Training Workshop on the use of the ECLAC Damage and Loss Assessment (DALA) Methodology for the Evaluation of Natural Disasters

Submitted by katharina on 28 October 2011 - 11:41am

The workshop was designed to develop capacity in the Caribbean for its member states to undertake a damage and loss assessment of the impact of a natural disaster on their socio-economy and to programme disaster management and mitigation strategies into their development plans.

The main objectives of the workshop were to:
i) Introduce participants to the conceptual framework and practical issues and tips in conducting a damage and loss assessment in the aftermath of a disaster
ii) Enable country representatives to collect information and to undertake their own initial assessment after a disaster in their country
iii) Underscore disasters as a development challenge that could threaten attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especially in the wake of more intense events due to climate change
iv) Challenge policy makers to programme progressive disaster mitigation and resilience building measures into their development plans and budgets.

Key Information
27 August 2009 - 29 August 2009
Case Study
Background: 

Natural disasters remain a major development challenge in Latin America and the Caribbean, and, more so, in the small island States of the Caribbean where the impact of a single disaster could wipe out years of progress and threaten the sustainable livelihoods of large segments of their populations. Indeed, according to ECLAC assessments, the Caribbean was impacted by some 76 natural disasters between 1999 and 2008 with an estimated cost of US$136 billion. Moreover, global warming and climate change has been reflected in more intense tropical weather systems in recent times. The Caribbean is therefore increasingly challenged to pay serious attention to all issues relating to natural disasters. It is for this reason that the understanding of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) Damage and Loss Assessment Methodology (DALA) forms part of meeting the ECLAC objective of strengthening the capacity of its member States to evaluate and assess the impact of natural disasters in their countries.

Results Achieved: 

The training workshop was attended by 30 participants of whom eight were ECLAC staff members (not presenters), and three were from the United Nations system (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)). Twelve participants were from Trinidad and Tobago and seven were from Barbados. Of the non-ECLAC participants, 14 were females and eight were males. Males and females accounted for an equal share of the ECLAC participants. All participants were from government, semi- government or regional and international organizations.

With regard to the usefulness of the course to their work and country situation, 63.9% and 27.3% indicated good and very good, respectively. The relevance of the topics taught received a good rating (31.8%) while 51.9% gave a rating of very good.

Main Activities: 

The main activities of the workshop were:
(a) Setting the context for DALA
(b) The DALA methodology and its applications in the productive and social sectors
(c) Data for Disaster Assessment
(d) Conceptual framework for ‘Restoring livelihood and building back better’
(e) Case study

Future Replicability
Lessons Learned: 

• The quality of a final damage and loss assessment depends on the level of training and competence of persons trained in the methodology to collect the data and information in the form that is required.
• The damage and loss assessment should be an important guide in strategies to ‘build back better’ after a disaster including abiding by proper building codes and implementing adequate catastrophic risk insurance systems
• In countries with a limited exposure to natural disasters, the link between training and work was not always clear, but would crystallize when a disaster occurred.
• Countries should put together in advance multi-disciplinary teams, including a number of sector specialists who would be able to undertake an assessment from the bottom-up.
• The challenge of the limited number of economists at the training was dealt with by leveraging those available to share their knowledge and experience with the wider group.

Key to Success for Future Replicability: 

• Since the training, follow-up training has been successfully undertaken in Trinidad and Tobago in 2010 to deal with a Pandemic outbreak and also in St. Kitts and Nevis to deal with natural disasters broadly. The training can therefore be readily replicated in other countries.
• A four-day course with the last day designated for the case study was preferable. To alleviate the time constraint for a three-day beginners’ course, it was recommended that the case study should be simplified and focus on, perhaps, the social sector, infrastructure, agriculture (where applicable) and tourism or manufacturing. Alternatively, the sector presentations could be embedded in an exercise that highlighted the methodology. For intermediate and advanced training courses, however, the use of a more complicated case study was recommended. This is to be explored.
• The suggestion for a recall session was supported and in the past, recall sessions have been held in Jamaica, Belize and Cayman Islands. It was further recommended that training sessions be held in any country that requested an ECLAC DALA mission.
• It was recommended that ECLAC highlight the need for sector specialists and economists in its letter of invitation, to support economy-wide social, economic and environmental assessment.

Contacts: 

Focal point(s) in lead country/organization
Asha Kambon,
Regional Adviser,
ECLAC – Sub-regional Headquarters for the Caribbean
Email: Asha.Kambon@eclac.org