Rebuilding Low-Heritage Villages After Disasters

The rehabilitation of low-heritage villages destroyed by the 2004 and 2005 earthquakes in Nias Island, Indonesia was challenged by obstacles that initially seemed insurmountable. The prices of building materials were too steep for the residents.  Tensions between traditional leaders (adat) and modern village heads (kepala desa) have also delayed agreements on land ownership and water supply connection.

In order to address these issues, the Asian Development Bank assisted the villages, through the Earthquake and Tsunami Emergency Sector Project, in using a different approach to rehabilitate the villages.

The project, instead of tapping contractors, contracted the communities to rebuild the villages. Local craftsmen were hired to help build the houses and sourcing of construction materials was simplified. This reduced the cost of rehabilitating the villages, which had to fit a very limited budget. Indigenous mechanisms were likewise used to facilitate the agreements on right of way issues between the adat and kepala desa.

The project helped the villages stand up again after two major disasters by facilitating the repair and construction of low-heritage value houses that are not costly, but still earthquake proof. Beyond rebuilding houses, the project has also encouraged community ownership and generated much-needed employment. These are solid building blocks on which the residents can expand, rebuild or redevelop their houses in the future, when they have enough resources to do so.