Following the severe flood situation in the South of Thailand at the beginning of 2017, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Interior of Thailand in cooperation with the United Nations Country Team for Thailand (UNCT), the World Bank, and the European Union have organized the ‘Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) and Disaster Recovery Framework Workshop for Thailand’ in Bangkok between 22-25 May 2017. The objectives of the workshop are, among others, to promote the understanding of PDNA methodology and the sharing of experiences from other countries, as well as to explore further cooperation opportunities in post – disaster reconstruction and recovery for the country’s long – term development. Around 100 representatives from Thailand’s Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Focal Point and the UNCT participated in the workshop.

           The workshop focused on four sectors, namely (1) social sector (housing, education, health, and culture), (2) infrastructure sector (infrastructure and transport), (3) production sector (agriculture) and (4) cross – cutting issues (DRR, livelihoods, as well as gender, which will be integrated across all sectors). For these sectors, 13 experts from the European Union, the World Bank and UN agencies including United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), International Organization for Migration (IOM), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), International Labour Organizations (ILO) and United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)  were invited as trainers at the workshop. The workshop consisted of a theoretical part on PDNA methodology and group exercises with the recent flood situation in the South of Thailand as a case study.

          The workshop was successful in many respects. Firstly, it builds DRR –related capacities of Thai agencies, particularly the capacities that are in line with the principle of ‘Building Back Better’. Secondly, it promotes partnerships and networks among Thai agencies as well as between Thai and UN agencies at all levels, and, thirdly, it enhances multi – stakeholder engagement as well as a sense of ownership of the concerned parties during the conduct of PDNA and the long – term recovery development in Thailand. This is in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015 – 2030. Individuals and communities at the local level can play an important role in prevention and preparedness as part of DRR strategies for the future.

          The PDNA methodology had been developed by a collaboration between the European Union, the United Nations Development Group, and the World Bank as guidelines for conducting Post Disaster Needs Assessments and preparing Disaster Recovery Frameworks (DRFs). According to Thailand’s National Disaster Risk Management Plan B.E. 2558 (2015), the conduct of PDNA is set as part of the country’s recovery strategy.