Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards

Livelihoods-based Livestock Interventions in Disasters

What is “LEGS”?

• The Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards(LEGS) are a set of international standards for improving the quality of livestock programs in humanitarian disasters

• LEGS is global but focuses on regions prone to repeated or large-scale disasters – rapid onset, slow onset, complex

• LEGS mirrors the ‘Sphere handbook’ in terms of process, content and layout and right based approach

http://www.sphereproject.org

http://www.livestock-emergency.net

LEGS brings a livelihoods perspective into disaster relief for communities relying fully or partially on livestock

Late 1990s:Repeated cycles of inappropriate and badly implemented livestock relief projects:

o Poor analysis o Local capacities and services overlooked or undermined o Urgency and timing often the excuse but …o Assistance often late, even in slow-onset droughts

Very limited impact assessment

Weak coordination between development and emergency

The origin of “LEGS”?

While livestock are a crucial livelihoods asset for people, and livestock interventions are often a feature of relief response, no guidelines were available to assist donor, program managers, or experts to design and implement livestock interventions in disasters.

LEGS mirrors the Sphere project, with multi agency contributions and broad reviews

The LEGS process

• Overseen by a Steering Group – AU, FAO, ICRC, Tufts University and VSF Europa, supported by a LEGS Coordinator

• Global e-mail network of ~1700 organisations and people• 1st draft widely disseminated for feedback• 2nd draft subject to practitioner review and simulation

workshops• Published in April 2009 as a book, CD-ROM with electronic

tool• Also available free-of–charge as a download .pdf file on the

website http://www.livestock-emergency.net

LEGS approach

• Livestock are an important asset for people throughout developing regions

• LEGS enables humanitarian actors to design and implement projects which help to protect and/or rebuild livestock assets

• The ultimate objective is to assist people affected by crises through livestock-related interventions

• LEGS does not cover:– Animal epidemics (epizootics or transboundary

animal diseases)– Companion animals (domestic pets)– High-income countries/regions

LEGS content• How to conduct rapid assessments of livestock and livelihoods, and identify

appropriate interventions

• Common StandardsParticipation M&E, Impact AssessmentResponse and Coordination Technical Support, CompetenciesInitial Assessment Contingency Planning Early ResponseTargeting Advocacy and Policy

• Technical StandardsDestocking Veterinary ServicesProvision of Feed Provision of WaterLivestock Shelter Provision of Livestock

Examples of LEGS practical tools

• LEGS Participatory Response Identification Matrix : example of a drought response in Turkana

Examples of LEGS practical tools

• Advantages and disadvantages of Key technical options

Examples of LEGS practical tools

• Timing of technical options

Examples of LEGS practical tools

• Decision trees

Examples of LEGS practical tools

• Assessment checklists• Monitoring and evaluation check lists• Minimum standards/ Key indicators and guidance notes.

NGOs/ UN / Governement/ Red Cross/ CBOs and organisations which are implementing emergency interventions in areas where livelihoods are derived from livestock.

Donors and policy makers whose funding and implementation decisions impact on disaster response

Who should use“LEGS”?

What next?• Translation with free on-line access to translated versions

• Raising awareness – international and regionally, governments, donors, NGOs

• Development of training materials

• A series of 12 regional LEGS training events – East, West, Central, Southern and North Africa– India and Bangladesh– Pakistan and Afghanistan– SE Asia, China and Mongolia– Latin America– Caribbean

• Support to impact assessment, feeding evidence into updated versions of LEGS &Ongoing evaluation and revision

Get involved

Participate to the training organised by

• Place : Nairobi Jacaranda Hotel• Date : Wednesday June 2nd to Friday June 4th

• Participants : 25 Emergency Coordinators and Emergency Programme Managers from INGO, local NGOs, UN agencies, Red Cross and donors. (25 participants).

• Join the mailing list, contact: coordinator@livestock-emergency.net

• Visit the website: www.livestock-emergency.net