Human Development

Recovery Needs Assessments

(HRNA)
United Nations Development Programme
Bureau for Crisis Prevention & Recovery
Bangkok, Thailand
November 2010

Presentation Aim
To introduce and justify Human Development
Recovery Needs Assessments (HRNA) as a key
element of PDNAs
To provide examples from Asia of recent
approaches to HRNA

Presentation Order
What is HRNA and why is it important?
Who does HRNAs and how are they done?
Where can I find resources on HRNA?
What are examples of HRNA in Asia?
What are the lessons and challenges from
recent experiences with HRNA?

What is HRNA?
HRNA is shorthand for Human Development
Recovery Needs Assessments
HRNA are assessments that determine the
requirements for the full resilient recovery of
human development for affected populations,
including the restoration of governance
systems
Resilient recovery means that disaster risks
are reduced (Sometimes called holistic
recovery or sustainable recovery)

Recovery of Human Development:

Definition

Measures to restore peoples

abilities to recover their full
potential to lead productive,
creative lives in accordance with
their needs and interests.
In reference to Human Development

Recovery and Human Development Paths

Human Development Index (HDI)
MDG

Pre-Crisis Development Path

Pre disaster HDI
Recovery Path

Relief
6 to 12 months

5 to 10 years

Time

Why recovery of human development?

Development experts have learned importance of multidisciplinary approaches to twin pillars of economic
development and human development.
Neither approach replaces the other; two
complimentary streams of analysis (DaLA and HRNA)
HRNA reflects concerns/priorities of individuals and
stakeholders viz DaLAs orientation to national accounts

Relationship between DaLA and actual recovery needs

not straightforward; governments requesting more
analysis to ensure recovery of human development

Why? continued...
The needs and priorities identified by the
affected communities themselves are neglected

Insufficient attention is often given to the social

impacts of disasters
Local knowledge, resources and experience are
not adequately addressed
While macro-level socio-economic data is often
collected, much information is missed at the
meso- and micro-levels
Important opportunities may be missed

Who does HRNA?

Government led; Government sectoral
specialists; Line
ministries/departments/offices
PDNA sector teams

Supported by specialised UN agencies as per

mandates, global conventions, etc.
Informed by and builds on humanitarian
institutions and processes
And, disaster-affected key stakeholders

What is the focus of HRNAs?

Effects of disaster on social/community/
household functions & processes
Priorities for recovery interventions, sequencing
and focus areas
Needs for resources for interventions in monetary
terms
Capacities required to meet recovery objectives
(& measures to address gaps)
Risk reduction measures to ensure resilient
recovery

HRNA for each sector:

Should estimates impacts and requirements for:
Restoration of governance systems
Measures to ensure access for all to reconstructed
infrastructure
Approaches to fully restore livelihood systems
Pressing basic needs and services

Re-establishment of community functioning

Support spontaneous recovery
Post disaster capacity building

Enhancing resilience against & reducing disaster risks

Where to find resources?

Guidance is found in Sectoral and Thematic
Methodologies for Assessing Human Impacts and
Recovery Needs (coming soon!)
Chapters can be found here:
www.recoveryplatform.org/PDNA
For example: Agriculture; Community Infrastructure;
Culture; Disaster Risk Reduction; Education;
Environment; Gender; Governance; Health; Housing,
Land, Property and Human Settlements; Information
Management; Livelihoods, Employment and Income;
Use of Geospatial Information and Satellite Derived
Productsand more

www.recoveryplatform.org/PDNA

Country example, HRNA - Indonesia

HRNA embedded in legal framework

Linked to financing facility

Adapting global guidance for country context

Improved through application and post-crisis

learning
Committed government leadership

UN-supported

Country example, HRNA - Myanmar

2008 Cyclone Nargis
Focus on affected communities perspectives
through Village Tract Assessment
Part of the Post-Nargis Joint Assessment (PONJA)
coordinated by ASEAN
*
*
*
*
*

Perceptions of why the disaster was so bad.

Proportion of deaths by age and gender.
Support needed by communities.
Priorities for repairing infrastructure.
Household expenditure priorities.

VTA: 30 most affected townships

Loss of

Salination of ponds

food stocks

Sanitation situation

agricultural income

Damage to schools

fisheries income
livestock income
seed stocks
shelter

Levels of destruction
Changing nature of
temporary shelter

Access to credit

Levels of psychological
stress
Reach of humanitarian
efforts

Country example, Pakistan

2010 Monsoon Floods
No PDNAbut Damage and Needs
Assessment led by IFIs

UN: Focus on impact of floods on human

development, using MDGs as proxies

Gross and Net Primary Enrollment

110.0%

Pre-flood pathway

100.0%

GER
Pre-flood level

90.0%

Post-flood pathway
80.0%

70.0%

NER

60.0%

50.0%

40.0%
2004

2005
2006
2007
Pre-flood NER projection
Pre-flood GER projectoins

2008
2009
2010
Post-flood NER projection
Post-flood GER projections

2011
2012
2013
Pre-flood NER level
Pre-flood GER level

2014

2015

MDG 2: Survival Rate (Primary Education)

80.0%

Survival rate
75.0%

70.0%

Post-flood level
65.0%

60.0%

55.0%

50.0%

Post-flood pathway

Pre-flood pathway

45.0%

40.0%
2001

2003
Pre-flood projection

2005

2007

2009

Post-flood projection

2011

2013
Pre-flood level

2015

Lessons & Challenges of HRNA

Best to prepare for recovery planning before disasters
Methodologies evolving rapidly, limited dissemination
An approach versus a single methodology

Different institutions have different expectations/uses of

PDNA materials, including DaLA and HRNA; can be
challenging to reconcile and prioritise
DaLA can consume most of the available PDNA technical
resources; experts must be dedicated to HRNA
Without champions, voices of disaster-affected
communities do not inform recovery processes

Without HRNA leaders, PDNAs can be limited to DaLA

Timing is challenging, given humanitarian imperatives

Thank you
Questions, Observations or Comments?