The ADPC Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (DANA) Program was a 28-month program funded by the United States Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) and implemented by the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center. Its overall goal was to map out improved methodologies for post-disaster damage assessment, needs analysis and reporting, appropriate to the needs of disaster managers in countries in Asia and the Pacific, so as to facilitate response by optimizing the mobilization and utilization of resources for relief at the local, national and international levels.

An important output of the program was an improved methodology for post-disaster DANA for use by officials responsible for conducting post-disaster needs assessments (often local officials without formal disaster management training) which would guide and assist them through the process.

A DANA Workshop was held in Bangkok during 24-28 April, 2000. After the workshop ADPC consolidated the outputs, circulated them to the participants and incorporated them in its own training programs. The follow-up at the national level had been extremely encouraging. National workshops were conducted in Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

A simulation exercise on effective response to natural disaster events was held January 3-5, 2001 in Naga City, Philippines. The objectives of the exercise were to identify information needs before and during disaster, and to come up with improved reporting formats and a mechanism that will facilitate and expedite the generation and analysis of data required to enable the participant to dispense immediate and effective actions before, during and after a disaster strikes. 30 participants were from different government and private entities in Naga City and neighbouring municipalities engaged in disaster mitigation and operations.

From March 20 to 23, 2001 ADPC organized a DANA workshop in Cebu, Philippines. The workshop was designed to equip the participants with the basic knowledge and skills for assessing damage during disaster occurrences and analyzing needs for effective response. The DANA workshop endeavored to improve the existing National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) report formats and protocols as well as to identify mechanisms and techniques to institutionalize the DANA system at all NDCC levels based on the workshop, thereby facilitating response to communities at risk from disasters or emergencies.

After that, a four-day DANA workshop was held at the Montien Riverside Hotel, Bangkok from 23-26 April. 28 Thai officials from 14 disaster management related agencies participated in the workshop, including the Department of Local Administration, the Department of Civil Defense, Royal Thai Air Force, Royal Thai Navy, Royal Thai Police, the Municipalities of Hat Yai and Chiang Mai province, Ministry of Health, National Economic and Social Development Board.

Concurrently, a national DANA workshop was organized in Hanoi, Vietnam for the purpose of improving the existing report formats and protocols of Vietnam used by Office of the Civil Defense and Office for Flood and Storm Control, thereby facilitating response to communities at risk from disasters or emergencies.

These national-level workshops indicate very clearly the high value attached to the DANA program by the target countries. Feedback from the participants indicates that they found the ADPC-DANA materials very valuable in decision-making, reporting, and for briefing key actors and the media.