According to a recent report, Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) is being done simultaneously in Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha and Meghalaya.
About PDNA
- UN Development Group (UNDG), the World Bank (WB) and the European Union (EU) have collaborated on the development of a joint Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) tool.
- This tool represents a harmonized and coordinated approach, providing for an objective, comprehensive and government-led assessment of the post disaster damages, losses and recovery needs, and paving the way for a consolidated recovery framework.
PDNA and India
- The PDNA is an inter-agency coordination mechanism in accordance with the existing Disaster Management Act 2005 and rules and provisions at the Central and State level.
- It facilitates a comprehensive, coordinated and efficient approach to damage, loss and needs assessment and recovery planning.
- The PDNA is a process and not a product by itself, which consists of different elements and outputs undertaken and delivered in the weeks, months and years following a disaster. It is not a ‘one-shot’ assessment and planning exercise.
- The PDNA is not a replacement for any other tools, processes and obligations that government organizations may have used to assess disaster damage. Indeed it should be complementary to existing tools, processes and mechanisms, some of which have been developed and tested over many years.
- PDNA outputs may be used for multiple purposes in relation to recovery efforts in a particular context, i.e. there are no explicit or implicit arrangements to inhibit participating agencies from using the PDNA reports for relevant but varying purposes.
- The PDNA is a State Government-led activity and the funds required in undertaking it, should be mainly sourced from the State with contributions from the national Ministries, if required.
- The State Revenue/ Disaster Management Department is responsible for the overall organizing and leading the conduct of the PDNA.
