An ethnic Somali woman leads her camels to water at a well rehabilitated with USAID/OFDA support in Isiolo County, Kenya.

Laura Meissner, USAID/OFDA

Natural disasters and conflicts adversely affect local economies by destroying homes and businesses, damaging assets, and disrupting transportation and markets. To help communities resume economic activity and rebuild livelihoods, USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) supports economic recovery and market systems (ERMS) activities in disaster-affected communities, as well as ERMS interventions that help communities build resilience and prepare for disasters. Reducing the social and economic impact of disasters is the third pillar of USAID/OFDA’s mandate.

ERMS interventions strengthen key market systems, help populations restore livelihoods, and increase purchasing power at the household, local, and regional levels. USAID/OFDA-supported ERMS programs complement individual and community recovery efforts following a disaster, helping households and communities regain economic independence.

Economic Recovery and Market Systems Archive

• Sector Updates