Land Tenure & Disasters: Response, Rebuilding, Resilience

Experts will share their experiences working in Sri Lanka, Haiti, and Indonesia. The panelists will discuss the problems that arise when land and property rights are overlooked in response and rebuilding efforts, including conflict, delay, and higher costs. They will also explain how we can address these problems before a disaster strikes, by: 

• Creating projects that strengthen the capacity of land administration institutions and staff; 
• Building resilience by identifying safe and secure spaces for reconstruction; 
• Including communities in documenting land rights and creating solutions for shelter; and
• Recognizing the rights of vulnerable communities living in informal housing.

Panelists:

• Dr. Cynthia Caron, Assistant Professor of International Development and Social Change at Clark University
• Bharat Pathak, Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation Director at Mercy Corps
• Adriana Navarro-Sertich, Housing and Urban Planning Advisor at UNOPS Haiti-Washington