The LEGS process grew out of the recognition that livestock are a crucial liveli¬hood asset for people throughout the world – many of whom are poor and vulnerable to both natural and human-induced disasters – and that livestock support is an important component of emergency aid programmes.The publication of the first edition of LEGS in 2009 responded to the need to help donors, programme managers, technical experts, and others to design and implement livestock interventions in emergencies. At the same time, LEGS recognized the need to plan for climatic trends affecting communities that rely heavily on livestock. The first edition drew on multi-agency contributions, on wide-ranging reviews, and on collations of practitioner experiences of using evidence-based good practice. This second edition builds on the first edition by incorporating new experiences and evidence obtained since 2009 as well as user feedback provided as a result of a broad consultation process.

Did you know? You can request free copies of the Minimum Standards for Education, and the Humanitarian Inclusion Standards for Older People and People with Disabilities (the postage is payable).
Contact INEE for your copy of the Minimum Standards for Education
Contact ADCAP for your copy of the Humanitarian Inclusion Standards for Older People and People with Disabilities

• Introduction to LEGS and how to use this book
• 1 Livestock, livelihoods, and emergencies
• 2 Core standards and cross-cutting themes common to all livestock interventions
• 3 Initial assessment and identifying responses
• 4 Technical standards for destocking
• 5 Technical standards for veterinary support
• 6 Technical standards for ensuring supplies of feed resources
• 7 Technical standards for the provision of water
• 8 Technical standards for livestock shelter and settlement
• 9 Technical standards for the provision of livestock
• Annexes

‘Easier to use, expanded response options and more case studies: this second edition of LEGS has surpassed the very high standards set by the first edition. It continues to be the benchmark for best practice in emergency livestock programming.’
Neil Marsland, Senior Technical Officer, Emergency Operations and Rehabilitation, FAO, Rome

‘LEGS is an essential part of the toolkit for humanitarians who come in contact with animals through their work. We use LEGS in our disaster assessment work and for training governments in appropriate responses to livestock emergencies. Well thought-through and practical by nature, we endorse these guidelines and standards.’
James Sawyer, Director of Disaster Management, World Animal Protection
‘This new edition of the Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards, which builds on the 2009 edition and practitioner experience of using it, is an important resource not just for livestock specialists but for everyone engaged in improving the quality of humanitarian interventions. Crucially, the revised book continues to situate livestock support interventions within a wider livelihoods perspective and framework.’
Sara Pantuliano, Director, Humanitarian Policy Group, ODI, London

‘I welcome the second edition of LEGS, a practical expression of the core principle of building local capacities to ensure appropriate livestock interventions during times of crisis. Grounded in a commitment to preparedness in order to maintain the coping capacities of livestock keepers the application of the LEGS standards can reduce costs of emergency response in other life-saving sectors. I strongly recommend LEGS for both development and humanitarian actors working in areas where livestock is the main livelihood.’
Joanne O'Flannagan, Humanitarian Programme Coordinator, Trócaire, Ireland

‘This new version of LEGS contains even more refined analysis and presentation of guiding principles and standards for the humanitarian community to use to design sound, responsible and, most importantly, effective livestock programmes.’
Julie March, Agriculture & Food Security Advisor, USAID Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance