---
title: "The 72-Hour Assessment Approach"
slug: "the-72-hour-assessment-approach"
updated: 2025-10-08T14:50:07Z
published: 2025-10-08T14:50:07Z
canonical: "vamresources.manuals.wfp.org/the-72-hour-assessment-approach"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://vamresources.manuals.wfp.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# The 72-Hour Assessment Approach

The 72-hour Assessment Approach is WFP’s rapid methodology for vulnerability and spatial analysis in sudden-onset disasters. This guide enables country offices and partners to deliver timely, actionable information for emergency response within the first three days after a disaster strikes.

**Purpose of the 72-hour Assessment Approach**

- Provide a “good enough” snapshot of needs and priority areas within 72 hours of a sudden-onset disaster
- Support immediate operational decisions with the best available data and assumptions
- Enable continuous refinement of estimates as new information becomes available

**Key Phases**

- **Phase I: Data Preparedness:** Establish and maintain an organized, georeferenced data system before disasters occur. This includes up-to-date GIS layers, demographic, poverty, food security, and nutrition data, as well as pre-disaster satellite imagery and baseline maps
- **Phase II: Initial Assessment:** Within 72 hours, use the best available secondary data and disaster impact information to answer two critical questions:
  1. Which are the priority areas for assistance?
  2. How many people need assistance?
- **Phase III: Field Verification** In the days following the initial report, verify and refine assumptions through field data collection, remote sensing, key informant interviews, and other rapid methods. Release a rapid assessment report within 7–10 days, updating figures and priority areas as needed

**Best Practices**

- Invest in data preparedness and partnerships before disasters
- Use a mix of secondary data, geospatial analysis, and rapid field tools
- Clearly state all assumptions and data sources in reports
- Continuously update and disseminate findings as new data emerges

**Resources**

- Find the guidance [here](https://www.wfp.org/publications/72-hour-assessment-approach-guide-vulnerability-spatial-analysis-sudden-onset-disasters-june-2018)
- Find a video explainer [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdzdTEYcLh0)

For more information, please contact the Assessments and Targeting Unit in HQ VAM at [global.assessmentandtargeting@wfp.org](mailto:global.assessmentandtargeting@wfp.org).