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The work of the Disaster Management Commission has identified a lack of professional skills used in disaster situations, through the Mind the Gap report, and conversations with the humanitarian relief community. |
The BuildAction concept at a glance
- Help vulnerable communities around the world prepare for and recover from disasters
- Work in partnership with professionals who donate their expertise
- Bring together industry and humanitarian expertise
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The humanitarian relief community admitted that mistakes have been made when reconstruction has been carried out without professional advice, and highlighted that humanitarian organisations do not know how to access affordable, trustworthy expertise.
The Commission suggested that a vehicle was needed to get built environment professionals on the ground.
BuildAction is a concept for such a vehicle to provide the expertise of RICS members to those in need, creating new partnerships with firms to achieve this.
Extensive talks between the Commission and the humanitarian relief community confirmed the urgent need for the involvement of property and construction professionals, in both post-disaster reconstruction programmes and at the pre-disaster preparedness phases.
The skills needed by BuildAction will be generic surveying skills; training will be provided in basic humanitarian practice.
Early interest from major international surveying firms illustrates their commitment to the concept as a highly relevant corporate social responsibility initiative, and a means of attracting, retaining and developing staff.
How it might work
BuildAction Projects: to identify, fund and manage construction projects
BuildAction Project Management: to manage projects for other humanitarian relief organisations
BuildAction Services: to advise the humanitarian community on built environment issues
BuildAction Early Response Team: to assess structural damage and advise relief agencies
For FAQs about BuildAction, please refer to the Downloads panel to the right of the page.
For further information contact Emily Darko: edarko@rics.org or sign up for Build Action.
