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...Read More

On 13 April 2026, humanitarian partners and government representatives gathered in Kathmandu, Nepal, for a SEADS Outreach Event convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The event followed the first Asia-based SEADS Training of Trainers (ToT), held from 6-11 April, which brought together practitioners from seven countries and trained 15...Read More

From 6-11 April 2026, the first Asia-based SEADS Training of Trainers (ToT) took place in Nepal, bringing together practitioners from across the region to strengthen how agricultural crises are assessed and addressed. Funded by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with additional support from Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the six-day training...Read More

Humanitarian teams supporting farmers in crisis situations must make careful decisions about how best to protect livelihoods and support recovery. A recent SEADS Practitioner Course in Nairobi has helped strengthen this capacity by equipping practitioners with practical tools and shared standards for responding to crop-related crises. In February 2026, the International Committee of the Red...Read More

In September 2025, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) organized a dedicated session on the Joint Assessment Tool (JAT) during its annual Economic Security Agro-Livestock Workshop (conducted online). Some 100 ICRC agriculture and livestock staff and technical specialists – representing operations across Africa, the Middle East and Asia – joined the session to explore how JAT could...Read More

By Abdirahman Mohamed and Barkhad Suleiman A three-day SEADS Practitioner Training, held in April 2025 in Burao, has strengthened Somaliland’s capacity to respond to crop-related crises, equipping agricultural practitioners with internationally recognized standards to improve emergency interventions. Organized by GIZ’s Support of Agricultural Production and Quality Assurance (SPQA) project, the training brought together 28 participants...Read More

In March 2025, Concern Worldwide held consecutive LEGS & SEADS Practitioner Course Training in Nairobi, Kenya, strengthening capacity for emergency livestock and crop response across the region. Funded by Irish Aid, the two three-day events brought together 19 participants from Concern teams in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia, as well as implementing partners the Rural Agency...Read More

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,...Read More

Ukraine’s agricultural sector is facing unparalleled challenges as the ongoing conflict disrupts global grain supplies, devastates farmland, and fractures market systems. A SEADS Orientation in early December 2024 brought together over 20 organizations – including international agencies, local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and humanitarian actors – to explore practical solutions for rebuilding livelihoods and strengthening food...Read More

Gaza is home to two million people and spans just 370 km2. Agriculture is a lifeline for many, and the region was previously self-sufficient in fresh vegetable production. Yet, conflict and climate change have left the sector struggling to survive. Since October 2023, Gazan agriculture has been severely impacted by war: only 20-30% of agricultural...Read More