Improving Post-conflict Self-recovery Programming: Addressing the Complexities in Syria

Supporting shelter self-recovery in post-conflict situations remains an area of little research and operational guidance. The sparse guidance that exists has mainly been developed for disaster contexts. Post-conflict situations are significantly more complex than post-disaster ones due, in particular, to the duration of the crises, the social considerations of people involved, and the effects on the local economy. This chapter presents primary research completed in 2020, which consisted of a literature review and a case study of self-recovery support programming in Syria. It highlights the key barriers currently impeding post-conflict support to self-recovery and provides recommendations to overcome these, articulated around four key areas for action: (1) managing risk effectively; (2) increasing adaptability of funding; (3) addressing the social dimension; and (4) building capacity at multiple levels. This research thus seeks to provide practical tools for organizations implementing self-recovery programming in post-conflict situations.