Making Sense of Build Back Better with HIDECs
When disasters strike, the goal is not just to rebuild quickly, but to rebuild smarter, stronger, and more sustainably. That’s the essence of Build Back Better (BBB), a concept that has evolved into a comprehensive framework used around the world to guide recovery efforts.
But here’s the challenge: the BBB framework is complex. It cuts across sectors like housing, infrastructure, governance, environment, and social wellbeing. It’s filled with well-meaning guidelines that aim to be holistic—which sounds great in theory, but in practice can be overwhelming. For those actually making decisions on the ground, it can feel like everything is equally important and needs to be tackled all at once.
That’s where my PhD work came in.
I conducted an in-depth study to understand how the many parts of the BBB framework connect and influence each other. I wanted to know: What really matters most when you’re trying to achieve long-term, sustainable recovery? And more importantly, how can we make these frameworks more usable for practitioners in the field?
To answer these questions, I used a tool called HIDECs to unpack a big, complicated policy driven framework into smaller parts, and then map out how those parts interact.
What did this approach reveal?
Not all parts are equal. Some indicators—like community engagement or long-term governance planning—have a stronger influence on others. By identifying these “keystone” elements, we can prioritise actions that have a ripple effect across the whole system.
HIDECs offer a roadmap. This isn’t just a theoretical tool. It’s a practical method for translating complex policy into clear, actionable steps. It helps decision-makers see what needs to happen first, what can come later, and how each action supports the bigger picture.
While my study focused on post-disaster recovery, the skills I developed, like systems thinking, policy translation, and strategic prioritisation—are highly transferable. Whether it’s in climate adaptation, infrastructure planning, or community development, the ability to break down complexity and guide decision-making is critical across many sectors.
