Revising the Disaster and Emergency Assistance Policy

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has conducted a comprehensive review and revised the 2004 Disaster and Emergency Assistance Policy (DEAP). The virtual Civil Society Organization (CSO) consultations were held on 18-19 March 2021. The final policy paper was circulated to the Board of Directors on 14 September and approved on 5 October 2021. The Revised DEAP provides an updated policy framework to enhance strategic guidance for ADB’s assistance for disasters and emergencies, covering risk reduction, preparedness, and response. It focuses on the overall approach, introducing changes based on ADB’s experience since the approval of the 2004 policy and evolutions in global good practice.

Review of the 2004 Disaster and Emergency Assistance Policy

ADB has consistently sought to address the significant challenges to poverty reduction and sustainable development in its developing member countries (DMCs) since its establishment in 1966. Disasters and emergencies have a major detrimental impact on human and socio-economic development as well as public finances of affected DMCs. Extreme weather, geophysical events, pandemics, and conflicts, in particular, have caused significant loss of life, assets, and economic productivity, with particular detrimental impact on the poorest and most vulnerable members of society.

This paper reviews ADB’s experience in implementing its 2004 Disaster and Emergency Assistance Policy (DEAP). The policy covers both (i) ADB’s overarching approach to disasters and emergencies, including risk reduction, preparedness, early recovery, and reconstruction; and (ii) the emergency assistance loan (EAL) modality, which was established as part of the DEAP. Risk reduction and preparedness aspects have been mainly covered in the context of disasters triggered by natural hazards, while emergency assistance loans have been applied to a wider set of disasters and emergencies, including post-conflict situations, public health emergencies, and food emergencies. Read the Review of the 2004 Disaster and Emergency Assistance Policy document.

ADB's Revised Disaster and Emergency Assistance Policy

The draft Revised Disaster and Emergency Assistance Policy (Revised DEAP) seeks to enhance strategic guidance for greater efficiency and impact of ADB’s support to DMCs to strengthen long-term resilience to disasters and emergencies, including enhanced management of residual risk. Long-term resilience is a key foundation to sustainable development. The revised policy maintains a balanced emphasis on risk reduction, preparedness, and response based on strong risk analytics while also providing sufficient flexibility to address new and evolving challenges and embrace new and improved approaches, innovations, and technologies over the coming years. It also recognizes the complementary role of other development partners in humanitarian assistance and peacebuilding activities. The Revised DEAP together with a separate paper on a revised EAL instrument will supersede the 2004 DEAP. See draft Revised Disaster and Emergency Assistance Policy. Download the overview presentation slides.