Recov­ery improve­ment project

Once the inter­ven­tion phase is com­plete fol­low­ing a major event, the recov­ery peri­od presents cities and munic­i­pal­i­ties with sig­nif­i­cant chal­lenges. These local gov­ern­ments are expect­ed to make deci­sions and take actions over the short and medi­um term to restore, and ide­al­ly improve, social, eco­nom­ic, phys­i­cal and envi­ron­men­tal con­di­tions in the com­mu­ni­ty. They are also expect­ed to extract lessons that will help reduce risks in the event of future disasters. 

In this project, the ASCQ, work­ing with the Liv­ing-Lab, is sup­port­ing Québec munic­i­pal­i­ties and the Min­istry to meet these chal­lenges. The action research process mobi­lizes the knowl­edge of front-line prac­ti­tion­ers and com­bines it with sci­en­tif­ic knowl­edge on recov­ery. The project employs a high­ly inter­ac­tive approach involv­ing Cité-ID researchers and ASCQ members.

The fol­low­ing table depicts the desired impact of the project, its gen­er­al objec­tive, and the sev­en steps involved in the action research on recovery. 

Sev­en steps of this action research : 

1) Under­stand the chal­lenges involved in recov­ery and their inter­ac­tion, based on reflec­tion and dia­logue with stake­hold­ers (civ­il secu­ri­ty prac­ti­tion­ers, experts and researchers).

2) Iden­ti­fy chal­lenges con­sid­ered pri­or­i­ties by these stakeholders.

3) Devel­op, based on prac­ti­cal and sci­en­tif­ic knowl­edge, recov­ery mech­a­nisms that respond to pri­or­i­ty chal­lenges. These mech­a­nisms will take the form of pro­to­types.

4) Test the pro­to­types aim­ing to sup­port devel­op­ment of the desired recov­ery mechanisms. 

5) Rec­om­mend recov­ery mech­a­nisms that have under­gone test­ing in order to see them implemented. 

6) Doc­u­ment the accom­pa­ni­ment process dur­ing recovery. 

7) Pro­duce a prac­ti­cal guide to trans­fer and dis­sem­i­nate project learn­ing and ground best prac­tices in field real­i­ties over the long term.

Accom­plished using the Liv­ing-Lab approach, the recov­ery improve­ment project will unfold over 18 months (March 2019 to Sep­tem­ber 2020). It includes three co-con­struc­tion work­shops (Sum­mer 2019, Fall 2019 and Win­ter 2020) that will bring stake­hold­ers togeth­er. The project also includes peri­ods of doc­u­men­ta­tion, propo­si­tion and transfer.