Crisis Prevention and Recovery

Recovery

Following disasters and armed conflict, UNDP assists national governments and communities to lay the foundation for sustainable development. UNDP’s expertise and resources focus on:

• Early recovery: Recovery focuses on restoring the capacity of national institutions and communities after a crisis. Early Recovery is recovery that begins in a humanitarian relief setting immediately following a natural disaster or armed conflict. Guided by development principles, the early recovery phase aims to generate self-sustaining, nationally-owned processes to stabilize human security and address underlying risks that contributed to the crisis.

• Economic recovery: Natural disasters and conflicts destroy homes, businesses, markets and communities. Wide socioeconomic discrepancies, marginalization of groups or regions, and competition over natural resources are often the catalysts of conflict.

• Recovering from natural disasters: UNDP supports countries in damage assessments, strategic planning, programme design and implementation to ensure sound recovery interventions which integrate risk reduction approaches.

• Security: Security is necessary for recovery and long-term development. Restoration occurs through very specific programmes such as de-mining of farms and fields, the reduced availability of small arms, and the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants. The reinstitution of an effective, transparent and accountable police and corrections system is crucial to safety and security.

• Social cohesion and reconciliation: Countries in post-crisis recovery must repair the damaged social fabric. Transitional justice mechanisms are an initial step to restoration of citizens' faith in a justice system and rule of law. Prosecution of crimes perpetuated against women can help women recover. The reintegration of internally displaced populations and ex-combatants contribute to reconciliation of the communities.

• Transitional governance: In the immediate aftermath of a crisis, interventions to regenerate national ownership are key. Assisting national stakeholders to gain control of their recovery process is paramount.