millions. Essentially, developing societies will need a large number of technology based sustainable livelihoods. Sustainable livelihoods are jobs that generate income, create goods and services for basic needs, and regenerate the environment and natural resource base. And in doing so Sustainable livelihoods will improve the quality of life of the poor in these countries.

The more important aspect is perhaps not the products or technologies themselves but the manner in which they have, in some cases and can in many more, be developed and mass disseminated. This is where independent sector organizations such as Development Alternatives, play a key role in their own right and by networking with the academia, government, funding agencies and private sector".

The primary focus of Development Alternatives in this field has been in the form of Resettlement (reconstruction), Rehabilitation (creation of livelihoods) and Readiness (training in improved construction) packages. DA’s R&R activities initiated after the UttarKashi earthquake in 1993 and followed with the Latur and Jabalpur earthquakes have built in capacities and strength with the DA group to provide holistic response packages. Besides addressing R&R needs post natural disasters, the DA Group also develops customized response packages for Resettlement and Rehabilitation of communities due to development projects such as mining and thermal energy projects.

An effective approach for the design of Reconstruction and Rehabilitation packages would be to understand the need for building materials, buildings and livlihoods and catalyze the conversion of this need into demand for sustainable building materials and Sustainable Building Technology Enterprises.


The response strategy would thus address the present need of reconstruction through local building technology based enterprises that would ensure continuous supply of quality building materials, improvement in shelter and long term livelihood creation.

Reconstruction and Rehabilitation: An approach

Reconstruction and Rehabilitation in Disaster Affected Regions:

Guiding Principles based on learning from experiences of Latur, Jabalpur, Azadpura, Lok-Shakti ,Orissa Cyclone Rehabilitation etc.

Reconstruction

Technology selection takes place after a study of the existing Building systems and identifying the existing lacunas w.r.t Cyclone resistance and other factors. As far as possible existing technologies and construction practices should be retained and improvised upon for new constructions.

Integration of Disaster (Earthquake, Cyclone etc.) resistant features is an important criteria while selecting the technology.

Strengthening of the existing houses / buildings is an important aspect since all the existing houses cannot be broken down and reconstructed. Retrofitting should therefore be considered.

New construction and reconstruction process directly gets linked with the training of artisans to ensure disaster resistant features within the local building system directory.

Sensitivity to existing life-styles is a must. People should not be made to live as we want them to. The new designs should follow their existing settlement patterns.

Community involvement should be the prime tool for decision making.

Rehabilitation


Livelihoods related to Shelter is an important factor to ensure sustenance of the Building Material production process and its use in future. Training to local people is an important component of the process.

The future of the process already initiated through training of people in Reconstruction activities has to be ensured. People should be able to get jobs once the reconstruction phase is over. Involvement of the local partner (Building Centres, NGO’s ), therefore from the beginning, is a must.

Existing livelihood technologies (other than Shelter) to be studied and improvised, if need be by coordinating with relevant institutions with expertise

Existing local partners to be identified in the process and coordination initiated.

The market potential to be explored for the above (NTFP based, Pottery etc.) within or outside the region.

Improvement of Quality of life through health and education programs is an integral part of the rehabilitation process. Linkages with existing programs of this nature should be established.

Development Alternatives (DA) is a not-for-profit research and development organisation established in 1983. It designs and fosters new relationships needed between technology, nature and people to attain the goal of Sustainable Development. DA is part of a larger and continually expanding Development Alternatives Group, in which its sister organisations Technology and Action for Rural Development (TARA) and TARA Nirman Kendra (TNK) undertake the production and marketing of technology packages and their products. People First, its policy wing, assists in building a favourable regulatory framework for sustainable development initiatives. DA has built up a nationwide network of partners, facilities and field centres working on projects aimed directly at the fulfilment of basic needs without destroying the environment. With a multi-displinary team of nearly one hundred professionals providing core competencies in innovation and over two hundered staff members engaged in local initiatives to implemetns its activities, DA is one of the largest independent sector organisations in India. It provides technology packages, technical support, information and consultancy to enterprises, community development organisations and government bodies.

The Development Alternatives Group works in a three pronged strategy:

Innovation - Action - Outreach.

The credo of the DA Group is "Building Partnerships for Sustainable Development". The DA group develops models for large scale dissemination of sustainable technologies through diverse network partners. These partners or agents of change are at various levels: government and quasi governmental bodies, non-government agencies, private sector technology promoters, community groups and academic institutions. Critical inputs in the form of supports are designed to maximize the effectiveness of these change agents. These inputs range from design, technical information, technology transfer supports, training, promotional packages and network linkages.

Development Alternatives and the basin network : The Building Advisory Service & Information Network (basin) is a unique coalition of experts with worldwide experience in all aspects of the building sector. basin was established in 1988 to provide information and advice on sustainable building technology and to create links with now-how resources in the world for all those in need of relevant information. basin is a network of nine intwernational organisations: basin provides a comprehensive range of expertise, experience, knowledge and skills to support new initiatives in the building construction sector. basin works through "Building partnerships" with clients. It provides individual specialised support reinforced with the comprehensive view that comes from the long and diverse experience of partner organisations in developing countries. basin aims to: · Provide free flow of information between individuals and organisations concerned with building technologies in all parts of the world. - Provide demand based practical information and qualified technical advice and assistance to those involved in the building construction. - Promote the use of proven affordable, environmentally sound and energy efficient building materials and construction methods. - Promote ways of maximising returns form local resources and skills in the field of cost-effective housing - Collect and provide customer oriented information on cost effective building methods - Stimulate local initiative and profitable investment in the provision of cost effective housing - Offer a full range of sector specific services such as feasibility studies, project implementation, operation and maintenance and institutional capacity building. Visit basin at: www.gtz.de/basin

The Centro Experimental de la Vivienda Economica, Argentina International Centre for Earth Construction, Grenoble, France Development Alternatives, New Delhi ECOSouth, Latin America German Appropriate Technology Exchange Intermediate Technology Development Group, UK Pagtambayayong Foundation, Phillipines Shelter Forum, Kenya The Swiss Centre for Appropriate Technology, Switzerland

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