NRP programming division is providing technical support to Bangladesh Planning Commission for the institutionalization of disaster risk reduction, as part of this initiative, a framework, and tools for Disaster Impact Assessment (DIA) has been developed. This is expected that DIA will contribute towards risk screening doing project formulation and implementation. The practice of such tool in planning process would be scaled-up and provide the way for greater resilience in the society.
(i) The DIA will be used as an ‘ex-ante’ tool for following questions whether a proposed project is threatened or to be impacted by existing disaster risks, or
(ii) The project itself can increase the intensity, frequency, and extent of existing risks, or
(iii) The proposed intervention can also generate new risks in an area of development; and,
Secondly, to suggest appropriate actions or effective ‘countermeasures’ that would be required at each stage of project formulation, appraisal and implementation.
Moreover, the revised Standing Order on Disasters (SOD) of 2019 and National Plan for Disaster Management 2021-2025 (NPDM, January 2021) have incorporated DIA as an essential tool for disaster risk reduction, and made responsible Bangladesh Planning Commission to introduce DIA as a tool to prepare and appraise development project proposals (DPP/TAPP) for gender responsive, disability inclusive and risk informed development planning.
In a office order on 31 January 2021, the Planning Commission has included DIA in the feasibility study format as a mandatory option for feasibility study for the projects having investment more than BDT 50 crore taka. The ministries and agencies already started practices of this format including disaster impact assessment. A meeting of Energy and Mineral Resource Division held on 08 April 2021 with Senior Secretary of the division in chair underscored need for feasibility study having disaster impact assessment for a new project in Shariatpur and directed concerned agencies for necessary actions for DIA as directed by Planning Commission. Institutionalization of DIA can be acknowledged as a best practice of mainstreaming of DRR for sustainable development.
