Background and Objectives:
The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has tasked the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) to co-ordinate the implementation of the recovery and reconstruction of all earthquake affected areas including the reconstruction of housing.
The government’s strategy for shelter reconstruction entails providing grants and technical support to households to ensure that rebuilt shelters are earthquake-resistant. To this end, ERRA asked UN-HABITAT to provide technical assistance to ensure hazard-resistant housing reconstruction.
UN-HABITAT’s support to ERRA consists of seven key outputs contributing to the government-financed reconstruction of an estimated 400,000 housing units in the affected provinces: (1) Establishing six Housing Reconstruction Centres (HRCs) in the most heavily affected districts responsible for helping to ensure earthquake resistant construction techniques are incorporated into rebuilt homes; (2) Preparing corresponding detailed guidelines and training materials; (3) Carrying out training targeting different stakeholders including local authorities, NGOs, military, and artisans; (4) Establishing mobile teams responsible for damage assessment, delivering training in the field and monitoring compliance with agreed guidelines; (5) Establishing a formal shelter certification system; (6) Designing and implementing a public awareness campaign. To this effect, an agreement with CIDA for CDN$7 million over two years was signed on 14 February 2006. USAID has supplemented with a grant of US$131,725 in September 2006.
Activities:
The main activities include:
Establishing a Housing Reconstruction Centre in the most heavily affected districts.
Developing technical guidelines on earthquake-resistant housing reconstruction for non-engineered and engineered structures covering the range of construction techniques.
Developing training materials for earthquake resistant housing reconstruction for different target audiences, including local authorities, Non-Governmental Organizations, communities, and local artisans.
Training workshops for all stakeholders on earthquake resistant construction techniques.
Implementing large-scale public information campaign.
Producing training management information system.
Results:
Twelve Housing Reconstruction Centres established (UN-HABITAT-6; GTZ-4; DHC-2).
Guidelines prepared and released by ERRA.
1,381 army staff, 1,829 master trainers, 8,600 artisans trained in earthquake-resistant house reconstruction.
Cartoon and Frequently Asked Questions booklet prepared on ERRA policy and 100,000 copies of information materials printed and distributed.
Radio programmes produced for public information.
