UNITED NATIONSECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFICSTATISTICAL INSTITUTE FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC (SIAP)

Disaster related statistics framework(e-Learning course)
22 February- 9 April 2021
GuidelineI.

OVERVIEW OF THE COURSE

Disasters continue to have an ever-increasing impact on life, well-being and sustainable
development. Given these impacts, there is a high demand at the local, national andinternational levels for high quality, integrated statistics to inform all phases of the disasterrisk management cycle. Furthermore, disaster related statistics are not only relevant to thoseworking to prepare and respond to disasters but also to the public at large, research
institutions and policy analysts at the local and national levels. In response to the increased
demands for disaster related statistics, the disaster management and official statistics
communities in Asia-Pacific have developed the Disaster-related Statistics Framework(DRSF).
The DRSF aims to improve countries capacities to produce high quality, integrated statistics
on disasters; and, it is the basis for this course. During the course participants will learn about
the importance of harmonized data and its relevance to policy making at the national andglobal level. Other topics covered include statistics on disaster risk, disaster occurrence andimpacts, and economic losses. Further details on course content follow below.
II.

TARGET PARTICIPANTS

The target audience are officials in national statistical offices, line ministries and otherinstitutions (including National Disaster Management Agencies) who are working on disaster
related issues. The course can also be useful to a wider audience who is interested to learn
more about disaster related statistics.
III.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of the course, participants will be expected to:•Be informed about relevant policy initiatives (including international initiatives
such as the Sendai Framework and the SDGs)
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IV.

Understand concepts of disaster statistics
Learn about harmonized data and integration of different data sources to support
policy development
Comprehend data relevant to different components of disaster risk management
cycle
COURSE DESIGN AND CONTENT

Each module consists of slides with explanations. After all modules have been completed,participants will be required to complete a final test that will cover all modules. The modules
are expected to take a maximum of 7 hours to complete. Participants are also expected toattend the course webinars. The webinars will provide an overview of the course topics andallow for participants to ask questions. Furthermore, participants are encouraged to actively
participate in the online forum of the course. Topics for discussion will be posted on a regularbasis and participants are invited to share their views/comments/questions.
OutlineModuleCoverage

1. Introduction to DRSF•••

Why we need to harmonize statistics
The policy context of the DRSF
Working with the DRSF

2. Measuring disaster risk

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Assessing risks
Hazard statistics
Exposure statistics
Vulnerability statistics
Coping capacity statistics

3. Measuring disasteroccurrence and impacts••••

Disaster occurrence statistics
Introduction to impact statistics
Human impacts
Impacts to livelihood

4. Measuring economic loss•••••

Material impacts
Technical aspects of validation
Agricultural losses
Productive assets, housing and agriculture
Impacts to the environment and cultural heritage

5. Disaster-risk reduction
expenditure statistics•

Concept of national account and DRSF satellite
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6. Compiling and presentingthe data••••

Risk reduction expenditure
Disaster response and recovery expenditure
Disaster-related development expenditure
Disaster-related transfers••

Creating the enabling environment
Integrating the DRSF into a national statisticalsystem
Disaggregation and analysis
Data collection and analysis in the disaster risk
management process••
7. The DRSF’s application
to the COVID-19
pandemicV.

•Compiling COVID-19 statistics

EVALUATIONParticipants must receive a 70% or higher in the test at the end of this course.
Participants will be given 60 minutes to complete the test. They may take the exam up to
three times and retain their best score. Participants may not work together on the test. The
course facilitator reserves the right to deny course certificates to participants suspected ofcheating on the test. The supervisor is expected to ensure that the test of the course is taken
in his/her presence.
VI.

SOURCE MATERIAL

This course draws upon various sources, including international statistical standards and casestudies from national statistical offices.

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