When responding to emergencies like the massive 7.8 earthquake that recently devastated Nepal, first responders have demonstrated a need for guidance and standards related to when and how to begin a market assessment, what type of assessment to carry out, and how to ensure limited resources are invested wisely and do not do harm. This document provides an overview of the Minimum Economic Recovery Standards (MERS) and key messages that are particularly relevant to the 2015 situation in Nepal. The MERS guide practitioners in the field to effectively design assessment-based emergency response programs that support the economic recovery and livelihoods of affected populations in the wake of a crisis.

To learn more about MERS and to see MERS in action, visit www.seepnetwork.org/mers.

To access the full MERS Handbook, please click here.