Paper details
| Paper authors | Isaac Besarra, Karin Pfeffer, Marc van den Homberg, and Eefje Hendriks |
| In panel on | Ethical Exits and Future Trajectories: Reimagining Closure, Localisation and Humanitarian Practice |
| Paper presenter(s) will be presenting |
In-Person / |
Abstract
In the wake of disasters caused by natural hazards, only a fraction of affected households receive formal assistance for rebuilding their houses. As international humanitarian aid faces declining funding, a growing majority are left to reconstruct without support, relying on personal resources, informal labour, and vernacular construction methods. This shift underscores the need for a deeper understanding of self-recovery processes. Rather than focusing solely on physical aspects, such as the hazard resistance of housing, this study emphasizes the importance of evaluating broader livelihood sustainability of post-disaster recovery, including social, natural, financial and human capital. Through a scoping review, the study identifies key indicators and frameworks that assess the barriers to reconstruction decision-making and the long-term sustainable livelihood impacts of self-recovery. The review offers valuable insights for humanitarian actors, highlighting how data from independently recovering households can inform more targeted, cost-effective, and scalable support strategies. Ultimately, the findings aim to guide organizations in recognizing when and how to assist self-recovering communities, improving the reach and relevance of recovery assistance efforts in future disaster responses.
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