Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards Livelihoods-based Livestock Interventions in Disasters
What is LEGS? http://www.livestock-emergency.net The Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards (LEGS) are a set of international standards for improving the quality of livestock programs in humanitarian disasters LEGS brings a livelihoods perspective into disaster relief for communities relying fully or partially on livestock 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
The origin of LEGS? 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 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 1 st draft widely disseminated for feedback 2 nd 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 Standards Participation Response and Coordination Initial Assessment Targeting M&E, Impact Assessment Technical Support, Competencies Contingency Planning Early Response Advocacy and Policy Technical Standards Destocking Provision of Feed Livestock Shelter Veterinary Services Provision of Water 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.
Who should use LEGS? 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
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 2 nd to Friday June 4 th 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@livestockemergency.net Visit the website: www.livestock-emergency.net