Asia and the Pacific faces significant exposure to every major type of geophysical and weather-related hazard, and the countries in the region consistently rank among the most at risk from the human and economic impacts of natural hazards. The purpose of this practical guide is to provide Asian Development Bank (ADB) project officers with a basic understanding of natural hazards, the nature and purpose of hazard mapping and disaster risk assessments, and the availability and sources of related data and information in taking disaster risk into account in project design. It aso provides guidance to ADB staff on the identification and application of data for use in integrating disaster risk considerations in country partnership strategies and individual projects.