Disaster Recovery Planning & Execution Training Course

This course equips participants with the knowledge and practical skills required to design, implement, and manage disaster recovery plans in humanitarian, public sector, and organizational contexts. It focuses on recovery planning frameworks, post-disaster assessments, infrastructure and livelihood restoration, business continuity, reconstruction management, and resilience building. Participants will learn how to transition effectively from emergency response to recovery and ensure sustainable rebuilding after disasters.

Target Groups

• Disaster recovery and reconstruction officers
• Humanitarian program managers and coordinators
• Government disaster risk management authorities
• NGO and UN recovery and rehabilitation teams
• Infrastructure and urban planning officers
• Public health and social services recovery teams
• Donor and development agency staff
• Community development practitioners
• Resilience and climate adaptation specialists

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Develop comprehensive disaster recovery and rehabilitation plans
• Conduct post-disaster needs assessments (PDNA)
• Design and manage reconstruction and recovery programs
• Integrate resilience and “Build Back Better” principles
• Coordinate multi-sector recovery interventions
• Restore livelihoods and essential services after disasters
• Manage recovery funding and resource mobilization
• Monitor and evaluate recovery and reconstruction progress
• Strengthen institutional and community resilience systems
• Ensure sustainable and inclusive recovery processes

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Course Modules

Module 1: Introduction to Disaster Recovery

• Definition and scope of disaster recovery
• Transition from response to recovery phases
• Recovery principles and frameworks
• Global standards (Sendai Framework, PDNA methodology)
• Lessons from global recovery operations

Module 2: Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA)

• Purpose and structure of PDNA
• Sectoral damage and loss assessment
• Data collection methods in post-disaster contexts
• Stakeholder engagement in assessments
• Prioritization of recovery needs

Module 3: Recovery Planning Frameworks

Recovery = Response + Reconstruction + Resilience

• Developing recovery strategies and roadmaps
• Linking recovery to development planning
• Sectoral recovery planning approaches
• Resource mobilization and funding strategies
• Risk-informed recovery planning

Module 4: Infrastructure Reconstruction and Rehabilitation

• Rebuilding critical infrastructure systems
• Housing and settlement reconstruction
• Urban and rural planning in recovery
• Engineering standards and safety considerations
• Sustainable reconstruction approaches

Module 5: Livelihood Restoration and Economic Recovery

• Restoring income-generating activities
• Support for small businesses and agriculture
• Cash-based recovery programming
• Skills development and employment creation
• Market system recovery

Module 6: Social Recovery and Community Resilience

• Psychosocial support and community healing
• Social cohesion and reconciliation
• Community participation in recovery planning
• Inclusion of vulnerable groups
• Strengthening local governance systems

Module 7: Health, Education, and Essential Services Recovery

• Restoring healthcare systems after disasters
• Rebuilding education infrastructure and services
• Water, sanitation, and hygiene restoration
• Continuity of essential public services
• Coordination with line ministries

Module 8: Recovery Coordination and Governance

• Multi-stakeholder coordination mechanisms
• Roles of government, NGOs, and donors
• Recovery task forces and coordination units
• Policy and regulatory frameworks
• Transparency and accountability in recovery

Module 9: Monitoring, Evaluation, and Risk in Recovery

• Recovery monitoring frameworks and indicators
• Risk management in reconstruction projects
• Evaluating recovery effectiveness
• Adaptive management in recovery contexts
• Ensuring accountability to affected populations

Module 10: Capstone Project and Case Studies

• Designing a full disaster recovery and reconstruction plan
• Case studies of major recovery operations globally
• Simulation: post-disaster reconstruction planning exercise
• Recovery budgeting and prioritization workshop
• Emerging trends: AI-driven damage assessment, satellite-based reconstruction tracking, digital twins for cities, blockchain-based aid tracking, and real-time recovery dashboards