1 Checklists of Swiss Solidarity Shelter Meeting Geneva May 2008 Presented by Tom Schacher, Swiss Solidarity (Technical checklists developed by Heiner Gloor)

2 Role of Checklists Improve the quality of assistance projects of NGO partners of SwS A compilation of lessons learned over the last 20 years which has lead to: –Definition of minimal standards / minimal requirements –Asking of questions to stimulate reflection

3 Example

4 Checklists for Reconstruction Reconstruction after earthquakes Reconstruction in general Construction of Latrines Water Supply Town Planning and Spatial Development Prevention and Preparedness

5 Other Checklists Agronomy: Securing Food Supplies Agronomy: Production Agronomy: Livestock Farming Social: Taining Social: Familiy Reintegration Finance: Savings and Loans Health Conflict Sensitivity and Prevention

6 Structure Reconstruction Checklists 1.Technical aspects 2.Social and cultural aspects 3.Legal aspects 4.Partner organisation(s) 5.Power balance + 6.Documentation requested from NGO submitting a project proposal

7 Base Line Houses/shelters are not isolated items! No houses without addressing the water and sanitation issues! No houses in resettlement operations without addressing livelihood issues (access, income, education, health) No houses without clarifying just ownership issues (e.g. gender).

8 1. Technical aspects Site selection: Safety: land slides, flooding, etc. Water, access, livelyhood Social services: schools, health centres, markets Public infrastructure: water, sewage, electricity, transport

9 1. Technical aspects Construction: Solidity: materials, details (higher demands in natural disaster areas like EQ, hurricanes or flooding) Execution: quality of workmanship, supervision Ecology and sustainability: climate, use of local materials (maintenance), protection of environment

10 2. Social and cultural aspects Cultural integration and acceptance of project Creation of new dependencies Involvement of beneficiaries (physical and economic dimensions) Maintenance: how can it be ensured? Special latrines: cultural aspects

11 3. Legal aspects Current ownership of land Future ownership of land and building Question of men/women ownership Transfer mechanism and Guarantees (official agreements, etc.) What permits are needed, where and when to get them.

12 4. Partner organisations Capacity: technical, manpower, financial, experience Network: integration in local context, contacts to decision makers Reputation: track record, political colour

13 5. Power balance Who has the power to decide, at which level? What’s the strategy to deal with the decision makers? What are your own trump cards?

14 6. Requested documentation Detailed project description –With specific answers to all questions of the checklists Detailed budget Detailed drawings –With detailed Bill of Quantities

15 Open issues Core business of NGOs –Should an NGO inexperienced in construction get into reconstruction projects? –How can it ensure technical quality without having technical staff in their HQ? –How does communication work with SwS experts (who is able to answer questions)? –Is it enough to rely on local technicians / engineers in the field?

16 Open issues Qualification of local technicians/experts –Though politically correct and cheaper, they often don’t have a broad development perspective and experience. Their technical knowhow might also be lower, particularly with regard to prevention of natural disaster. –Which construction standards should be applied: local but insufficient ones, or international but ‘exaggerated’ ones?