In post-disaster settings, the urgency and scale of the need for shelter poses a tremendous challenge. These practical guidelines provide guidance regarding the key aspects of sustainable reconstruction.

The guidelines focus mainly on the reconstruction phase, in particular on permanent housing. Yet, the manual can be applied in some aspects also to the early recovery phase and the provision of transitional shelter. The manual takes into account, also, risk-reduction measurement in order to prepare for any upcoming disaster.

Although the focus of this manual is on housing, the reader will likely find some of the information applicable to other types of buildings (health facilities, schools, public buildings, etc.).

The guidelines concentrate on the physical aspects of reconstruction, which provide the basis for, and go hand in hand with, community rehabilitation and the rebuilding of livelihoods. The manual will not go into the details of community rehabilitation and livelihoods rebuilding.