Institutional and Organizational Framework For Recovery Megaproject Trigged By Major Disaster Event

Natural disasters, like earthquakes or weather strikes, are becoming more frequent and devastating than ever. Relatively soon after emergency interventions, a new megaproject arises for restoring life to normal mode. It requires significant construction activities including housing, rebuilding, reconstruction in parallel with the temporary relocation of people and enabling operations of key infrastructures, facilities, and institutions. The main management challenges are related to balance among emergency, safety, humanity, funding, and numerous stakeholders. Quick response is essential, so the traditional megaproject planning phase is overlapped with execution, having a fast-track approach. The paper presents the institutional and organizational framework within the construction aspect of recovering megaproject trigged by several devastating earthquakes. Although the case is taken from Croatia, there are several similar examples in Europe proven like major challenges for society at large, where regular management must be significantly adapted primarily due to timing, priorities, objectives, and criteria for success. The paper provides the sequence of the current events, stakeholder engagement, main critical challenges, and management model in comparison with options known from international project management practice. Key conclusions and proposals for disaster-trigged megaprojects are suggested.