by Rachel Houghton, ALNAP Observer Member
The aim of this report is to assist agencies working in the tsunami crisis by highlighting seven generic lessons that have been learned from other natural disasters, specifically floods and earthquakes. The report distils main findings and lessons from evaluations and synthesis reports contained in the ALNAP Evaluative Reports Database (ERD), as well as other learning initiatives concerned with responses to natural disasters. Where possible it provides links to these documents as well as to additional relevant papers and web sites.

Topics in this report reflect the key findings that arise from source material. By no means exhaustive, they have been chosen to enhance the latest thinking concerning the response to the disaster. The themes are inextricably linked and do not represent discrete categories. They are:

1. Integrating recovery and development
2. Needs assessment and targeting
3. Monitoring, evaluation and learning
4. Recovery and reconstruction assistance strategies
5. Shelter and housing
6. Coordination
7. Integrating disaster preparedness