A ‘Guide to the Built Environment Professions in Disaster Risk Reduction and Response for the Humanitarian Sector’ has been launched this week by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). 

Targeted at humanitarian and development agencies, the Guide demonstrates the value and expertise that built environment professionals can offer at all stages of the disaster management process, from prevention, to relief and longer term reconstruction to reduce the devastation caused by disasters.

The Guide supports humanitarian agencies in the process of ensuring that the best use is made of available finance and reconstruction efforts, whilst also enabling local people to learn new skills, and, crucially, that a legacy archive of ‘lessons learned’ is developed.

The Guide will form part of the institutes’ contribution to work by the United Nation’s Global Shelter and Recovery Clusters to enhance the capacity and quality of the humanitarian sector’s assistance to disaster-hit communities.

David Tuffin, Chairman of RICS’ Major Disaster Management Commission, comments:

“This is a great example of team-working among the major professions, to advise the global Third Sector on who does what in land, property and construction. The guide will be invaluable for humanitarian and development agencies and help them to tap into the wide pool of enthusiastic professionals in this field.”

Tom Foulkes, Director General, ICE said:

“Civil engineers play a very important role in disaster management. This guide is an invaluable resource for helping third sector bodies understand how local and international civil engineers can be best utilised, whether contributing to preventative risk assessment prior to an event or offering technological advice for reconstructing vital infrastructure once disaster has struck.”

Martin Willey, President, Royal Town Planning Institute said:

“This document will provide invaluable help to disaster hit communities across the world at a time when their lives are in crisis. It will also save lives in the first place by providing leading edge advice from professionals who can make a huge difference should the worst ever happen”.

Sunand Prasad, President, RIBA said:

“Specialist expertise is most effective when combined with other areas of expertise. This guide is an example of a new determination amongst professional institutions to work more closely together to best serve society.  I believe it will prove valuable to the many agencies and individuals around the world dedicated to recovery from and avoidance of disasters.”