Dynamics of Complex Recovery Processes: Rebuilding Aceh and Nias after the Tsunami

Satya S. Tripathi, UN Recovery Coordinator for Aceh and Nias, UNORC, Banda Aceh, Indonesia

The talk will focus on the complex recovery and reconstruction process in Aceh and Nias following the December 2004 Tsunami and the resultant peace process that brought the decades long conflict to an end. His talk will survey the progress and discuss the challenges that still remain, 3 years after the tsunami.

Mr. Tripathi has served as the United Nations Recovery Coordinator for Aceh and Nias since January 2007, heading the office responsible for coordinating and facilitating international support to recovery efforts including that of the United Nations, providing policy and strategic advice to the Indonesian Agency for Reconstruction and Rehabilitation (BRR) and the provincial governments, and ensuring structured approaches to longer-term recovery. Before assuming this position, Mr. Tripathi was the International Policy and Aid Coordination Advisor to the Liberian Head of State responsible for overseeing the implementation of its post-conflict transitional recovery framework - RFTF for Liberia. He has served with the UN in various positions spanning a broad range of tasks and responsibilities. In doing so, he has headed country level offices/operations of Programme Planning and Assessment, Humanitarian Affairs, Human Rights, Public Sector Restructuring, Economic Governance, etc in various post-conflcit countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. A lawyer and an economist by training, his work as the Chair of the Committees on Laws, Treaties and Administrative matters in the Secretary-General's Good Offices Mission to Cyprus came in for critical acclaim by all parties to the UN mediated Cyprus unification talks from 2003 to 2004. Mr. Tripathi has held responsible government positions as a member of the national civil services of India and has varied experience in governance, rule of law and development issues.

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