Welcome the Building Back Better and Safer in Nepal Blog!

Hello everyone,
This our first post on the Build Back Better and Safer in Nepal blog!

The blog is part of the Technical Support Office in Kathmandu, a project developed by Architecture Sans Frontieres Nepal and Architecture & Développement, both members of the Architecture Sans Frontieres International network. The TSO has been working since July to support NGOs funded by the Fondation de France in their rebuilding efforts.

TSO's team providing advice to a NGO. Photo: ©A&D & ASF-Nepal

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Written between Paris and Kathmandu, our goal is to share with the public relevant information  as well as best practices, and codes and guidelines to help those involved in the reconstruction to build back better and safer.

Let's take a look at what's been going on:

- Nepal has finally deblocked government funds, to find out more take a look at this article

- The Procedures for the Flow of Grant/Assistance for Reconstruction of Houses Completely Destroyed by the Earthquake  for reconstruction have been published, they determine the amount granted to families that will have to rebuild their homes after the earthquakes and how the system will be put in place.

- The Nepalese government has published a catalogue for reconstruction - these are pre-approved seismic resistant designs. Anyone wanting to build something else while using the government grant must have a new design made by an engineer.

While this is a good idea in theory, the content of the catalogue worries us: we at the TSO think that poorest families will not be able to afford to build these designs only on the government pre-approved grant, and more cost effective solutions must be found.

You can download the catalogue and see for yourself here:

Design Catalogue for Reconstruction of Earthquake Resistant Houses 

I'm sure there are still many questions (a FAQ is coming soon) and if you need any information in particular you can write to us at tso.asfnepal@gmail.com, come and see us at our office or leave a comment below.

More updates coming soon!