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Click here to learn more about the Minimum Economic Recovery Standards

The Minimum Economic Recovery Standards (MERS), a companion to the Sphere Handbook, are an industry consensus on economic recovery for the humanitarian sector that articulate the minimum level of assistance needed to promote the recovery of economies and livelihoods affected by crisis. As the industry has had to face unprecedented changes in recent years, the SEEP Network has been working to revise the Minimum Economic Recovery Standards to develop the 3rd Edition. Over the last year, the process has engaged more than 150 practitioners and leading experts from across the globe in revising the MERS.

As we near the end of the revision process and work to develop a Final Draft before publication and dissemination, we invited practitioners and experts to join us in our last efforts to revise the MERS and help us mainstream economic recovery into humanitarian response programming.

The webinar, moderated by Sarah Ward, the Lead Techical Facilitator for the revision process, served as a platform to:

• Discuss MERS 3rd Edition revision process - including progress thus far, feedback from the regional consultation workshops, and next steps,
• Ensure that the revised edition of MERS encompasses the latest advances and challenges in global development and disaster relief, and
• Acquire Feedback from YOU, practitioners and experts, on topics such as formatting, language, and dissemination.

This webinar was hosted by SEEP's Minimum Economic Recovery Standards.

Speakers

Sarah Ward, Lead Technical Facilitator, MERS 3rd Edition Revision

Sarah Ward is a post-conflict and economic development specialist with more than 17 years of experience in program design and management, evaluation and technical support. Strong training abilities and technical capacity in key approaches including resilience, cash-based programming, inclusive market system support and financial inclusion. 10 years directly implementing large-scale development and relief programs. She has experience with government ministries and INGOs, nationally and internationally. She was recently the Enterprise Development Technical Advisor for the IRC. Previously Director of Market Development for Mercy Corps' technical support unit, country program coordinator for IRC's Guinea program, the economic technical lead for a multi-sector USAID livelihood initiative in Sierra Leone and sector coordinator for the American Refugee Committee's Income Generation Programs in West Africa. Launched Junior Achievement, a national youth development and education program teaching entrepreneurial and business skills, in Benin, West Africa. Extensive global international experience. Fluent in French and proficient in Spanish. Former small business owner.

Emily Sloane, Market Specialist, International Rescue Committee

As Markets Specialist for the International Rescue Committee, Emily Sloane offers technical support to design and carry out emergency-focused market assessments both within the IRC's programs and at a global level. In her role she has supported the revision and roll-out of the Pre-Crisis Market Analysis guidance, helped to develop e-learning courses on market assessments, co-organized global learning events on markets and served on the Board of the Markets in Crises Community of Practice.