By Shaun Ferris
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has been deeply engaged in SEADS from the start, contributing to the steering committee, project design, and information gathering. This collaboration stems from a shared belief that our work must evolve to address the increasing complexity of global emergencies. With 30-40% of CRS’s budget dedicated to emergency response, we recognize the importance of staying at the forefront of innovation to deliver more impactful and sustainable solutions.
The recent SEADS Training of Trainers (ToT) was a pivotal experience for me. While I’ve long worked on the periphery of SEADS – contributing to its development and promoting its adoption – the training gave me an in-depth understanding of the methodology, its practical applications, and the nuances of delivering SEADS-focused training. This hands-on experience deepened my appreciation for the approach, especially the emphasis on facilitation over direct delivery of aid and services in emergencies.
One of SEADS’ most significant contributions is its ability to bridge emergency response, resilience building, and development. Historically, these areas have operated in silos, but we’re now seeing them converge around the shared goal of systemic support. At the heart of this approach is a focus on livelihoods – creating a common thread that connects short-term interventions to long-term sustainable solutions. By prioritizing impact and working through systems, SEADS aligns with global trends that emphasize collaboration among diverse actors, enabling unified responses to evolving challenges.
Supporting the rollout of SEADS training
At CRS, we have a clear plan for rolling out SEADS across our operations. We’re starting by building awareness among leadership and staff, translating the standards into practical guidance that connects with our day-to-day work. Through sensitization sessions, we’re helping teams understand how SEADS can enhance what we do and why it’s a vital shift in our approach.
The next step involves cascading the training to field teams and partners, ensuring trainers have the skills to deliver the curriculum effectively and confidently apply the standards in real-world contexts. A critical part of this rollout is monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of SEADS. By collecting data on how the standards are being implemented, identifying challenges, and learning from successes, we can continually refine the process and ensure it delivers the lasting impact we’re aiming for.
Transforming emergency response
Traditional emergency response approaches often rely on standardized tools and methods, which, while useful, have become quite traditional and rigid over time and can sometimes limit adaptability. SEADS introduces a more dynamic framework, focusing on systems, livelihoods, and collaboration, and incorporates crucial elements like climate change, partnerships, and data-driven evaluations. By emphasizing long-term impact and sustainability, it ensures interventions go beyond addressing immediate needs to laying the groundwork for recovery and resilience.
One of the key things I took away from the ToT was the importance of focusing less on directly delivering aid and more on supporting local systems. This shift helps CRS move from simply providing services to working alongside communities, giving them the tools and support they need to lead their own recovery and development.
A call to action
The SEADS framework offers a unique opportunity to transform how humanitarian and development organizations approach crisis response. For CRS, the journey of integrating SEADS into its operations has only just begun, but the potential to improve the lives of those we serve is clear. By fostering a culture of learning, adapting, and collaborating, CRS can ensure that SEADS principles translate into meaningful, sustainable change on the ground.
SEADS is more than a set of standards – it is a catalyst for change. By embracing its principles, we can empower communities to emerge stronger from crises and help pave the way for a sustainable, resilient future.
