Name

Anna Pavan

Title

Global Engineering Program Associate, Build Change

Location 

Italy

About

Anna Pavan is part of a global effort to strengthen homes and communities facing the impacts of climate change. Based in Italy, she works with Race to Resilience partner Build Change, leading a team that partnered with the Honduran Red Cross to launch the country’s first climate adaptation demonstration programme in the Sula Valley – an area hit hard by Hurricanes Eta and Iota in 2020.

The programme retrofits homes to withstand earthquakes, floods, strong winds and extreme heat. Homes are reinforced and expanded with second-storey shelters, solar panels, rainwater collection systems and improved sanitation facilities, helping families maintain basic services during emergencies.

By improving homes in this way, the programme supports families to stay in their communities and rebuild their lives. In 2022, the Latin American Development Bank recognised the initiative as one of the top ten social impact innovations in Latin America.

Motivations

"My background is in seismic engineering, but I quickly realized that safety cannot be addressed in isolation. A multi-hazard approach is essential to tackling the complex and interconnected challenges communities face today. This realization pushed me to expand my perspective and develop holistic strategies that consider the impacts of various hazards."

"In the Sula Valley, where a significant portion of the national economy depends on agriculture and industry, many rural communities thrive in a vast, fertile landscape shaped by the region’s largest rivers. However, these same rivers pose an increasing flood risk, threatening livelihoods and stability. Climate adaptation is crucial for ensuring that these communities can withstand and recover from recurrent flooding – allowing them to remain in their homes, sustain their way of life, and continue contributing to the country’s economic and social fabric."

"Encouraging people to stay in their chosen communities, rather than being forced to migrate to overcrowded urban centres, strengthens national resilience. It builds security, reduces informal living conditions, reinforces social bonds, and lays a foundation for sustainable growth and new opportunities."

"For many women in these communities, home is not just a place to live – it is also a place to work and build dignity. As a woman, I am deeply committed to supporting these women by ensuring they have safe spaces where they can cultivate their activities, contribute to their families, and achieve economic independence. This commitment has become a driving force behind my work, reinforcing the importance of resilience and adaptation in vulnerable regions."

Impact

• 1,600 people now live in safer, upgraded homes.

• 170 individuals, including local builders, engineers and students, have been trained to replicate the project’s success.
  63 jobs were created through the programme.

• 8 homes were retrofitted and expanded with second-storey safe spaces and improved infrastructure.

Families described the difference the project made:

"We lost everything [in the hurricanes]...The water took everything away…Now I feel happy because I am going to be in my house." – Irma Maradiaga, homeowner, Honduras

"The hurricanes destroyed my house, my family and I had no home and nowhere to live…Thanks to the organisations that were part of rebuilding my house, my family and I did not end up suffering, and we were able to move on." – Melvin Aguilar, homeowner, Honduras

Challenges

• Coping with the increasing severity and frequency of floods in the Sula Valley.

• Reducing the risk of climate-forced migration from vulnerable communities.

• Building trust and encouraging participation in home retrofitting projects.

Goals

• Expand the programme to reach more communities affected by climate risks.

• Strengthen local knowledge and skills for sustainable construction.

• Promote gender equity by empowering women to manage subsidies, supervise construction and make decisions about their homes.

• Integrate sustainable technologies such as rainwater harvesting systems, photovoltaic panels and biodigesters into more homes.

Advice

"Engaging homeowners and truly listening to their needs is essential for a successful project. Their firsthand experiences provide valuable insights that can shape more effective and sustainable solutions."

"Local communities have already developed resilience to climate challenges. By talking to them and learning from their deep understanding of the land, we can gain new perspectives, uncover innovative ideas, and focus on strengthening what already works. Meaningful involvement fosters trust and ensures that solutions align with the realities of the people they are meant to serve."

"Utilizing local construction techniques – while improving execution and quality –ensures long-term acceptance and repeatability. Proposing solutions that feel disconnected from the community’s context may result in resistance or limited adoption. Instead, building on familiar practices makes adaptation more practical and scalable."

"Collaboration with and training of local builders is key. At a small-community or individual-house scale, local builders play a pivotal role in the construction process and hold the trust of homeowners. Empowering them with knowledge and skills strengthens community resilience and ensures sustainable, lasting impact."

How to support

You can support Build Change’s mission by:

• Partnering to expand housing resilience programmes.

• Donating resources to fund retrofitting and training initiatives.

• Sharing the success of this project to inspire similar efforts elsewhere.

Contact Information

Website: https://buildchange.org/about/staff

LinkedIn: Anna Pavan