Seed Systems

About

Seed aid is on the rise around the globe, in both emergency and non-emergency contexts. But what informs implementers’ decisions when selecting context-appropriate seed responses?  How can seed aid be more effective, premised on farmers’ preferences and needs while supporting market systems? 

The USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA)-funded PRO-WASH & SCALE Award has partnered with organizations such as SeedSystem and Integrated Seed Sector Development in Africa (ISSD Africa) to develop and adapt a suite of learning materials, technical tools, case studies and capacity strengthening resources to support effective seed system interventions. These resources, featured below, can support your team to successfully implement quality seed system interventions. This page will be regularly update by the PRO-WASH & SCALE Award.

If you or your organization are interested in learning more about the seed systems resources on this page, please contact PRO-WASH & SCALE (prowashandscale@savechildren.org).

Please visit the PRO-WASH & SCALE page to learn more about additional capacity strengthening, knowledge-sharing, and applied research opportunities.

Technical Resources and Tools

Seed Systems in Conflict-affected Areas: Context Analysis Tool (CAT) (FR) 2022
This tool provides humanitarian actors working in conflict affected areas with an analysis process to understand seed systems in conflict settings. The CAT aims to help implementers design effective interventions to support and develop these seed systems, while ensuring that farming community members’ needs drive the seed system strengthening, recovery, and development process.

• Webinar: Seed Systems in Conflict-Affected Areas: A Context Analysis Tool

Seed Emergency Response Tool (SERT): Guidance For Practitioners (FR) 2022
This tool presents the background and concepts needed to understand how farmers in stress periods might obtain the seed they want and need, and synthesizes the growing body of ‘good or better practices’ linked to seed security planning, assessment, and response. It contains 10 core principles; decision trees for choosing a suitable intervention; checklists for evaluating responses; and reference materials for more technical detail. The SERT is for policymakers, program managers, and field staff engaged in emergency and early recovery agricultural responses.

• Webinar: Seed Emergency Response Tool

Seeds Learning Group: Presentations and Recordings 2022
These recordings and presentations are from a four-week learning group conducted for BHA-funded implementers. Topics covered in the sessions include: seed system basics; introduction to seed system assessments (SSAs) and how to access and use existing tools, trainings, and other resources; common pitfalls related to assessments and responses, and how to avoid them; and BHA expectations around SSAs. 

Seed System Security Assessment: Specific Tools 2017

Developed by SeedSystem, these SSSA tools support proposal development and program implementation teams in understanding the functioning of seed channels that smallholder farmers use, helping to answers questions such as: Is seed is available? Can farmers access it? And is the quality what farmers want and need? The results of an SSSA can inform the design of seed-related assistance.

Case Studies

Models for Strengthening Last Mile Seed Production and Distribution in Fragile Contexts (FR) 2022
These four cases offer inspiring examples of models for strengthening last mile seed production and distribution for better seed systems resilience in fragile environments. The cases provide examples from Burundi, Mozambique, Niger, and South Sudan of approaches to reach smallholder farmers, highlighting what works, what might best be dropped, and how to respond to various challenges.

• Webinar: Last-Mile Seed Systems in Fragile Contexts

Additional Seed Systems Resources

Seed System Assessments in BHA Programs | Challenges and Opportunities for Enhancing Uptake (FR) 2021
This document highlights challenges and opportunities to SSAs identified through consultations with technical advisors and program implementers, as well as BHA staff. This document includes a summary of BHA's observations of the gaps and shortfalls around SSA use at the application stage, the main barriers to SSA uptake and adoption as reported by implementing partners, and brief analysis of the process and key takeaways.

Seed System Security Assessment in Southeast Madagascar 2024

This report presents the results of a Seed System Security Assessment (SSSA) in the districts of Farafangana and Vangaindrano (southeast Madagascar). Report findings imply there are few or no acute seed shortages in the study area while poor seed quality, lack of new, adapted varieties, and limited availability of certified or quality declared seed at reasonable cost are chronic challenges in the seed system.

Seed System Security Assessment: Ouaka and Mbomou, Central African Republic 2023

This report presents the results of a Seed System Security Assessment conducted in the Ouaka and Mbomou prefectures within the Central African Republic to identify the main factors constraining seed systems in order to make good quality seed of key cereals and crops--including maize, cassava, ground nut, sesame, and squash—available, and accessible to smallholder farmers—and ensuring emphasis on the right varieties which can meet farmer and market preferences.

Webinar: Seed-Related Assistance in Fragile Contexts: Lessons for the COVID-19 Response 2021
This webinar offered a practical, farmer-centered conversation sharing key guidance and lessons for seed system interventions in the COVID-19 response. 

• Q&A document: Seed-Related Assistance During COVID-19 Response: Webinar Q&A

About ISSD Africa: Integrated Seed Sector Development in Africa (ISSD Africa) is an international community of practice, guiding seed sector innovation and development on the African continent to alleviate the problem of limited access to quality seed.

About Mercy Corps: Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, Mercy Corps partners to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

About SeedSystem: SeedSystem provides practical (‘how-to’) guidance and strategic thinking to help professionals design seed-related assistance for and with smallholder farmers. It aims to foster productive, resilient, and market-oriented seed systems, even in times of emergency and chronic stress.