Impact case study database

The research and resultant impact of G1 (Amaratunga, Haigh and Malagoda) won the UK Universities Association for Lifelong Learning (UALL) International Award for 2018 [5.1], the best project to demonstrate an innovative partnership that created change in an international context.

4.1 Policy and practice of international agencies have been influenced by the research

Knowledge gaps and competencies [3.3, 3.4] and policy recommendations to mainstream disaster resilience into the construction process [3.5, 3.6] have been used as guidance and are cited in UN publications that target local government leaders. These are linked to UNDRR’s global Making Cities Resilient campaign (MCR) that began in 2010, including ‘Ten Essentials’ for MCR and has engaged formally with over 4,360 cities worldwide. UNDRR are the UN focal point for DRR and were a research partner on G1. Amaratunga and Haigh were founding members of the MCR campaign steering committee and the only two formally appointed UK Advocates [5.2].

Jerry Velasquez, Head of Advocacy and Outreach, UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) [5.3] confirmed that: “We recognise the need to engage all stakeholders in implementing the Sendai Framework and to better address the construction sector in our advocacy work and guidance. The knowledge gaps and recommendations to mainstream disaster resilience into the construction process have been vital in updating our Ten Essentials, supporting tools and guidance for cities. It has ensured that these UN led efforts address the vital role of the construction sector. The ‘Handbook for Local Government Leaders’ was used by over 4,000 cities that are part of the Campaign”.

The research is embedded (page numbers are listed in section 5 below [5.2]) across sections of 2017 How to Make Cities More Resilient: A Handbook for Local Government Leaders [5.2], a UN Handbook that targets national policy makers and local government leaders around the world, supporting public policy and decision making to reduce disaster risk. It sets out practical guidance for putting the ‘Ten Essentials for MCR’ into action, and is published by UNDRR. Direct inputs were included in the sections on engaging stakeholders, using risk assessments to devise risk action plans, establishing action plans including indicators, different strategies for local governments to finance risk reduction, monitoring and follow up, as well as two case studies. The guidance points to the role of the construction sector in supporting resilience building efforts.

The knowledge gaps [3.3, 3.4] and policy recommendations [3.5, 3.6] were used to inform updates to seven of ten essentials [5.2, 5.3] so that they better reflect the contributions and requirements from the construction industry, including: organise for disaster resilience; identify, understand & use current and future risk scenarios; strengthen financial capacity for resilience; strengthen institutional capacity for resilience; increase infrastructure resilience; ensure preparedness and effective disaster response; and, expedite recovery and build back better.

Review research conducted by UNDRR in 2018 indicates that cities that have joined the campaign have made greater progress in reducing disaster risk than cities that have not gone through a similar process of disaster risk awareness [5.4].

4.2 Influenced disaster risk reduction policies and practices, and changed legislation at the city level

The direct influence on local policies and practices through the UN Handbook described in 4.1 is illustrated by M S Naleem, representing the Eravur Urban Council in Sri Lanka [5.5]: “The Handbook for Local Government has provided us with practical guidance so that we can better assess risks, implement improved action plans for construction projects in Sri Lankan cities, and establish mechanisms for on-going monitoring”. He went on to add, “The knowledge gaps and policy recommendations for local government have helped us to better integrate DRR within our urban development planning processes in a participatory manner. This has included updating our processes for land zoning and making our planning and design processes more risk aware”. The supporting letter confirms: “The case studies on construction processes and development from other cities have also helped us to strengthen institutional capacity for resilience at the local level. It has guided our efforts in applying the Ten Essentials to our city”.

The challenges identified [3.1] and knowledge gaps that emerged [3.4] have resulted in changes to a by-law in Sri Lanka, facilitated by Amaratunga and Haigh’s close engagement with the FSLGA, who were a partner on G1 and G2. This included sensitisation of the research findings with eighteen Sri Lankan Ministers, Chief Secretaries, Commissioners of Local Government, City Mayors and the Director and Additional Secretary from the Ministry of Local Government.

Hemanthi Goonesekera, Chief Executive Officer of the FSLGA, confirmed that [5.6]: “The [CADRE] results have led to us updating the national and local frameworks of laws, regulations and public policies that guide the public and private sectors in addressing disaster risk in publicly owned, managed or regulated services and infrastructures. The outcomes of these discussions led to us revisiting the way building regulations are enforced and in identifying what training and support is given to local officials regarding disaster risk and resilience building”. She stated that, “The influence of their CADRE work is reflected in the development and introduction of a specific by-law on integrating disaster management in local government authorities”.

4.3 Impacts on professional services including the environment (green objectives)

The knowledge gaps were used as the basis for updating two of the Green Building Council of Sri Lanka’s (GBCSL) sustainability rating systems so that construction projects address disaster risk as part of wider green development objectives. This included changes to nine of the criteria for the GREENSL® Rating System for Built Environment in Sri Lanka and nine of the criteria for the GREENSL® Rating System for Green and Smart Cities.

Ranjith Dissanayake, Chairman of the GBCSL, confirmed that [5.7]: “These changes have been formally embedded within GREENSL® Rating System Version 2.0. Sixty-one buildings in Sri Lanka have been rated using the system”. He also confirmed that the updated GREENSL® Rating System for Green and Smart Cities, “is now being used across cities in Sri Lanka”. These systems are used in Sri Lanka by cities, private & government clients, and the construction industry to promote and measure compliance with goals on sustainability.

4.4 Informed policy debates and policymakers make use of research-based critical evidence synthesis in developing policy on disaster risk reduction

The policy recommendations [3.5, 3.6] have informed the Colombo Declaration [5.8], which promotes the application of science, technology, and research in Sri Lanka for enhanced multi-hazard early warning and DRR, and supports implementation of the SFDRR. The Declaration, made in December 2020, is a commitment from various Sri Lankan government ministries and technical agencies, together with other national and international key stakeholders. Clause 12 of the seventeen commitments embedded within the declaration is concerning the promotion of

evidence-based, climate-smart, risk-sensitive public and private investments, including the development and retrofitting of disaster resilient buildings and infrastructure.

Ranjith Senaratne, Chairman of the National Science Foundation, confirmed that [5.8]: “The research evidence from the University of Huddersfield on the need for changes to close the policy-science gap, and for a multi stakeholder and multi-hazard approach to the development of risk sensitive buildings and infrastructure, were used as central tenets of the Colombo Declaration”.

4.5 Influenced professional bodies and training, and increased understanding and awareness/attitudes of disaster risk reduction among construction industry professionals

At a global level, the research has resulted in an increased understanding and awareness / attitudes of DRR among accredited professionals in the construction sector through the RICS, with the research findings [3.5] presented in the Nov/Dec 2017 RICS Building Control journal cover story [5.9], the journal of the Building Control Professional Group at RICS with over 2.8 million page views per month. RICS has a global membership of 134,400 (2018).

The research knowledge gaps have also informed the introduction of a module on DRR in the built environment, offered as part of the GBCSL’s Associate Professional Training Course for more than 1000 green associate professionals and around 100 green accredited professionals in Sri Lanka [5.7], who are now working in the Sri Lankan construction industry.

Mr Wijesooriya, Managing Director of Lego International, illustrated the impact of these changes on the training of their staff [5.10]: “As a leading contractor in Sri Lanka, several of our construction professionals, including architects, construction managers, quantity surveyors and engineers, have benefited from the Associate Professional Training Course. This training helps ensure our staff maintain the highest professional and ethical standards, including a responsibility to consider disaster risk in our construction practices”.