Supporting self-recovery in post-conflict situations: insights from Syria

Abstract

Self-recovery shelter support is a modality of humanitarian aid which remains illdefined and misunderstood despite the many aid organizations that attempt to undertake this work. Of the existing knowledge and best practices regarding selfrecovery support methods, most has been developed from natural disaster situations and when considering post-conflict scenarios, self-recovery support methods are even more complex and under-researched. This study seeks to bring clarity to self-recovery support in post-conflict situations by identifying factors influencing the self-recovery support process. The study also seeks to identify ways to enhance self-recovery support for actors involved by reinforcing facilitators and mitigating barriers. These objectives are met through a combination of a literature review and a case study analysis of self-recovery support methods currently being employed in Syria. The results of this study include a framework which identifies and categorizes common factors, barriers, and facilitators which influence the implementation of self-recovery support projects. The results also include a list of recommendations to improve these projects for stakeholders involved. Based on an analysis of these recommendations, five key areas for action are discussed which are: 1) maximizing implementing organizations’ capacities, 2) contextualizing risks, 3) increasing adaptable and flexible programming, 4) addressing the social dimension, and 5) improving international coordination.