Master thesis UEP 2020, Yuna Prajapati
Examining Roles and Impacts of Approaches Applied by NGOs and Government Agencies in the Owner Driven Housing Reconstruction after the Nepali Earthquake
The Case Study of Thecho, Kathmandu, Nepal
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Abstract
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In case of disaster, both government and humanitarian agencies focus more on rural areas than in urban areas. This results in the delay and, in many cases, unmanaged reconstruction in the urban areas making urban areas more vulnerable. The primary objective of this research is to examine the role and impact of Government and NGOs in the reconstruction process in the historical urban settlement in Nepal. This research also involves the challenges and opportunities faced by the Government and NGOs in Owner-Driven Housing Reconstruction approach. The study is one case study based on the historical urban settlement Thecho, which is still struggling with the reconstruction after the five years of a catastrophic earthquake. Thecho is one of the few settlements where two different agencies supported reconstruction with different reconstruction strategies and results. The methodology used in the study is mostly qualitative, as it deals with the socioeconomic aspects of the victims, and governance structure for reconstruction. Both primary and secondary data collection, such as semi-structured interviews, observations, and publications, has been used to understand the situation in the ground, governance structure, and role played by two different stakeholders. On the one hand, the finding of the study reveals the limited capacity, excessive bureaucracy, lack of sound government in the urban context, which made it difficult for victims to rebuild and NGOs to work as well. On the other hand, the research also discloses the NGO's ability to work for the needs and issues of the victims working under the same policies of the government. The thesis highlights the significance of the grassroots approach for a better understanding of the grounds to make policies.