Can investing in resilience mitigate the worst impacts of recurrent humanitarian crises, preserving development gains? To answer this question, Mercy Corps conducted a study in USAID-funded Pastoralist Areas Resilience Improvement through Market Expansion (PRIME) project areas affected by the 2015–2016 El Niño drought in Ethiopia. The results are encouraging, with compelling evidence that supports the efficacy of multi-year, flexibly funded, integrated approaches to building resilience to severe shocks.