Women’s Voices in Aceh’s Housing Program
 A consultation meeting is held with the women of Aceh. Photo courtesy of Rehan Kausar.Women’s role was crucial in housing reconstruction in Aceh and Nias. The Tsunami on 26 December 2004 left behind the greatest devastation we have seen in recent times. It left many women-headed households, widows and orphans vulnerable in the face of reconstruction. Locating women's voices during the emergency phase and ensuring it is heard during the long-term reconstruction of the coastal communities in Aceh and Nias was both challenging and fulfilling.
ADB’s Earthquake and Tsunami Emergency Support Project (ETESP) encouraged women's participation in designing the housing program component. Women were encouraged to express their views and needs in the design of the houses and the planning of the village. Women’s concerns were important for ensuring the sustainability of the housing program.
Fundamental concerns for women during reconstruction:
- Water supply and sanitation
- Privacy
- Housing access for the disabled
- Appropriate kitchen and cooking space
The ETESP made special efforts to incorporate suggestions from women, women-headed families and vulnerable groups. Women's participation was institutionalized through the community committee called Panitia Pembangunan Rumah Gampong (PPRG—Committee for House Reconstruction). Fundamental concerns for women included: water supply and sanitation, privacy, housing access for the disabled, and appropriate kitchen and cooking space. Modifications were made to the overall housing design to accommodate women’s concerns and suggestions.
In locations where reconstruction is complete (i.e., houses have been handed over to local communities), the main focus has shifted to housing maintenance and environmental improvements. At community meetings held immediately after the hand-over stage, male and female beneficiaries contributed several ideas for the community maintenance program. Women suggested street labeling, house numbering, neighborhood greening (one tree per house), septic tank maintenance, and play grounds/playing areas for the children.
Women's participation in the housing program in Indonesia has highlighted the following:
- Women are aware of household and community welfare, as suggested by their recommendations to improve the environment in which they reside
- Women are concerned about maintaining the community, as suggested by ideas for street labelling and house numbering
- Women are encouraged to participate in meetings that are held at times that are conducive to their other responsibilities, especially domestic chores and childcare
- Women’s rights to property ownership and titling are protected by Article 9 (1) of the Basic Agrarian Law (no. 5/1960) which guarantees equal land registration status
— Rehan Kausar and Fany Wedahuditama
Safe and secure shelters are vital for women as much of their daily life revolves around the household. In Aceh where the women are essentially home-based workers, their voice in the overall design and community planning was heard and incorporated in the overall housing spatial plan. The reconstruction plan needs to consider the priorities of women, especially vulnerable women such as single mothers, widows, unemployed women, socially marginalized, and those living below $2 per day. The ETESP program has also sought the assistance of women organizations and local NGOs, and collaboration with them to monitor and evaluate the overall housing and settlements project. Hopefully these measures will help to empower women and address social inequalities in the Acehnese society in the years to come.
For more information contact Florian Steinberg, SESS.
fsteinberg@adb.org
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