Introduction

ADPC's technical assistance on post-disaster damage, loss and needs assessment and recovery planning forms a key component of its mission to reduce disaster and climate risk impacts on communities and countries in Asia-Pacific region by working with governments, development partners and key stakeholders.

Since the devastating earthquake in Gujarat, India in 2001,ADPC has supported multiple countries' post-disaster assessment and recovery planning in Asia. Post-disaster assessment involves the timely and accurate estimation of damages, losses, impacts, and needs across different sectors such as transportation, health, and agriculture. The assessment feeds directly into recovery planning, which aims to re-establish basic public services to normalize the socio-economic conditions, as well as source capital investments for long-term reconstruction.

There is a growing international recognition that governments must take the full lead in assessment and recovery planning, with support from various development partners. Therefore, ADPC aims to build country and regional institutional arrangements and capacities to anticipate and prepare for post-disaster assessment and recovery, using internationally-accepted methodologies, which are adapted to specific country requirements.

Approach

The approach adopted by ADPC's technical assistance to countries on post-disaster assessment and recovery planning is guided by the following principles:

• The processes are country-specific and aim to high efficacy
• Guidelines are easy to understand and easily accessible
• Guidelines are practical at the sub-national levels
• Capacities are built based on country-specific processes
• Pools of trained officials are established and engaged in each country

Through its internal and external network of specialists, ADPC is ready to discuss countries' requirements and to engage in further technical assistance on post-disaster needs assessment and recovery planning.

Experience

ADPC's prior experience in post-disaster needs assessments includes the following:

• Developing Online Post Disaster Damage and Loss Reporting System for Sri Lanka
• Developing post-disaster needs assessment and recovery planning methodology and delivering capacity-building support for the Government of India
• Strengthening capacities, tools and processes at national and sub-national levels to hasten the recovery process following disaster events in Myanmar, Vietnam and the Philippines
• Establishment of an Asian expert group on disaster recovery from government agencies, regional bodies, technical institutes, and NGOs
• Developing a regional handbook and toolkit for disaster recovery practitioners: government officials, UN agencies, and NGOs
• Institutional and capacity-building support for sub-national post-disaster reconstruction activities in Khammouane province, Lao PDR
• Adapting post-disaster needs assessment and recovery planning methodology and delivering capacity-building support for the Government of Lao PDR
• Joint assessment team member and technical assistance to adapt the post-disaster needs assessment methodology for the post-Ketsana recovery in Cambodia and Lao PDR
• Providing post-disaster recovery assistance to the Government of Myanmar in cooperation with ASEAN after Cyclone Nargis
• Conducting a regional study on the socio-economic impacts of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami
• Delivering capacity-building support for post-tsunami damage and loss estimation in affected countries
• Developing damage and loss assessment methodology and delivering capacity-building support for the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority
• Conducting regional and national training and workshops on damage assessment and needs analysis
• Joint assessment team member for damage and loss assessment after the 2001 Gujarat earthquake

2025 Cyclone and Flood Recovery

This knowledge repository has been developed to support 2025 flood-affected countries in Asia (mainly Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand) in planning and implementing effective, evidence-based recovery efforts. It brings together key policies, guidelines, technical tools, and practical resources that can assist government agencies, development partners, and practitioners working across critical sectors such as housing, agriculture, livelihoods, MSMEs, infrastructure, WASH, health, education, social protection, disaster risk reduction, and climate resilience.

The repository builds on global and regional good practices while incorporating country-specific materials in English and local languages. It aims to serve as a practical, easy-to-navigate reference that helps recovery teams design sector strategies, plan interventions, undertake assessments, and implement resilient, people-centred recovery programs aligned with national priorities.

Resources have been curated based on relevance, credibility, and usefulness for real-time recovery operations. These materials can support policymakers and practitioners in the immediate recovery phase as well as medium- and long-term reconstruction and resilience-building.

Indonesia Sri Lanka Thailand Vietnam

Publications

Strengthening Capacities for Sub-national Post-Disaster Needs Assessment and Reconstruction Published on: 07/01/2014 Department: Disaster Risk Management System Type: Impact Stories and Case Studies Language: English

Summary DaLNA Process Wallchart for Sectors in Khammouane Province, Lao PDR Published on: 01/01/2014 Department: Disaster Risk Management System Type: Policies, Procedures and Guidelines Language: English

Summary DaLNA Process Wallchart for Sectors in Khammouane Province, Lao PDR Published on: 01/01/2014 Department: Disaster Risk Management System Type: Policies, Procedures and Guidelines Language: Lao

The Economic Impact of the 26 December 2004 Earthquake and Indian Ocean Tsunami in Thailand Published on: 01/01/2006 Department: Disaster Risk Management System Type: Technical Papers Language: English

Regional Analysis of Socio-Economic Impacts of the December 2004 Earthquake and Indian Ocean Tsunami Published on: 01/01/2006 Department: Disaster Risk Management System Type: Technical Papers Language: English

Sectoral Damage, Loss and Needs Assessment in Khammouane Province, Lao PDR Published on: 01/01/2014 Department: Disaster Risk Management System Type: Policies, Procedures and Guidelines Language: Lao

Sectoral Damage, Loss and Needs Assessment in Khammouane Province, Lao PDR Published on: 01/01/2014 Department: Disaster Risk Management System Type: Policies, Procedures and Guidelines Language: English

Handbook for Post-Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction Planning in Lao PDR Published on: 01/01/2012 Department: Disaster Risk Management System Type: Policies, Procedures and Guidelines Language: English

Typhoon Haima in the Lao People's Democratic Republic: Joint Damage, Losses, and Needs Assessment Published on: 08/01/2011 Department: Disaster Risk Management System Type: Progress and Assessment Reports Language: English

Planning, Budgeting and Financing: Post-Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction Activities in Khammouane Province, Lao PDR Published on: 07/08/2014 Department: Climate Change and Climate Risk Management Type: Policies, Procedures and Guidelines Language: Lao

Planning, Budgeting and Financing: Post-Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction Activities in Khammouane Province, Lao PDR Published on: 07/08/2014 Department: Disaster Risk Management System Type: Policies, Procedures and Guidelines Language: English

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP): Damage, Loss and Needs Assessment (DaLNA) in Khammouane Province, Lao PDR Published on: 07/08/2014 Department: Disaster Risk Management System Type: Policies, Procedures and Guidelines Language: Lao

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP): Damage, Loss and Needs Assessment (DaLNA) in Khammouane Province, Lao PDR Published on: 07/08/2014 Department: Disaster Risk Management System Type: Policies, Procedures and Guidelines Language: English

External links

Through these links, you can find more information on post-disaster needs assessment and recovery:
International Recovery Platform
Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery