Build Back Better

IRP provides recovery guidance and comprehensive library of recovery resources to support the practice of disaster recovery and building back better.
Post-Disaster Needs Assessments (PDNA)
ILO teams assess damage wreaked by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in Tacloban in the Philippines

A Post-Disaster Needs Assessment and Recovery Framework (PDNA/RF) together comprise an approach to harmonize the assessment, analysis and prioritization of damages, losses and needs by a range of stakeholders (United Nations agencies and programmes, the World Bank, donors, non-governmental organizations) in support of the national government.

PDNA is a government-led exercise, with integrated support from the United Nations, the European Commission, the World Bank and other national and international actors. A PDNA pulls together information into a single, consolidated report, information on the physical impacts of a disaster, the economic value of the damages and losses, the human impacts as experienced by the affected population, and the resulting early and long-term recovery needs and priorities.

A Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) encompasses two perspectives: (i) the valuation of physical damages and economic losses; and, (ii) the identification of human recovery needs based on information obtained from the affected population. These perspectives are integrated into a single assessment process to support the identification and selection of response options covering recovery interventions from early- to long-term recovery in a Recovery Framework (RF).

A PDNA should commence as soon as possible after the disaster onset, ideally within the first weeks. A first objective for the PDNA is to support the elaboration of the Recovery Framework in time for the revision of a humanitarian flash appeal - normally within five to six weeks following the onset of a disaster. This provides the foundation for more in-depth assessments, ongoing recovery and transition to development as the Recovery Framework continues to be more fully elaborated. Needs identified by the PDNA beyond national capacity may be used as an evidence base for the mobilization of further international resources in support of recovery, e.g. in connection with an international donor conference in response to the disaster.

Items: 33
2019
This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) guides the State and its agencies in undertaking a post-disaster needs assessment (PDNA) and in developing a recovery and reconstruction plan of actions to build back better
National Institute of Disaster Management (India)
2019
This manual describes how the rapid needs assessment(RNA) process is organized, activated and managed during disasters. It illustrates how assessment information is compiled and disseminated.
Asian Disaster Preparedness Center
2019
This document, Guidelines for Assessing the Human Impact of Disasters, has been developed as part of the PDNA guidelines, and similarly follows a people-centred, human-recovery approach.
World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) European Union
2019
This guide explains how to conduct a PDNA in Conflict Situations, and complements existing guidelines developed by the tripartite partnership to support post-disaster needs assessments and recovery planning.
World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) European Union
2018
This guidance note was drafted to document lessons learned in the three project countries (Nepal, Sri Lanka, Côte d'Ivoire) and in doing so, it provides a step-by-step practical guide for countries in post-crisis situations to undertake Post-Crisis Integrated Strategic Environmental Assessments (Integrated SEA). The Integrated SEA approach builds upon current SEA practices, while placing greater emphasis on integrating disaster risk and climate change impacts into a participatory data collection, mapping and planning process.
United Nations Environment Programme Climate and Pollution Agency, Norwegian Ministry of the Environment
2018
This Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) review is the first instance of the participating institutions assessing the demonstrated effectiveness of PDNAs as the practice has evolved over the 55 post-disaster assessments conducted since 2008.
World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) European Commission Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, the (GFDRR)
2018
The GRADE approach provides required sectoral baseline information for the design of rehabilitation and reconstruction plans, based on an assessment of vulnerability and damage distribution of the affected infrastructure and assets.
Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, the (GFDRR)
2017
This handbook provides an overview of innovations in disaster rapid assessment. It is aimed at disaster managers, post-disaster assessment analysts and field staff collecting data.
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
Joint Recovery and Peacebuilding Assessments (RPBAs)
2017
The Recovery and Peacebuilding Assessment is an approach to identify and address recovery and peacebuilding requirements and lays the foundations for a longer-term strategy in a country facing conflict or transitioning out of a conflict-related crisis.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, the (GFDRR) European Union
2016
FEMA's Damage Assessment Operations Manual expedites decision-making and delivery of assistance by defining national standards for assessing damage and clearly outlining the information considered when evaluating requests for a major disaster declaration.
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Items: 129
Post Disaster Damages and Needs Assessment (PDNA): Needs for Building Back Better Initiative in Chitral after GLOF and Floods Extreme Events
2023
This post-disaster needs assessment (PDNA) for Chitral, Pakistan, following the July 2023 floods, identifies the damages and needs of affected communities, and provides recommendations for rebuilding and enhancing Chitral's resilience to future disasters.
Secours Islamique France
PDNA TC Kevin and Judy Vanuatu 2023
2023
This PDNA documents the impact that Tropical Cyclone Judy and Kevin have had on the people and economy of Vanuatu and also the recovery plan to transition Vanuatu back on its development pathway.
Vanuatu - government United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Secretariat of the Pacific Community
Malawi Cyclone Freddy PDNA
2023
The Malawi 2023 Tropical Cyclone Freddy Post-Disaster Needs Assessment report assesses the impacts of the disaster and provides recommendations for building back better in recovery and reconstruction.
Malawi - government World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Cover
2023
The Syria Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment assesses the impact of the February 2023 Turkiye-Syria earthquakes in the six most affected areas. It provides a preliminary estimate of infrastructure reconstruction and service delivery restoration needs.
Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, the (GFDRR) World Bank, the
Turkiye PDNA
2023
The recovery and reconstruction assessment presented here comprises of an assessment of the financial impact of the earthquakes which struck Turkiye and Syria in February 2023, applying modified PDNA methodology, and a “recovery vision.”
Turkey - government United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) World Bank, the European Union
Ukraine Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment 2023
2023
This assessment is part of an ongoing effort to take stock of Ukraine’s damage and losses from the war. It aims to assess the scale of economic and social needs for Ukraine’s survival during the war and it's prosperity afterward.
Ukraine - government World Bank, the European Union United Nations - Headquarters
Cover
2023
This report provides an early and preliminary estimate of the direct damage costs caused by these earthquakes, which in turn will inform the response of the World Bank Group and its partners and support planning for recovery and reconstruction.
World Bank, the
Pakistan Floods 2022 PDNA Cover
2022
This PDNA assesses the impact of the 2022 floods in 94 calamity-hit districts across Pakistan. It serves as the foundation for future analysis, including a resilient recovery and reconstruction strategy and a coordinated effort for building back better.
Pakistan - government Asian Development Bank United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) World Bank, the European Union
Ukraine RDNA
2022
This assessment is part of an ongoing effort to take stock of Ukraine’s damage and losses from the war. It aims to assess the scale of economic and social needs for Ukraine’s survival during the war and it's prosperity afterward.
Ukraine - government World Bank, the European Union
Global Rapid Post-Disaster Damage Estimation (GRADE) for Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai Volcanic Eruption
2022
This is the Global Rapid Post-Disaster Damage Estimation report on the January 15 eruption, providing estimated costs of the physical damages caused by the volcanic eruption and tsunami.
Tonga - government World Bank, the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, the (GFDRR)

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