Malawi, detail shelter response profile: local building cultures for sustainable and resilient habitats

Abstract

International audienceThis document introduces reference data on local building cultures and local sociocultural resilient strategies. These references are to be considered as a basis for the elaboration of project-specific strategies and also as a grid of analysis with a first set of conclusions. Context and details will differ from one place to another and stakeholders will benefit from the collected data in order to make comprehensive and accurate decisions.SRPs have several complementary objectives:-To help recognise the importance of understanding a context before proposing any action or project.- To favour the development of shelter and human settlements responses (preparedness, early-recovery or later phases linking with development stages) more focused on localization, reduction of climate change impact, and promotion of self-recovery strategies.- To help better take into account the existing construction sector, natural and human resources, local knowledge, solutions and good practices, and local cultural and social practices such as existing DRR knowledge, know-how and techniques at various scales (materials, building systems, house, compound, settlement organisation).- To give a non exhaustive overview of a country or territory: demographic, cultural, social and economic data; hazards, environment and climate change impacts; impact of crises in the population; HLP issues; legal and institutional framework; construction sector, etc., and so to help orient practitioners in new contexts.- To eventually become an advocacy tool for the shelter sector/cluster members, agencies, donors, or local authorities for more localized actions, more focused on promoting self-recovery and communities’ resilience