Damage and Reconstruction Needs Assessment Toolkit

Introduction to Damage
and Reconstruction Needs Assessment Toolkit

Welcome

The consequences of natural disasters on human welfare, economic activities, property, and natural resources are devastating. As a result of disasters, scarce resources earmarked for development are diverted to relief and reconstruction. To achieve sustainable development, reconstruction should reduce vulnerabilities to future calamities. Our aim with this Toolkit is to contribute to this effort.

The Toolkit incorporates the materials of the World Bank Institute program in Disaster Risk Management. The program was developed with support of the Hazard Management Unit and ProVention Consortium and based on the damage and reconstruction needs assessment methodology of the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and Caribbean. This comprehensive methodology estimates the broad range of disaster effects and their implications on the economic and social sectors, physical infrastructure, and environmental assets. These estimates allow identifying appropriate reconstruction programs and projects.

The Toolkit is designed for staff of government and international aid agencies dealing with natural disaster management and disaster relief and reconstruction activities.

Frannie Léautier, Vice President, World Bank Institute