Minimizing corruption risks in housing recovery post-disaster

Shelter assistance and housing recovery post-disaster always face a high risk of corruption. From the disaster itself, higher levels of corruption resulted in an even larger number of deaths from disasters caused by natural hazards, especially in developing countries. (Cevik, 2023). The severity of disasters is a consequence of corruption, but the opportunities for corruption also increase in post-disaster situations. (Calossi, 2012). As shelter and housing are urgently needed following a disaster, urgency breeds corruption opportunities. (Sorensen, 2018). In this situation, governments, aid agencies, and affected people are prone to fall into various spectrums of corruption.

Hence, shelter and housing assistance should be adequately provided, even in urgent situations. Initiatives to curb the risk of corruption still exist amid challenging circumstances. To begin with, transparency through the broad engagement and participation of societies. Before shelter assistance is given to the community, the terms of modality, goods, and services must be communicated to all stakeholders. This ensures a shared responsibility to ensure fairness and quality of assistance. Everyone will know the amount of support, type of assistance, and its limitations. The assistance will have no hidden items since every aspect, including costs and goods grade, is mentioned publicly. For instance, if support uses cash assistance, everyone will know how much money is donated. If support is given using vouchers to purchase construction materials, there will be fair competition amongst local hardware stores.

Another crucial aspect is capacity building for local government, NGOs, construction actors, and homeowners. They should know that shelter assistance and housing recovery support can be provided using various construction materials and methodologies. During recovery efforts, big construction or supplier companies are often attracted to join. However, by developing their capacities, we can ensure that no one can dictate to them to use a particular material or method as endorsed by parties that try to sell goods and services for big profit. Abiding by the building code is also part of developing capacities to ensure there will be building back safer, no matter the construction material or methodologies they choose. Hence, government and aid agencies should deploy their engineers, architects, and skilled builders to conduct training and quality monitoring.

Lastly, there should be a safe complaint mechanism. Delivering substandard quality goods and services is expected to happen. The risk is higher if aid agencies or housing actors deliver large-scale assistance. The voices of unsatisfied beneficiaries may be unheard due to the big celebration of handover ceremonies. There should be experts to follow up on complaints and judge the issue reasonably to ensure the recovery efforts are on track.

All of these factors can put the corruption risks at a minimum.

Arwin Soelaksono

Photo: Faruk Tokluoğlu - https://www.pexels.com/photo/shocked-woman-in-fur-standing-among-ruins-16105715/