LEGS will complement the Sphere handbook by expanding the current references to livestock with detailed standards and guidelines.

LEGS will assist donors and programme managers to identify appropriate types of livestock intervention and design these interventions with communities and local service providers. LEGS will also direct users to further technical information for livestock-related livelihoods support in emergencies.

LEGS will build on the lessons learned from the Sphere process. These include:

• the value of consulting a wide range of stakeholders to ensure the quality of the content and to increase ownership of the output
• the involvement of both policy makers and practitioners
• the linkages with human rights
• the independence from any single organisation both in terms of coordination and funding sources, thereby helping to ensure a wide uptake and acceptance of the Sphere standards

Discussions are currently being held with the Sphere Board to formalise the linkages between LEGS and Sphere.