Post-disaster Reconstruction and Local Development: Some Challenges in Earthquake-Stricken Areas of Iran’s Kermanshah Province

This article analyzes some of the challenges of post-disaster reconstruction in the earthquake-stricken areas of Iran’s Kermanshah province. Its focus is on capturing the views of the affected populations as well as the authorities in charge of the reconstruction activities. Notwithstanding a review of the available reports, documents, and secondary data, the study leverages the results of field research carried out between February 2018 and March 2019. The activities included field observations, interviews, and focus group discussions in the selected urban districts and fourteen villages of Sarpol-e Zahab and Solas-e Babajani counties. Findings reveal the existence of a number of shortcomings with regard to coordination and planning informed by previous earthquake experiences. Some of the major issues include deficient communication between the authorities and the beneficiaries, insufficient community participation, lack of an equitable system to manage private donations, and rising beneficiary expectations alongside inadequate attention given to the needs for social, psychological, and economic empowerment. Additional challenges are associated with growing costs of home reconstruction, construction delays, inadequate supervision over the construction activities, rising rental costs, and reluctance to abandon temporary shelters. Dissatisfaction is thus observed among the beneficiaries despite significant public-sector efforts and expenses