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The Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards (LEGS) and the Standards for Supporting Crop-related Livelihoods in Emergencies (SEADS) are entering a new phase of collaboration with the formation of a joint LEGS-SEADS Technical Advisory Group (TAG).
The new TAG replaces the SEADS Steering Group and the LEGS Advisory Group. As a single technical body covering both standards, it will strengthen coordination, coherence and impact across livestock- and crop-based emergency responses.
This restructuring reflects a shared understanding that most crisis-affected farming households rely on mixed crop-livestock systems. More integrated approaches are therefore essential. By working more closely together, LEGS and SEADS can support practitioners to design responses that reflect mixed farming livelihoods, while still ensuring appropriate support for pastoralist communities and crop-dependent farmers.
Strengthened coordination between the two frameworks will help improve the quality, consistency and relevance of emergency responses across diverse livelihood systems, from pastoralism to mixed farming to crop-only production.
A joint approach is already in place through the LEGS-SEADS Joint Assessment Tool, which provides a practical framework for analysing livelihoods combining livestock and crop components to support a more coherent response design.
Leadership and TAG changes
Cathy Watson is the overall LEGS-SEADS coordinator, supporting the transition to the new joint coordination mechanism.
The LEGS-SEADS TAG includes members from both previous governance bodies:
- Cecilia Benda, Global Agronomist and Climate Change Lead, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
- Dina Brick, Head of the Market-Based Rapid Response and Recovery Team, Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
- Andy Catley, Consultant with extensive experience in food security, livelihoods and humanitarian programming in conflict- and drought-affected regions
- Salih Abdel Mageed Eldouma, Executive Director, SOS Sahel Sudan
- Wendy Fenton, Consultant with over 30 years’ experience in humanitarian and development programming
- David Hadrill, Consultant with wide-ranging international experience in community-based animal health, livestock systems and veterinary services
- Ada Jacobsen, Regional Veterinarian, ICRC
- Neil Marsland, Head of the Program Quality Team, Emergency and Resilience Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
- Shawn McGuire, Agricultural Officer (Seed Security), Plant Production and Protection Division, FAO
- Ludger Jean Simon, Senior Agronomist, American University of the Caribbean
A shared vision for humanitarian standards
Speaking on the partnership, LEGS-SEADS TAG Chair Andy Catley highlights the value of closer integration: “The LEGS-SEADS partnership will lead to more streamlined and harmonized humanitarian standards for livestock and crop interventions. It will help ensure that mixed crop-livestock livelihoods are supported effectively during emergencies while also recognizing the importance of livelihoods that rely more exclusively on livestock or crops.”
Kate Sadler, Chair of the LEGS Trustees, adds: “For LEGS, this partnership is an opportunity to strengthen the practical support available to agencies and practitioners working with crisis-affected farming communities. Closer collaboration between LEGS and SEADS will help promote better-designed, more joined-up responses for farming and livestock-keeping households whose survival and recovery depend on both livestock and crops.”
Building on recent training and capacity strengthening
The announcement follows expanded capacity-building across both initiatives in 2026. Sixteen humanitarian and animal welfare professionals from Africa, Asia and Europe recently completed a LEGS Training of Trainers (ToT) programme, while Nepal hosted the first SEADS ToT in Asia, equipping 15 practitioners to apply crop-related emergency standards across the region.
Together, these trainings reflect growing demand for practical tools and shared standards to guide humanitarian decision-making in increasingly complex crises. Practitioners trained through LEGS and SEADS continue to emphasize the value of structured, evidence-based guidance in strengthening emergency responses.
“Using these tools will help us identify the right response, at the right time, for the right farmers,” explained Ezatullah Noori, FAO Afghanistan.
