What role do international consultants play in the recovery and reconstruction programs?
Often, in times of great natural disasters, one of the casualties is the local capacity to respond. Infrastructure, local leaders, and skilled individuals are lost to the disaster. And when these disasters hit remote areas, it is likely that local capacity is already rather weak. We cannot argue over the important role that the international consultant community plays in times of disaster. The skills they provide are essential to recovery efforts. Without this capacity, no amount of funds will be effective in providing recovery. At the same time, we need to be offering space for local people, NGOs, private sector companies, and others to contribute their unique skills and know-how to recovery programs.
