By Rohan Trivedi, AIDMI, India

Post-disaster reconstruction must go beyond rebuilding infrastructure to ensuring safety, dignity, and equity within households and communities. When reconstruction introduces new resources, housing ownership, or financial control, it can reshape household power relations. While these changes may strengthen women’s agency, they can also provoke tension or violence if gender norms and protection concerns are ignored. Recovery planning must therefore recognise domestic safety as an essential part of resilience.

First, reconstruction programmes should promote joint and transparent decision-making in housing, finance, and asset ownership to reduce conflict within households. Second, community-based support systems—including women’s collectives, self-help groups, and local leaders—should be strengthened to mediate disputes and provide safe spaces for dialogue.

Third, action research and monitoring should document how reconstruction affects household power dynamics and identify early warning signs of domestic stress.

Fourth, training for recovery practitioners and local officials can help them recognise risks of gender-based violence and connect affected women with support services.

Finally, integrating GBV prevention into housing and livelihood recovery programmes ensures that reconstruction strengthens both physical resilience and social protection. By embedding these safeguards into recovery processes, reconstruction can rebuild not only homes and livelihoods but also safer and more equitable relationships within communities.