At the request of the Government of Nepal, a comprehensive assessment of the damages and losses caused by the earthquake was undertaken as the first step towards recovery planning. It helps identify recovery needs as well as strategy required for its implementation. The government requested development partners to provide technical assistance for conducting such an assessment. In a short span of one month, the assessment was conducted under the leadership of the National Planning Commission with the participation of various ministries of the Government of Nepal, the private sector and civil society as well as bilateral and international donors and agencies, mobilising more than 250 national and international experts. On the basis of their findings, they identified recovery needs, developed first cost estimates for these needs and recommended implementation arrangements. Altogether 23 thematic areas were covered, which were grouped under four broad sectors (social, productive, infrastructure as well as cross-cutting sectors).