Article at a glance:

After the tsunami: Lessons from reconstruction

• Of the 14 countries struck by the massive tsunami of 2004, Indonesia and Sri Lanka were the hardest hit. In the aftermath, both faced the overwhelming task of reconstructing their societies, coordinating hundreds of agencies, and administering billions of dollars in aid.
• It's too early to claim success, but the experience of the first year could offer lessons for governments responding to future disasters. Both Indonesia and Sri Lanka found that establishing a national reconstruction agency separate from existing ministries was essential.
• To function effectively, a reconstruction agency must define its role clearly, establish a lean organization, and quickly demonstrate its value to the reconstruction effort.
• A reconstruction agency can't succeed without support from the government and its ministries, national and multilateral donors, nongovernmental organizations, local authorities, and the private sector.