Post-Disaster Needs Assessment: Simulation Exercise Handbook

Disasters have posed significant challenges to development investments the world over, seen in the upward trend in the loss of life and property in the past few decades. Extreme climate events have exacerbated this trend. A scientific estimate of disaster (climate-induced as well as geophysical) effects is crucial for planning the replacement of impacted assets, building back better, and becoming more resilient in the face of future shocks. According to the 2021 Disaster and Emergency Assistance Policy of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), disasters have resulted in the loss of 676,924 lives in ADB's developing member countries (DMCs) and affected 2.31 billion people from 2004 to 2020. This accounted for 62% of disaster-related fatalities globally. Reported direct physical damage in DMCs totaled $696 billion over the same period, with an average direct physical damage of $112 million per day.

ADB is committed to poverty reduction and sustainable development through a range of investments targeted at strengthening disaster resilience in DMCs. ADB's 2021 Disaster and Emergency Assistance Policy also emphasizes that emergency assistance projects should be based on the findings of post-disaster needs assessment (PDNA), including evidence of significant economic dislocation and the need to address immediate recovery needs and/or expedite the preparation of regular projects. A PDNA exercise is typically led by the government and undertaken in collaboration with development partners, providing consolidated information on the physical, economic, and human impacts of a disaster. The assessment serves as a critical point of reference for coordinated action by various stakeholders for post-disaster recovery.

To deepen the understanding of its staff on various aspects of PDNA, ADB engaged the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center to enhance its existing training materials with the inclusion of a simulation exercise detailing the various stages, opportunities, and challenges of the PDNA process.