The institutionalisation of the LEGS Approach at national and local levels forms a key part of the LEGS strategy. The October 2020 LEGS Discussion Paper also recommended that LEGS increases its efforts to foster institutionalization and localization of the LEGS Approach and Handbook through strategic engagement in specific countries.
Since 2022, LEGS has been focusing on three countries to support this approach: Kenya and Mongolia, Colombia. See below for more details.
Kenya
Kenya, with its active community of practice and focal point experience, was chosen as the first country. A 1.5-day institutionalization workshop, led by Dr. Kisa Juma Ngeiywa with the support of Dr. Julius Kajume, was held in Nairobi in August 2022. The 22 participants represented key government ministries and departments, universities, institutions, and NGOs. Download the Strategy (September 2022)
Following the workshop, the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) assumed the position of LEGS Institutional Focal Point for Kenya and Amos Nyakeyo, the Deputy Director for the Drought Contingency Planning and Response Department, was appointed as the NDMA LEGS Desk Officer.
In August 2023, with LEGS’ support, NDMA organised a LEGS Core training for 24 senior NDMA Technical Officers, drawn from 16 arid and semi-arid lands counties, along with the NDMA LEGS Desk Officer. LEGS also supported an additional LEGS Core Training, delivered jointly with World Vision, in Tana River County. The 17 participants were drawn from the following technical areas: livestock production, animal health, drought information, water, and the County Director of Veterinary Services and Senior Water Analyst also participated.
Mongolia
Since 2013, LEGS trainers have worked with government and NGO partners to establish LEGS as the key point of reference for emergency preparedness and response planning in Mongolia. To further this effort, an institutional strategy development workshop was held in February 2023 for key government, institutional and NGO stakeholders. It was led by LEGS accredited trainers Sukhbaatar Jigjidpurev and Enkhtuya Buyandala, with the support of Ulziimaa Nyamaa. Download the Strategy (April 2023)
Following the development of the strategy, the State Disaster Protection Service for the Food and Agriculture Sector, which is under The Ministry of Agriculture and Light Industry (MoFALI), accepted the role of LEGS Institutionalization Focal Point. In November 2023, with LEGS support, MoFALI conducted six LEGS Core Training courses in the eastern and western regions of Mongolia for 96 local livestock production and animal health officers and disaster management practitioners, in preparation for emergency planning and response to the likely winter storms.
Colombia
In Colombia, LEGS has been supporting awareness-raising activities, hoping to move towards institutionalization during 2024. LEGS has worked closely with two experienced LEGS trainers and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Colombia Office to organise two core training courses, including one in the northern Atlantic Zone, which is a drought-prone area. The 51 participants included:
- senior staff from government ministries of agriculture, the environment, disaster risk management
- national livestock federations
- producers associations
- FAO
- universities and NGOs
Also, a half-day awareness session was held online for participants from both Colombia and Honduras.
