Reconstruction, transitional development assistance, disaster­ risk management

Millions of people are losing their livelihoods as a result of conflict and natural disasters – more than 122 million individuals have been displaced. People in acute emergency situations need rapid assistance and the prospect of regaining their independence in the long term. 

This is where our projects come in: 

• We assist with rebuilding destroyed infrastructure.
• We strengthen local administrations and municipalities
• We activate people in their ability to help themselves. 

People develop resilience when they regain access to education, health care and employment opportunities – and when they can determine their own lives. From transitional development assistance to disaster risk management to reconstruction: we work locally, support especially vulnerable individuals and assist our partners so they are better equipped to manage future crises. 

Reconstruction: laying foundations, creating a future

Crisis, conflict and natural disasters not only destroy buildings and roads – they obliterate trust, community spirit and hopes for a better future. Conflicts often leave people without access to basic services such as clean water, health care and schooling. Individuals lose their livelihoods and tensions rise within societies. 

The reconstruction process offers an opportunity to build just and sustainable structures that are better able to withstand future crises.

Our approach: viewing reconstruction as an opportunity

For us, reconstruction is more than damage repair. It is a long-term, forward-looking process.  

Our goals: 

• Strengthen structures
• Enable everyone to participate in society
• Minimise the risk of renewed conflict

To this end, we work to involve local people and take an integrated approach, always bearing in mind the local situation. 

Our services: Reconstruction  

We support the reconstruction of public institutions such as schools, water systems and hospitals – always on the basis of comprehensive risk analyses.

At the same time, we generate economic prospects through training, assistance for small businesses and fair, green jobs.

We also address psychological damage: we offer psychosocial support and promote peace processes. In conflict-hit regions in particular, we bring people together around the same table and strengthen local peacemakers.

The reconstruction process provides an opportunity to minimise risk. Consequently, we factor disaster risk management into our projects – from early warning systems and sustainable land use to social safety nets. In this way, the reconstruction process can help to strengthen communities, promote more equitable resource distribution and prevent new crises.

We plan and realise our projects in collaboration with local people. This builds trust, meets real needs and places projects on a sustainable footing.

Transitional development assistance: from crisis to new prospects

Through transitional development assistance, we bridge the gap between acute crises and new prospects for the future. These crises could be human-induced situations, such as war, or disasters resulting from droughts, earthquakes, etc.

Transitional development assistance builds on humanitarian aid, which is limited in the first instance to meeting fundamental needs. We take it one step further by developing people’s capacity to help themselves and strengthening local structures to make them more resilient.

Our transitional development assistance work sees us collaborating with a number of different areas simultaneously to stabilise the livelihoods of affected individuals as far as possible. 

Our four priority areas are:

• Ensuring food and nutrition security
• Rebuilding basic infrastructure and services
• Disaster risk management
• Promoting peaceful and inclusive communities

Disaster risk management: better prepared for dealing with the unpredictable

Natural disasters claim human lives and destroy livelihoods and natural habitats. The flooding in Pakistan in 2022 and the earthquakes in Syria and Turkey in 2023 make it clear: natural events become natural disasters when they occur in unprotected and particularly vulnerable societies.

Countries with structural instability and ongoing conflict are hit especially hard – they are usually the places without effective mechanisms to protect against disasters and natural hazards. These regions often feel the repercussions of such events for many years. The economic damage has more than doubled over the last 30 years. 

In our interconnected world, the impact of natural disasters frequently transcends national borders. An increasing amount of infrastructure is being built in densely populated, high-risk regions. However, barely any consideration is being given to disaster risk amidst rampant development of urban spaces  and economic zones.

Comprehensive approach for better protection

Disaster risk management affects different areas such as urban development, infrastructure planning, climate change adaptation and agriculture.

Consequently, we bring several fields together to identify risks early on and mitigate them in the long term. We pool expertise and capacities to provide effective protection against natural disasters in cooperation with strong partners, including:

• German Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK)
• German Committee for Disaster Reduction e.V. (DKKV)
• German Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW)
• German Red Cross (DRK)
• United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)
• Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR)

Effective disaster risk management requires clear responsibilities, reliable systems and a legislative framework. For this reason, we link local communities with regional networks and national structures. 

How we protect people from natural disasters:

• Analyse risks: our experts check which locations are at risk and who lives and works there. Scenarios are created on this basis to pinpoint where action is needed
• Take precautions: we combine construction measures such as dams and slope reinforcement with awareness-raising initiatives and smart land use planning. We advise our partners on how to account for the risks in their development plans.
• Getting equipped: we ensure communities are prepared for emergencies with the right equipment, sophisticated plans and regular drills. State-of-the-art early-warning systems such as warning apps supplement tried-and-tested emergency plans.
• Insure against risk: not every risk can be prevented. Consequently, we advise on insurance solutions and social security systems that provide rapid access to funding for reconstruction in the aftermath of a disaster.
• Provide assistance: we assist with restoring the most essential services quickly in the aftermath of disasters . We focus our work here on the actual needs of local people.
• Building back better: there is something to be learned from every crisis. New buildings can be made more stable and regulations improved as part of the reconstruction process. We make sure that new structures serve the needs of everyone – with accessible entrances and design features that reflect the different needs of women and men.