Livestock Emergency Guidelines Standards

26 LEGS’ three objectives - immediate benefts, protection of assets, rebuilding of assets - are fully in line with the aspirations of the Ending Drought Emergencies strategy. The quality of response is always key: the application of LEGS will strengthen this across a range of areas such as participation and the integration of indigenous knowledge. The standards outlined in LEGS have application and value beyond the livestock sector. LEGS is highly practitioner-friendly and has decision trees, case studies, and practical examples. LIVELIHOODS IMPACT The ultimate aim of the LEGS Project is to have a positive impact on the livelihoods of livestock keepers affected by crisis. As the LEGS Project is not operational, it is not possible to monitor this impact directly. However, proxy indicators such as the uptake and application of the LEGS approach (as presented under Organizational Impact, page 25), suppor ted by the critical assumption that LEGS leads to more appropriate, timely and feasible livestock responses, can provide some indication of progress. There is increasing recognition that timely and appropriate livestock-based responses in crises can be both cost-effective and ultimately increase the positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of livestock keepers. For example: • During disasters, the links between improvements in animal health and links to human health and nutrition have been increasingly recognized, and reviews have focused on the role of milk and milk products in the diet, par ticularly in improving the dietary quality for women and young children (Sadler et al., 2012). • There is growing evidence that livestock feeding suppor t to key milk producing stock can reduce the number of young children in feeding centres during drought (Sadler et al., 2012). How LEGS contributes to drought management in Kenya James Oduor : CEO, National Drought Management Authority, Kenya.