Philippines: the challenges of the transition from emergency to development after Typhoon Haiyan

Typhoon Haiyan, the biggest storm ever recorded to hit land, caused major devastation across a wide area of the Philippine, affecting more than 14 million people. Oxfam mounted an emergency response programme, which included early multi-sector assessments for planning the transition to a development phase, primarily in WASH and livelihoods. A number of external and internal challenges have arisen during the transition, with lessons for future such responses: early assessment and fund-raising for recovery and development; understanding the national context; controlling funding and activities in early recovery; and avoiding unsustainable quick-fixes in the recovery phase.