Outcomes and Lessons From the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Turkey–Syria Earthquake Response

The After-Action Review of the DEC Türkiye/Syria earthquake response was designed as a sector-wide learning exercise, capturing outcomes and lessons from one of the largest humanitarian operations of 2023. The review applied outcome harvesting to examine not only what was delivered, but also the changes in behaviours, relationships, and systems influenced by the response.

The process combined a meta-synthesis of over 170 reports, 18 in-depth interviews with DEC member charities and partners, a survey of 25 local organisations, and a substantiation workshop with nearly 40 participants. This approach ensured that findings were evidence-based, multi-layered, and grounded in diverse perspectives, particularly those of local actors. Through triangulating insights from communities, local organisations, and international agencies, the review identified practical lessons on accountability, localisation, and coordination. These findings contribute to strengthening the humanitarian sector’s ability to respond more effectively and appropriately in future crises.