Launch of the Humanitarian Disability Needs Estimation Screening Tool (HD-NEST) Guidelines
Collecting data in immediate humanitarian response following a sudden onset disaster, such as an earthquake, is uniquely challenging. Delays in collecting data on disability, excludes people with disability from response interventions, increases risk of injury and death, and delays recovery
Nossal Institute, working with ASB and Life Haven, have developed a tool for identifying people with disability and support needs the critical early response phase. The Humanitarian Disability Needs Estimation Screening Tool (HD-NEST) is designed as a practical solution to improve the collection of disability data in joint rapid needs assessments in the immediate aftermath of sudden onset disasters. The Humanitarian Disability Needs Estimation Screening Tool (HD-NEST) questions and guidance were officially launched in a webinar on Thursday, 20 February.
HD-NEST uses a set of three questions to rapidly identify most people with disability in a disaster-affected population. Dr Alex Robinson, the project lead, emphasised the significance of this tool: “HD-NEST represents a significant step forward in how we consider disability data and our ability to rapidly provide inclusive humanitarian aid. By quickly identifying individuals with disabilities, we can ensure that responses are both equitable and effective. This tool will help us to better understand the needs of all affected individuals and provide necessary support in a timely manner.”
You can now watch the webinar including the Q&A session and download the guided in English and Bahasa Indonesia and Filipino.
Learn more about the HD-NEST resources
Dr Alex Robinson is head of the Nossal Institute’s Disability, Inclusion and Rehabilitation team. His work on disability, development and disaster risk focuses on the delivery of actionable and equitable policy and programming solutions.
The Humanitarian Disability Needs Estimation Screening Tool (HD-NEST) project is funded and supported by Elrha’s Humanitarian Innovation Fund (HIF) programme, a grant making facility which improves outcomes for people affected by humanitarian crises by identifying, nurturing and sharing more effective, innovative and scalable solutions