QSAND application in Nepal
![]() |
Disaster response in Gorkha District - Catholic Relief Service's QSAND application in Nepal. |
In April and May 2015, Nepal was struck by a devastating earthquake and series of aftershocks that destroyed or damaged in excess of 800,000 homes and affected over 6 million people (source: Shelter Projects Nepal Earthquake Overview). The severity of the earthquakes, the scale of the damage, and the approaching winter presented serious challenges to relief and recovery efforts.
Immediately following the disaster, a major international response was mobilised. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) were among the organisations to respond, with in-country and international staff involved in recovery efforts in Gorkha District, one of the worst-affected areas.
To aid their response, amongst other tools, CRS used QSAND to measure their performance on issues related to community-sensitive design (including inclusivity and accessibility ), community ownership and sustainable management, material properties and specification, skills and capabilities, and construction approach.
As Minar Thapa Magar, National Coordination Officer for CRS and HRRP-Nepal, explained: “CRS have a strong Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning system in place. QSAND contributed to this by helping to identify indicators to be adopted in the program framework which are periodically evaluated and monitored to improve program quality. The QSAND assessment process gave significant support to our self-reflection of sustainability issues to be addressed in every phase of the project.”
![]() |
The QSAND Training Course in Kathmandu, March 2016. |
Due to the likely scale of QSAND application in the district and the numbers of stakeholders involved (CRS staff, implementing partners, local and national government representatives, other NGOs etc) a partnership was formed between CRS and BRE to support the project.
Yetunde Abdul, QSAND Programme Manager said; “The CRS Recovery and Resilience Programme in Gorkha has been designed from the beginning with emphasis on environmental and community factors relating to resilience and sustainability. Using QSAND has helped to identify and confirm the good work that has been done so far and has helped improve the planning, design and implementation of the programme.”
The outputs of the QSAND application in the programme have been captured in a case study now available on the QSAND website to view here.
The work that CRS has undertaken in Gorkha has supported local communities to rebuild their lives, and Adeel Javaid, Shelter and Wash Programme Manager at CRS suggests it has shown; “...real potential in supporting and in some cases enhancing the sustainability of our activities and benefits for the affected communities.”
To make an enquiry about QSAND or explore opportunities for its use, please visit the QSAND website or email qsand@bre.co.uk.
This article was originally published on 16 January 2019 on BRE Buzz. It was written by Yetunde Abdul. Ref http://brebuzz.net/2019/01/16/disaster-response-in-gorkha-district-catholic-relief-services-qsand-application-in-nepal/
--BRE Buzz
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- BRE Buzz articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- BREEAM.
- Building Research Establishment.
- Buildings that help rebuild lives and communities.
- Enhancing community energy resilience, QSAND and Loughborough University Research collaboration.
- Helping achieve the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
- Helping communities recover from disasters and protecting them before they occur.
- How to rebuild using the debris from disasters.
- Managing and responding to disaster.
- Research and development in disaster response.
- Sustainable Development Goals and civil engineering.
- QSAND.
- QSAND and the Sustainable Development Goals.
- Reconstruction following typhoon Haiyan.
Featured articles and news
The UK’s largest air pollution campaign.
Future Homes Standard, now includes solar, but what else?
Will the new standard, due to in the Autumn, go far enough in terms of performance ?
BSRIA Briefing: Cleaner Air, Better tomorrow
A look back at issues relating to inside and outside air quality, discussed during the BSRIA briefing in 2023.
Restoring Abbotsford's hothouse
Bringing the writer Walter Scott's garden to life.
Reflections on the spending review with CIAT.
Retired firefighter cycles world to raise Grenfell funds
Leaving on 14 June 2025 Stephen will raise money for youth and schools through the Grenfell Foundation.
Key points for construction at a glance with industry reactions.
Functionality, visibility and sustainability
The simpler approach to specification.
Architects, architecture, buildings, and inspiration in film
The close ties between makers and the movies, with our long list of suggested viewing.
SELECT three-point plan for action issued to MSPs
Call for Scottish regulation, green skills and recognition of electrotechnical industry as part of a manifesto for Scottish Parliamentary elections.
UCEM becomes the University of the Built Environment
Major milestone in its 106-year history, follows recent merger with London School of Architecture (LSE).
Professional practical experience for Architects in training
The long process to transform the nature of education and professional practical experience in the Architecture profession following recent reports.
A people-first approach to retrofit
Moving away from the destructive paradigm of fabric-first.
International Electrician Day, 10 June 2025
Celebrating the role of electrical engineers from André-Marie Amperè, today and for the future.
New guide for clients launched at Houses of Parliament
'There has never been a more important time for clients to step up and ...ask the right questions'
The impact of recycled slate tiles
Innovation across the decades.
EPC changes for existing buildings
Changes and their context as the new RdSAP methodology comes into use from 15 June.