Post Disaster Needs Assessment

(PDNA)The recovery strategy

The recovery strategy/framework defi nes the vision for recovery, objectives and interventions for each sector and aff ected region. It serves as a means for prioritizing, sequencing, planning and implementing recovery.

The strategy is meant to bring international and national stakeholders together behind a single, government led recovery eff ort. In this regard it is linked to national coordination and planning for human and economic development, so that the goals of the recovery process are aligned with the overall development plan for the country.

The post-disaster recovery process provides an opportunity to accelerate and, in some cases, revise and update the development outcomes towards building resilient communities.

Participation and coordination

The PDNA process is government-led and government-owned, with technical support and facilitation provided by the EC, WB, the UNDG, as well as other stakeholders as determined by the government. In practice, the PDNA process should involve the participation of the aff ected population, local authorities, civil society and the private sector in assessing recovery needs and designing the recovery strategy.

In addition, the PDNA should engage all other relevant international organizations, including IFRC, NGOs, and donors where appropriate. It is important that all national and international stakeholders participate throughout the process, including in the development of the strategy for recovery and resource mobilization.

Participation and coordination underpin the PDNA process. Given the broad range of organizations, individuals and communities that need to be involved, cooperation and coordination are essential for achieving a participatory and comprehensive PDNA.

Primary sectors assessed in the PDNA

• Social: housing; education; health; nutrition; and culture• Infrastructure: water & sanitation; community infrastructure; energy & electricity;

transport & telecommunications;• Productive: agriculture; livestock and fi sheries; employment & livelihoods; commerce &

industry, trade; and tourism;• Cross-cutting theme: governance; disaster risk reduction; environment; gender;• Macro-economy: GDP; and balance of trade (import- export, revenue-expenditure);• Human development: MDGs; poverty; human development index;

What is a PDNA?

The Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) is one of the key commitments articulated in the joint agreement on post crisis cooperation, signed between the European Commission, the World Bank and the United Nations Development Group. Through the agreement, PDNA partners commit to supporting government ownership and leadership of the assessment and recovery process.

The PDNA is a mechanism for joint analysis and action following a disaster. Through the mechanism, the parties involved seek to assess the impact of a disaster and defi ne a strategy for recovery, including fi nancial considerations. It pulls together information on economic damages and losses, as well as highlights the priorities from a human development perspective. The cumulative result is a consolidated report that lends to an early, medium and long term recovery strategy.

The purpose of the PDNA

The overarching purpose of the PDNA is to provide improved support to governments in post-disaster recovery assessments and planning. It is conceived as a shared approach and

common platform for analysis and action.

The PDNA produces four core deliverables:

• One consolidated assessment report, based on sector reports and presenting the overall eff ect and impact of the disaster on each sector. The report highlights the recovery needs for each sector with an explicit focus on cross cutting themes, such as gender, environmental considerations, risk reduction and governance;

• A Recovery Strategy that defi nes the vision for national recovery. The strategy outlines recovery actions for each sector and aff ected region, while clarifying objectives and interventions; expected results; the timeframe; and the expected cost for the recovery process;

• A basis for resource mobilization in support of the country’s recovery, including a donor conference;

• An outline for a country-led implementation the cost of recovery and recon mechanism for recovery.

The main goal of conducting a PDNA is to assist governments to assess the full extent of a disaster’s impact on the country and, on the basis of these fi ndings, to produce an actionable and sustainable recovery strategy for resource mobilization. If necessary, the PDNA facilitates the request for additional external cooperation and assistance.

Specifi c objectives of the PDNA

• Support country-led assessments and initiate recovery planning processes through a coordinated platform, integrating the eff orts of the UN system, the EU, the WB, and other stakeholders;

• Identify the damage and losses caused by the disaster to physical infrastructures, productive sectors and the economy, including an assessment of its macro- economic consequences;

• Evaluate the eff ect of the disaster on service delivery and access to goods and services across all sectors; as well as governance and social processes;

• Assess needs to address underlying risks and vulnerabilities so as to reduce risk and build back better;

• Identify all recovery and reconstruction needs;

• Develop the recovery strategy, outlining priority needs, recovery intervention expected outputs and the cost of recovery and reconstruction; and

• Provide the basis for mobilizing resources for recovery and reconstruction through local, national and international sources.

Link between the PDNA and humanitarian assessments

PDNAs are built on initial and rapid humanitarian assessments as much as possible, and integrate recovery related data from these assessments. The PDNA does not duplicate assessments but complements them with the objective of ensuring one consolidated process in country, with diff erent milestones throughout the process. If a Multi-Cluster Rapid Needs Assessment (MIRA) has been carried out by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), the information and analysis contained reinforces the PDNA exercise.

Early Recovery needs are assessed as part of the humanitarian and PDNA related assessments and, where appropriate, are analyzed and prioritized in an Early Recovery Strategic Framework, which is seen as the fi rst iteration of the Recovery Strategy/Framework.

What does a PDNA do?

The PDNA:• Outlines a recovery strategy based on a comprehensive assessment;• Produces an objective and comprehensive estimate of recovery needs;• Improves the credibility of assessments and recovery frameworks• Facilitates rapid decision-making and action by stakeholders through pre-established

protocols;• Provides a coherent approach to assessment and planning;• Contributes to a more cost-eff ective approach by promoting coordination and reducing

overlaps;• Improves fi nancing opportunities for recovery and reconstruction.

Guiding principles for conducting a PDNA

• Acknowledge national ownership and ensure that it is a demand-driven and country-led process;

• Provide coordination at all stages of the process and at all levels, ensuring collaboration and partnership with all stakeholders and partners;

• Ensure the participation of the aff ected population in the assessment of needs and priorities and in the recovery process;

• Ensure one team, one process, one output;• Adhere to the principle of Primum non nocere – ‘fi rst, do no harm’;• Adopt a confl ict-sensitive approach and ensure that the assessment does not

exacerbate existing tensions;• Ensure transparency and accountability in the PDNA process as well as in post-

disaster recovery and reconstruction;• Develop a recovery plan that addresses the gap created by the disaster and which

eff ectively helps people in building back better;• Build on national development strategies as required; and• Complete the assessment in a timely manner to capitalize on the limited window

of opportunity to start recovery, resource mobilization and resilience building initiatives.