The Minimum Economic Recovery Standards are the internationally recognized consensus on best practices for building economic resilience for crisis-affected communities.

The MERS handbook offers tools and guidance that support practitioners, multi-lateral stakeholders, local market actors, governments and donors to design, implement and evaluate economic recovery activities that build resiliency for vulnerable populations in the wake of a crisis. The standards draw from the accumulated experience of the world’s leading humanitarian agencies and economic development practitioners. The third and most current edition of the MERS represents the expertise of over 90 organizations and 175 technical professionals.

Explore the MERS

The MERS are available to download online in English, Arabic, French and Spanish, or for purchase as a hardcopy handbook in English. You can also use the HSPapp to download MERS, and the partner Standards, on your mobile device.

Interested in becoming a MERS trainer? We have developed training materials available in Arabic, English, French and Spanish. Learn more about the available materials, including a MERS Fact Sheet, PowerPoint modules and case studies.

MERS and the Humanitarian Standards Partnership

The MERS are a member of the Humanitarian Standards Partnership (HSP) which aims to improve the quality and accountability of humanitarian action through an increased application of humanitarian standards. The partnership is comprised of six standards initiatives, which in addition to the MERs include: Sphere, the Child Protection Minimum Standards, the Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards, the INEE Minimum Standards for Education, the Minimum Standards for Market Analysis, and the Humanitarian Inclusion Standards for Older People and People With Disabilities.