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 - Headquarters 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 - Headquarters 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 - Headquarters European Commission Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, the
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
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 - Headquarters Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, the 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: 122
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 - Headquarters 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
Post Cyclone Gombe Mozambique
2022
Tropical Cyclone Gombe, in March 2022, caused floods in Mozambique that damaged fishing and agriculture-based livelihoods. This report assesses the damage and identifies the most urgent needs with regard to the food and agriculture sector.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - Headquarters
Sudan  Rapid PDNA 2021
2021
This rapid assessment outlines key actions needed for recovery from the 2020 floods in Sudan. The report documents the immense scale and damage of the floods and highlights the importance of preparedness to reduce the impacts and damages of future floods.
Sudan - government Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme - Sudan
St vincent and grenadines pdna cover
2021
These documents present the background, context, effects, impact, recovery needs and recovery strategy of the devastation of the La Soufrière Volcanic Eruption on St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) within the context of a Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA).
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - government World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme - Headquarters European Union
Post-Disaster Needs Assessment in Haiti Earthquake of 14 august 2021 in the southern peninsula
2021
This executive summary presents the data collection work undertaken from August 30 to September 22, 2021 after the earthquake that hit Haiti on 14 August 2021 as well as their analysis carried out under the coordination of the MPCE.
Haiti - government World Bank, the United Nations - Headquarters
Timor-Leste PDNA Cyclone Seroja Sectoral Report
2021
This document provides an assessment of the floods and landslides damage caused by the 2021 Cyclone Seroja and needs of the affected people in Timor-Leste to inform the country's long term post-floods recovery efforts across multiple sectors.
Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, the Timor-Leste - government United Nations Development Programme - Headquarters United Nations - Headquarters World Bank, the
2020
This report summarizes a comprehensive assessment of the commonwealth’s challenges and the damage caused by the 2017 hurricanes to support development of Puerto Rico’s short- and long-term recovery and resilience plan,
RAND Corporation
Croatia December 2020 Earthquake RDNA
2020
This report provides a structured account of the sectoral, economic, and social impact of the earthquakes which struck Croatia between December 2020 and January 2021. It highlights key findings and provides recommendations for recovery and reconstruction.
Croatia - government World Bank, the
Croatia Earthquake PDNA
2020
This rapid damage and needs assessment report presents estimates for damage, loss, reconstruction and recovery from the March 2020 earthquake in Croatia, and supports recovery strategy planning and development of necessary frameworks for reconstruction.
Croatia - government World Bank, the