The idea for BEAR was initiated at the 2006 ACE Conference in Brussels in response to an urgent need voiced by humanitarian shelter providers including Architects for Aid, Architecture de L'Urgence (France), Architects Sans Frontieres UK, Architects for Humanity UK, and the Shelter Centre to match qualified and interested volunteer professionals to aid agencies.

The BEAR database will be a resource to international aid agencies as well as country-specific charities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to contact volunteer architects, engineers, and other relevant professionals for post-disaster recovery and rebuilding as well as ongoing development and restoration efforts. Interested volunteers may be called on for specific assignments such as needs assessments, site and building analyses, architectural design, engineering best practices, cost analyses, project management, construction supervision, and collaboration with local communities.

To register your name, please go to http://www.a-4-a.org/call-for-volunteers.htm. For more information on the Built Environment Action Register, please contact Architects for Aid at +44 (0) 20 7466 1222 or email Victoria-Harris@a-4-a.org