UN and Government Officials Explore Standards to Assess Emergencies

Over 35 representatives from the national ministries, international organizations and United Nations came to discuss benefits of applying a standardized approach and methodology for conducting emergency needs assessments, formulating a recovery strategy and planning its successful implementation.

UNDP, UNEP and World Bank international experts, with experience in post-disaster needs assessments, presented in key areas such as: water supply and sanitation; housing and health care. The interactive workshop comprised presentations, group and practical work.

In her welcoming speech, Ms. Elena Panova, UN Resident Coordinator, noted that building emergency response and disaster risk reduction capacity of national partners is one of the important priorities of UN work, including its specialized structures and other recognized international organizations.

During the two days of training, participants learned about the use and application of the methodology and approach of post-disaster needs assessment and developed the post-disaster framework.

As a result of the workshop, participants can now become part of the roster of professionals capable of assessing needs and developing recovery schemes in Turkmenistan and the Central Asian region.

The United Nations Development Group, the World Bank and the European Union have jointly developed a tool for assessing damage, losses and post-emergency needs. This tool was officially launched during the Sendai Conference in 2015 and is a harmonized and coordinated approach that provides an objective, comprehensive assessment of damage, losses and recovery needs after emergencies.

To promote the use of the instrument in practice, the UN, the World Bank and the European Union have prepared a special guide that helps to promote the methodology and standardizes the assessment methodology, covering all sectors and maintaining a balance between various aspects of the recovery process.