Inclusive and Disaster Resilient Shelter Guide: Urban Informal Settlements, Honiara, Solomon Islands

The Shelter Guide, developed for Habitat for Humanity, builds on ongoing research for the project ‘Climate Resilient Honiara’, funded by the UNFCCC Adaptation Fund and administered by UN-Habitat; as well as other local activities being carried out by shelter researchers and practitioners in shelter, informal settlements, disaster risk reduction, and urban climate resilience across Melanesia. The work was underpinned by an area-based ‘action research’ approach, with the project team comprising a mix of Solomon Islanders and international researchers. This gave due weight to local knowledge and traditional practice, while also applying scientific expertise in the built environment. The voices of local women, youth and disability groups were given prominence to ensure that the Guide was informed by the cultural knowledge of all community members around shelter, vulnerability, and acceptable levels of risk.