Non-Technical CSS Assessment Tools
Non-Technical CSS Assessment Tools
Services
GADRRRES members, Risk RED and Save the Children, have developed several non-technical assessment tools for school and community safety. These tools use open-source technology, allowing technical specialists to adapt them to a local context. The opensource code for this application is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. For countries that would like assistance in adapting and integrating these tools into their Ministry of Education data management systems, Risk RED can provide development support. Contact: info@riskred.org.
Contextualization Process for Countries or Regions
The steps recommended for contextualization are as follows:
Step 1: Information Gathering
- Compile key data on administrative geography, including relevant school districts and regions.
- Collect contact information for disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate resilience and school safety stakeholders.
- Document existing risk reduction, resilience, and school safety projects, policies, and practices.
Step 2: ICT Infrastructure Assessment & Due Diligence
- Evaluate in-house capacity to support the ICT infrastructure required for the survey.
- Assess available technical resources (e.g., servers, software, IT staff) for hosting and maintaining the survey platform.
- Determine if external support is needed for hosting, development, or maintenance of the ICT infrastructure.
- If required, identify and engage with external service providers or technical partners.
Step 3: Project Planning
- Identify and appoint project governance team with sponsor(s) and project lead(s) and implementing government agencies.
- Develop the Terms of Reference (TOR) for a Technical Work Group (TWG) for oversight
- Form the TWG with designated members.
- Define the preliminary scope and timeline for the project.
Step 4: Localization and Customization
- In consultation with the TWG, tailor the Survey, Report, and Portal components to local contexts:
- Customize the survey questionnaire.
- Adapt the national, and sub-national automated report templates.
- Adjust the Portal pages to align with local needs.
Step 5: Testing and Refining
- Conduct internal and external tests of the survey tools and generated outputs.
- Review feedback and revise materials as necessary.
- Run a pilot survey to test for usability, accuracy, and overall effectiveness.
Step 6: Full Implementation and Monitoring
- Launch the digital toolset at scale, ensuring it is under agreed monitoring and evaluation criteria.
- Track participation rates by relevant dimensions, as identified by the TWG.
- Close the survey, analyze collected data, and compile statistics to inform future planning and decision-making.
- Use the insights to refine future use, and measure long-term trends and outcomes.
Resources and Further Reading
- Philippines CSS Ecosystems Interactive Case Study Catalogue (Coming Soon!)
- Philippines CSS Ecosystem and Principles for Digital Development
- Philippines CSS Ecosystems Overview Video Video
- Philippine CSS Ecosystems & DepED Agenda Video Video
- PHL CSSE Impact & Lessons Summary
- Technical Working Group ToRs (Solomon Islands example)
- PHL CSS Ecosystems Project 2020-2024 Indepenent Evaluation
*Please note that the apps below in Google Play and Apple App Stores will only work for registered users in those countries where they are actively deployed.
Annual School Safety Self-Assessment
The School Safety Self-Assessment Survey is aligned with the CSS Targets and Indicators, and is conducted by the head of the school, the school safety DRR focal point, or, ideally the school management committee with student participation.
Automated school reports provide ratings, ranking and recommendations to schools and can help decision-makers at the national and subnational level plan and identify schools needing technical inspection.
The School Safety Self-Assessment Survey introduces a paradigm shift when it comes to the collection of school-level data. This enables rapid access and use of the data for planning and decision-making at school, subnational and national levels.
It has been implemented in Lao PDR, China, Fiji, Philippines, Tonga, and Solomon Islands.
Resources and Further Reading
SSSAS 1-pager
PHL SSAS 1-pager
PHL School Report Sample
PHL Case Study: CSSAS & EMIS
PHL SSSAS Video Video
Solomon Islands SSSAS survey 2025
SSSAS App Google Play Store
SSSAS App / School Safety Self Assessment - Apple App Store
Post-Disaster Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment
The Post-Disaster Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (PDRDNA) toolset allows for the reporting of school-focused damage, casualty and needs data immediately after a disaster by the school disaster focal point(s) identified in advance of a crisis event. The PDRDNA portal dashboard and automated school damage and needs assessment reports permit the education authorities to make data-driven and location-specific response decisions in reference to declared disaster(s) being monitored.
Schools register in advance and dowload the tool onto personal mobile devices. After a disaster, school-based data collection focuses on damages, casualties, and post-disaster needs. Local authorities check the data through a validation protocal. Algorithms working behind the scenes to allow immediate analysis of the incoming data and provide quick snapshots of the post-disaster situation to aid response and planning.
The PDRDNA has been implemented at scale in the Philippines.
Resources and further reading
PHL RADaR 1-pager
Philippines Rapid Assessment of Damages Report (RADaR) Sample 2018
PHL RADaR Sample Report
PHL RADaR User Guide 2019
PHL RADaR Video Video
PHL Case Study: CSSAS & EMIS
PDDNA App Google Play Store
Family Safety and Resilience Plan
The Family Safety and Resilience Plan (FSRP) is a tool to support action at the household level for better risk awareness, risk reduction and response preparedness.
The household level FSRP is aligned with the global template researched by IFRC & Save the Children – or ideally, the nationally adapted and adopted version of the “Public Awareness and Public Education for Disaster Risk Reduction: Action-oriented Key Messages for Family and School Safety.”
An engaging, user-friendly interface with culturally attuned characters guides families in questions and activities covering a wide range of hazards. It provides practical, actionable steps families can take to improve their safety and resilience. Implementation partners can monitor household resilience and target interventions.
The Family Safety and Resilience Plan has been piloted in Fiji and Solomon Islands.
Resources and further reading
FSRP 1-pager
Solomon Islands FSP Survey 2024
Family Safety Plan App - Google Play Store
Family Safety Plan App - Apple App Store
CSS First Step and School Watch
First Step and School Watch are mobile apps for Android and iOS designed to engage children, youth, and communities in school safety assessments and disaster risk management. The outputs can be used for advocacy within school communities.
After customisation, the app is made available on Google Play and Apple App Store. Individuals, school communities and local education authorities use the app to answer 15 questions about hazards, school facilities, disaster management, and risk reduction. They can upload images of hazards and safety activities. Users recieve safety recommendations via email and their answers are automatically shared with education authorities.
Resources and further reading
First Step Generic Survey v1
PHL School Watch 1-pager
PHL School Watch Activity Report Sample
