A new model for effective post-disaster housing reconstruction: Lessons from Gujarat and Bihar in India Mittul Vahanvati ⁎ , Martin Mulligan School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia Received 31 March 2016; received in revised form 19 January 2017; accepted 6 February 2017 Available online xxxx Abstract This paper critiques the traditional project management (PM) approach for post-disaster reconstruction work in relation to long-term effectiveness at strengthening disaster resilience of communities. While assessments of post-disaster reconstruction projects normally occurs within a few years of the disaster this paper is based on a study of four ‘good practice’ reconstruction projects, 15 years after the earthquake and seven years after the flooding disaster from the Indian states of Gujarat and Bihar respectively. This extended timeframe enabled the examination of long- term outcomes related to disaster resilience of communities. The comparison of the four case study projects through extended timeframe enabled authors to articulate critical success factors contributing to project's effectiveness. The research found that the best long-term outcomes were achieved when the agencies implementing post-disaster housing reconstruction projects: 1) adopted an ‘agile’ approach to project planning and implementation; 2) allocated ample time for gaining and maintaining community trust; iii) provided multiple materials, technologies and skilled labour choices to ensure hazard-safety of housing, and (iv) continued community capacity building beyond the completion of the reconstruction work. These imperatives have prompted the development of a progressive, spiral model for effective post-disaster housing reconstruction project management which is presented in this paper. Classification: Empirical research paper. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd, APM and IPMA. All rights reserved. Keywords: Project life-cycle; Housing reconstruction; Post-disaster project management; India; Community capacity; Resilience 1. Introduction Over the last 10 years, disasters have continued to increase in frequency, magnitude and complexity, affecting the wellbeing and safety of increasing numbers of people and communities, especially those with high levels of hazard exposure most commonly found in ‘developing’ countries (UNISDR, 2015). This increase in disaster exposure has prompted a growing interest in how post-disaster reconstruction (PDR) work can make affected communities safer and more resilient to future disasters, whether they are deemed to be ‘natural’ or human-induced disasters (Jha et al., 2010; UNDRO, 1982). The relatively new focus on ‘disaster resilience’ echoes earlier suggestions that PDR can provide an opportunity to “Build Back Better” (Sendai framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030) and can play a role in “building a culture of safety and resilience” for the long term (Hyogo Framework for Action 2005–2015) (IFRC, 2004; UN-Habitat, UNHCR, and IFRC, 2012; UNISDR, 2005, 2015). In theory, effective PDR should aim to enhance disaster prevention and preparedness (GoI-UNDP, 2011) (see Table 1) and should "pay Abbreviations: EDM, Earthquake Disaster Mitigation and Research Centre; GSDMA, Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority; ODR, Owner Driven Reconstruction; PDR, Post-disaster reconstruction; PM, Project management; SEEDS, Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development; UNCRD, United Nations Centre for Regional Development ⁎ Corresponding author. E-mail addresses: mittul.vahanvati@rmit.edu.au (M. Vahanvati), martin.mulligan@rmit.edu.au (M. Mulligan). www.elsevier.com/locate/ijproman http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2017.02.002 0263-7863/00 © 2017 Elsevier Ltd, APM and IPMA. All rights reserved. Please cite this article as: M. Vahanvati, M. Mulligan, 2017. A new model for effective post-disaster housing reconstruction: Lessons from Gujarat and Bihar in India, Int. J. Proj. Manag. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2017.02.002 Available online at www.sciencedirect.com ScienceDirect International Journal of Project Management xx (2017) xxx – xxx JPMA-01988; No of Pages 16