Articulate policies, strategy, and standards early. The local populations and nongovernment organizations (NGOs) started reconstruction work well before provincial and federal governments started articulating their responses. Expectations rose, and some facilities, especially in health, were built by bilateral donors to standards that were much higher than the capacity of the line agencies to maintain them. This resulted in inconsistencies, violations of policies and standards developed for reconstruction work, and unsustainable operation of completed facilities. The government should ensure that the reconstruction policies and standards are within the capacity of the sector institutions to sustain and are delivered as soon as possible to avoid inconsistencies.
Earthquake Emergency Assistance Project