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 (Kyoto)
Friday, January 10, 2025,
4:00pm ¨C 5:45pm (Public Seminar)
5:50pm-6:30pm (Workshop)
Welcome Remarks (2 mins)
Ming Zhang
Global Director, Urban, Resilience and Land, World Bank
Opening Remarks (3 mins)
Professor Tomoharu Hori
Director, Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI), Kyoto University
Presentation (30 mins)
Disaster Damage Assessment Disrupted: Achievements, Innovations and Opportunities of the GRADE methodology
Dr. Rashmin Gunasekera
Professor James Daniell
Antonios Pomonis
Panel Discussion (30 mins)
Damage Assessments following Major Natural Disasters in Japan
Professor Hirokazu Tatano
DPRI, Kyoto University
Panel Discussion (40 mins)
Taking GRADE Forward through Collaboration - Opportunities and Challenges:
Professor Yuki Sakai DPRI, Kyoto University Earthquake engineering
Professor Kazuyoshi Nishijima DPRI, Kyoto University Wind engineering, Risk management
Professor Michinori Hatayama DPRI, Kyoto University Disaster Informatics, Information systems
Professor Takahiro Sayama DPRI, Kyoto University Water Engineering, Water related risk assessments
(Moderator)
Niels Holms-Nielsen
Practice Manager, GFDRR World Bank
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 (Tokyo)
Wednesday, January 8, 2025, 3:30pm-5:15pm (Public Seminar), 5:30pm-6:15pm (Workshop)