Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (D.A.N.A.)

Guyana strengthens its post disaster relief system through D.A.N.A.

FOR post disaster relief operations to be effectively carried out, officials need to be properly informed about who, where and what systems were severely affected. Of all areas and persons impacted these officials require a system that will indicate the priority cases. One such system that is widely used throughout the Disaster Risk Management community is the Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (DANA) approach.

 The Civil Defence Commission (CDC), the country’s disaster risk management agency, along with key government ministries, agencies and other stakeholders began working on the country’s approach to DANA since 2009. In January 2010 there were a series of meetings and workshops held identifying the gaps and the way forward. A draft DANA framework was developed in a workshop held from August 17 – 18, 2010. This workshop was organized under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) funded project titled “Strengthening National and Local Capacity for Disaster Response and Risk Reduction.” It forms part of a series of workshops and meetings aimed at strengthening and customizing the DANA approach to the Guyana reality.

 At the workshop in August, the DANA participants were taken through a refresher of the DANA principles taught the basic concepts of the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) and the pivotal role the DANA approach played within the EOC. Participants were trained in the collation of all forms of information into one standardized situation report, which is then used to inform the needs analysis process and assists in decision making to take place. Following this familiarization session, the participants, along with the UNDP consultant Mr. Paul Saunders, reviewed the DANA Policy, DANA Framework and the DANA Plan, which was approved in principle by the authorities in the first quarter of 2010.

 The session ended with a table-top exercise which allowed participants hands on usage of the modified DANA forms and application of the plan. Following this experience, those involved in disaster relief operations were able to review the reports they were able to generate using current forms; and made recommendations on how the tools can be further strengthened.

 Suggestions were also made regarding the structure of a national DANA committee and National DANA team, ands their respective terms of reference. Work continues apace at the finalization and further testing of all aspects of the DANA approach.

UNDP Consultant Paul Saunders walks agencies’ representatives through the basic concepts of the Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis approach.