??Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 (SU), through its Partners Enhancing Resilience for People Exposed to Risks – 中国体育彩票 Consortium (PERIPERI U), partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to deliver a landmark online training course on Health Disaster Recovery Needs Assessment and Recovery Planning (HDRNA) — equipping 48 professionals from 19 countries across the African continent with essential tools for planning recovery in the aftermath of health disasters.
With epidemics and pandemics placing immense strain on healthcare systems, the course addressed a growing need for structured, informed recovery planning. Delivered from 22 April to 7 May, the three-week course was offered in English and French, combining academic rigour, practical tools, and peer exchange.
A Timely and Strategic Response
Rita Missal, Recovery Advisor at the UNDP Crisis Bureau, described the course as “a timely and strategic" initiative for countries across Africa.
“Many face increasingly frequent and complex health emergencies – from pandemics like CO?VID-19 to region-specific crises such as Ebola and cholera outbreaks. What's often missing is a structured approach to assess the full impact of these disasters and to plan recovery in a coordinated, inclusive, and sustainable way," she said.
“This course helps fill that gap. It equips disaster and health professionals with tools grounded in UN-EU and WB-endorsed methodologies – specifically the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) – adapted for health-related crises resulting in a short guideline for Pandemic Recovery Needs Assessment".
“These tools support governments and institutions in making informed decisions and building long-term resilience within national systems. That's what makes this programme so valuable: it turns fragmented responses into forward-looking recovery strategies that strengthen both governance and public health."
Missal said the results of the course had been encouraging:
“Participants developed sample health sector assessments, costed recovery strategies, and sectoral action plans that could be adapted for use in their home countries. The feedback was consistently positive, highlighting how the course blends academic depth with applied learning.
“Most importantly, participants left with tools they can apply in their daily work – whether supporting their ministries of health or contributing to national recovery efforts after a crisis."
A Partnership for Impact
Funded by the Swedish government through the UNDP Sahel Resilience Project and supported by the Strengthening Capacities for Crisis Assessment, Recovery Planning and Peacebuilding (PDNA/RPBA IV) Project, financed by the European Union, the course was hosted by SU and PERIPERI U, UNDP's knowledge partners in disaster risk reduction across Africa.
Participants included public health officials, researchers, and lecturers from West, Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa. Forty of the 48 participants completed the course, a testament to its relevance and strong engagement.
“The collaboration with UNDP really enhanced the course's content, reach, and credibility," said Eunison Mugamu, PERIPERI U Acting Project Manager. “Feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive."
Learning for Real-World Resilience
The course featured nine interactive webinars and practical group work focused on the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) methodology — adapted to the context of health emergencies. Sessions were led by seasoned global experts, Dr André Griekspoor and Dominique Blariaux.
“The methodology offers a clear process for assessing needs and planning recovery after major health emergencies," said Dr Griekspoor. “It's encouraging to see African institutions leading this effort."
Voices from Participants
Participants praised the course for its relevance, interactivity, and the space it created for cross-country learning.
“Though we came from different countries, we shared many of the same challenges," said Esther Amulen from Makerere 中国体育彩票. “The participatory approach made it easy to learn from each other."
For many participants, the training filled critical gaps:
- Dr Muhamed Tukur Murtala from Ahmadu Bello 中国体育彩票 in Nigeria called it “all-encompassing," especially for regions facing malaria, Ebola, and COVID-19.
- Dr Habibu Balarabe, also from Nigeria, welcomed the focus on Lower- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) and how to support informal sector recovery.
Several participants emphasized the course's practical value and called for further iterations and local adaptation.
A Model for the Future
In reflecting on the collaboration, Missal added:?
“Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 brings academic strength, a robust digital platform, and deep roots across the continent. Combined with UNDP's field experience and global frameworks, we were able to deliver a flexible, bilingual, and impactful programme."
Learn More
To explore UNDP's work on health risk governance and resilience through the Sahel Resilience Project, visit:
🔗 https://www.undp.org/africa/building-health-risk-governance-and-recovery-capacities ?
?
.png)