The Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) is a government-led exercise that pulls together information on the impacts of a disaster from a broad range of sectors, cross-cutting themes and perspectives into one comprehensive report. The PDNA encompasses information on the value of the damages and losses as well as the human development needs among affected populations. The output of the PDNA is the Recovery Framework outlining early to long-term recovery needs, priorities and resource requirements. The PDNA is the modality to maximize coherence in order to a) ensure government leadership in recovery assessments, planning and resourcing and b) ease the coordination of demands by international organizations on governments dealing with natural catastrophes.

The time frame of the PDNA will be determined by each National Government. The PDNA initiates once a National Government approaches the PDNA partners with a request for the assessment. The PDNA planning mission would commence as soon as possible.

The PDNA is a government-led process. National  and International organizations provide technical support.

The PDNA is governed by a tripartite agreement between the World Bank, the UN system and the European Commission (EC).