The SEEP Network, a global association of NGOs active in microenterprise development, is coordinating an initiative to develop Standards for Economic Recovery after Crisis.  The Standards focus on strategies and interventions designed to promote enterprises, employment, and cash flow and asset management among affected businesses and households. These Standards follow the process and format of the Sphere handbook (The Sphere Project Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response), and have been developed with guidance and input from the Sphere Project. 

The draft of these Standards is being launched for a public review for the first time.  We are actively encouraging all stakeholders, particularly those with significant experience implementing economic recovery in emergency environments, to provide commentary and reviews. You can find the Standards available at http://communities.seepnetwork.org/econrecovery; on the “Discussion” page users may post their comments and suggestions for the draft review.  This draft will be available for viewing until the end of July, 2008; the first edition of the Standards will be published in November 2008, with further revisions and consultation to follow.

For more information, or to be on our mailing list for updates about the Standards, please contact Laura Meissner, Program Manager at the SEEP Network: .