Introduction: The steep rise in emergency seed assistance
Emergency seed aid was originally conceived to accelerate farmers’ recovery from disasters – ‘Give farmers access to seed to spur their own production fast.’ Such aid was deemed sustainable for smallholders and cost-effective for donors: 1 kg of sorghum seed, for example, can yield 100 kgs of food or more!
Practice on the ground has evolved quite differently. Seed aid is now occurring on a very large scale. As one example, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) alone spent over US $470 million on seed projects in 2023. Also, in contrast to becoming sustainable, seed aid has become repetitive. Ethiopia, for instance, has been involved in near-continuous seed aid for over 40 years, with seed assistance sometimes repeated in the same regions, with the same farmers, season after season.
Clearly, seed security response needs to become more effective.
The Ten Guiding Principles for Good Seed Aid (‘10P’): why and for whom?
The ‘10P’ provide essential guidance for those engaged in seed security response (see introductory video and view the document in English, French and Arabic). They have been drafted to help improve seed security practices immediately and concretely — from initial assessment to evaluation and farmer feedback — and present actionable technical guidance on topics ranging from crop and variety choice to market-oriented responses. While designed particularly for emergency and early recovery programs, the principles are also relevant for work centered on seed system development in fragile states and chronic stress contexts. The 10P can support policymakers, program managers and field practitioners aiming to make seed security response effective for smallholder farmers, even in disaster situations where quick decisions need to be made.
The process so far — and moving forward:
The 10P were initially presented as a component of a more extensive manual, The Seed Emergency Response Tool: Guidance for Practitioners (SERT, 2022). The SERT, developed by Mercy Corps and SeedSystem through ISSD Africa, built on over 30 years of lessons learned and benefitted from extensive feedback of experts from USAID, the UN-FAO, ISSD, and a range of northern and southern NGOs.
We are now sharing the Ten Guiding Principles for Good Seed Aid widely and welcome your assistance in encouraging their uptake and use. Feedback is needed and welcome, particularly on the 10P’s practical application, including what you might see as opportunities or barriers to their implementation.
Feeback on the Ten Guiding Principles from seed security experts:
“These principles are clear, concise and focus on areas of seed aid design and delivery that really can affect the quality and impact of aid. The 10P are a good starting point for practitioners to discuss improving seed aid.“
Shawn McGuire, Agricultural Officer (Seed Security) Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
“Bad seed aid does damage to vulnerable farmers and also to emerging seed business. Aid organizations and governments need to take the 10P to heart!“
Niels Louwaars, Managing Director at Plantum
“The 10Ps are to Seed Aid to what Munro Leaf’s ‘How to Behave and Why’ was for promoting good behavior in everyday life — an indispensable guide that is practical, easily understood, and inspiring.”
Stephen Walsh, Senior Advisor, Agriculture Team, USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance
“Seed emergency is, unfortunately, growing — especially in the context of climate change. Getting seed aid right and giving farmers choice are complex but absolutely essential. The 10Ps offer a valuable starting point for discussion, learning and action.“
Gigi Manicad, Founding Member, Seed for Food Coalition
*These quotes are from individual seed security experts and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organizations.