A Neighborhood Approach to Build Resilience and Repair Shelters (NABuRRS)

The project is implemented by World Concern Development Organization (WCDO) in partnership with Engineering Ministries International (EMI) and is supported by the USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Affairs (BHA). The goal of the project is to ensure that all vulnerable populations in Haiti have access to safe shelter during severe weather events. A total of 707 evacuation centers were assessed during a previous phase of the NABuRRS project. From the data collected during this initial assessment phase, 100 evacuation centers will be selected for upgrades. These 100 shelters require additional detailed assessments to determine the necessary repairs. The assessments and designs will be conducted by WCDO engineers in Haiti and reviewed and supported by EMI's team of engineers. The NABuRRS project focuses on the southern peninsula of Haiti, specifically in the Grand'Anse, Nippes, South, and South East departments. The project aims to improve risk reduction approaches and increase community resilience in these vulnerable communities. The intervention includes shelter and settlement upgrades, water, sanitation, and hygiene improvements, and risk management, policy, and practice enhancements. The project involves a phased intervention to address the need for evacuation centers in the vulnerable southern peninsula of Haiti. The intervention includes the selection of 100 centers for rehabilitation, which will be implemented using local construction crews supervised by WCDO and EMI engineers. Facility rehabilitations will include improvements to site accessibility, WASH needs, structural repairs/strengthening, and ensuring that centers are safe and gender sensitive for use as an evacuation center. The training provided by EMI to WCDO engineers focused on design procedures, including general site design, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) design, structural design, and computer-aided design (CAD). The training program included visits to three facilities to perform follow-up assessments and verify preliminary assessment data. The facility assessments were then utilized as examples for the design training. The NABuRRS project has a strong focus on community engagement and participation. The project works with the community to assess the current state of evacuation centers and involves local leaders and Government of Haiti (GoH) officials in the planning and implementation process. The project aims to ensure that evacuation centers are safe, accessible, and meet minimum standards for shelter, WASH, and risk management. The project's success is measured through the implementation of the phased intervention, including the selection and rehabilitation of 100 evacuation centers. The project's impact is expected to be significant, with improved shelter and settlement conditions, enhanced WASH services, and increased community resilience in the face of natural disasters.