The purpose of this meta-synthesis (i.e. using qualitative findings reported in previous studies to gain a deeper understanding of a situation) is to learn lessons from post-earthquake recovery efforts in Nepal for future disaster response, in Nepal and elsewhere. It attempts to address three questions: would oranisations have done anything differently, knowing what would have happened in the three and a half years following the earthquakes? What could be done differently to improve aid? What are the main lessons to learn?