The term ‘early recovery’ recognises that humanitarian assistance goes well beyond life-saving priorities. While agencies often have different activities in mind when they use it, there is growing consensus that early recovery in humanitarian settings is both necessary and under-funded. As humanitarian appeals are a principal means by which donors fund humanitarian activities for particular crises, understanding how early recovery is funded through these appeals is of crucial importance.

This paper analyses how early recovery activities are financed through humanitarian appeals, focusing primarily on Consolidated Appeals (CAPs), so that donors and aid agencies can better understand what is being financed and why.