Building Back Better: Lessons from Purnima - a UK Aid-Funded Post Earthquake Recovery Programme in Nepal (December 2021)

The 7.8 and 7.3 magnitude earthquakes that struck Nepal caused more than 9000 deaths and destroyed over 600,000 homes. Incomes plummeted as people struggled with injury, the loss of loved ones, and destruction of their houses and livelihoods. Relief and reconstruction efforts were hampered both by the remote, mountainous terrain and the ingrained socio-economic fragility of the affected populations.

Nepal's recovery was further complicated by a huge political shake-up: after years of wrangling, the country adopted a new constitution just three months after the disaster, which included a major devolution of political and administrative powers to the local level. Although this decentralisation of authority brought a sense of optimism to earthquake-affected areas, the new governments were inexperienced, severely understaffed and had few resources.

Simultaneously, there was a huge surge in international aid, donor activities and NGOs seeking to support the recovery and humanitarian response. While critical in saving lives and alleviating suffering, this threatened to weaken local capacity and agency, and undermine the institution building needed for more sustainable development. Five years after the earthquake, as recovery activities were beginning to look ahead and focus on longer term development, the global Covid-19 pandemic plunged Nepal into another severe economic shock.

Here we present an overview of Purnima, a UK Aid-funded post-earthquake recovery programme, how it sought to respond to these challenges in four districts in Nepal, and the lessons learnt about how to build back better institutions, livelihoods and infrastructure in a fragile post-earthquake environment.