About GRADE
The ) is a remote, desk-based methodology developed by the World Bank, and implemented by GFDRR to help World Bank member countries estimate the economic damage impact soon after disasters.
Since its first application after the 2015 Nepal Earthquake, it has been used in over 66 occasions in response to disasters in 54 countries has informed recovery planning faster mobilization of funds. Using disruptive technology, GRADE assessments are developed in approximately a couple of weeks¡¯ time and on average to accuracy of 90 percent of detailed on the ground damage assessments that follow later. The information generated from GRADE has become a trusted tool for Ministries of Finances, DRM agencies as well as decision makers including World Bank Country Management Units (CMU) to understand the overall impacts from disasters. The Japan-World Bank Program on Mainstreaming DRM of GFDRR is supporting the implementation and research and development of the GRADE methodology.
GRADE Public Seminar and technical discussions: exploring practical collaborations with Japan - January 2025
A Public Seminar and follow-on technical discussions will be held in Tokyo and Kyoto to introduce the GRADE methodology and how it is used at the World Bank. The seminar will review the experience of GRADE assessments from the last 10 years. The seminar will aalso discuss topics such as the why and how the World Bank uses the outputs to support the countries affected by major disasters. The panel will conclude with discussions on the potential for innovation and collaboration. The public seminar will be followed by technical discussions that will provide an opportunity for the participants to discuss technical aspects of the GRADE methodology, brainstorm about opportunities to strengthen the methodology through innovation, and explore collaboration opportunities to scale up GRADE. We hope this seminar will lead to practical collaborations to scale up GRADE activities around the world.
The GRADE methodology guide can be downloaded from .
Public Seminar (Tokyo)
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
3:30pm -5:15pm (Public Seminar)
5:30pm-6:15pm (Workshop)
Welcome Remarks (10 mins)
Ming Zhang
Global Director, Urban, Resilience and Land, World Bank
(TBC)
Director, Multilateral Development Banks Division, International Bureau, Ministry of Finance, Japan
Opening Remarks (15 mins)
Market, State, and Community Mechanisms for Disaster Resilience
Professor Yasuyuki Sawada
Graduate School of Economics, Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo
Presentation (30 mins)
A Review of The Global Rapid post-disaster Damage Estimation (GRADE) Assessments (2015-2024) ¨C A frontier in rapid post-disaster damage estimation for developing countries.
Dr. Rashmin Gunasekera
Professor James Daniell
Antonios Pomonis
GRADE, GFDRR, World Bank
Presentation (30 mins)
Reducing Poverty and Inequality through Flood Control Investments as a Climate Adaptation Strategy
Professor Akiyuki Kawasaki
Institute for Future Initiatives, University of Tokyo
Q&A ¨C Discussion (20 mins)
Taking GRADE Forward through Collaboration - Opportunities and Challenges
Discussants
Professor Yasuyuki Sawada (TBC)
University of Tokyo
Professor Toshio Koike (TBC)
Executive Director, ICHARM
Dr. Alexander Pui
Senior Vice President, Climate and Sustainability Consulting, Marsh McLennan
Dr Harriette Stone
GRADE, GFDRR, World Bank
(Moderator)
Niels Holms-Nielsen
Practice Manager, GFDRR World Bank
15 min break
Workshop (45 mins)
Technical workshop on connecting GRADE to key areas of Japanese research and expertise on damage assessment.
Related seminar
24th Disaster Risk Management Seminar organized by the World Bank GFDRR Tokyo DRM Hub
Public symposium: From Risk to Resilience: Achievements, Innovations and Opportunities of the Global Rapid post-disaster Damage Estimation (GRADE) at the World Bank (Kyoto)
Friday, January 10, 2025, 16:00 ¨C 17:45 (Public Seminar), 17:50-18:30 (Workshop)