diff --git a/examples/ipsec-secgw/Makefile b/examples/ipsec-secgw/Makefile
index a4977f6..09e3c5a 100644
--- a/examples/ipsec-secgw/Makefile
+++ b/examples/ipsec-secgw/Makefile
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ SRCS-y += sa.c
 SRCS-y += rt.c
 SRCS-y += ipsec_process.c
 SRCS-y += ipsec-secgw.c
+SRCS-y += event_helper.c
 
 CFLAGS += -gdwarf-2
 
diff --git a/examples/ipsec-secgw/event_helper.c b/examples/ipsec-secgw/event_helper.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..82425de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/ipsec-secgw/event_helper.c
@@ -0,0 +1,326 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+ * Copyright (C) 2020 Marvell International Ltd.
+ */
+#include <rte_ethdev.h>
+#include <rte_eventdev.h>
+
+#include "event_helper.h"
+
+static int
+eh_set_default_conf_eventdev(struct eventmode_conf *em_conf)
+{
+	struct eventdev_params *eventdev_config;
+	struct rte_event_dev_info dev_info;
+	int lcore_count;
+	int nb_eventdev;
+	int nb_eth_dev;
+	int ret;
+
+	/* Get the number of event devices */
+	nb_eventdev = rte_event_dev_count();
+	if (nb_eventdev == 0) {
+		EH_LOG_ERR("No event devices detected");
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
+	if (nb_eventdev != 1) {
+		EH_LOG_ERR("Event mode does not support multiple event devices. "
+			   "Please provide only one event device.");
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
+	/* Get the number of eth devs */
+	nb_eth_dev = rte_eth_dev_count_avail();
+	if (nb_eth_dev == 0) {
+		EH_LOG_ERR("No eth devices detected");
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
+	/* Get the number of lcores */
+	lcore_count = rte_lcore_count();
+
+	/* Read event device info */
+	ret = rte_event_dev_info_get(0, &dev_info);
+	if (ret < 0) {
+		EH_LOG_ERR("Failed to read event device info %d", ret);
+		return ret;
+	}
+
+	/* Check if enough ports are available */
+	if (dev_info.max_event_ports < 2) {
+		EH_LOG_ERR("Not enough event ports available");
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
+	/* Get the first event dev conf */
+	eventdev_config = &(em_conf->eventdev_config[0]);
+
+	/* Save number of queues & ports available */
+	eventdev_config->eventdev_id = 0;
+	eventdev_config->nb_eventqueue = dev_info.max_event_queues;
+	eventdev_config->nb_eventport = dev_info.max_event_ports;
+	eventdev_config->ev_queue_mode =
+			RTE_EVENT_QUEUE_CFG_ALL_TYPES;
+
+	/* Check if there are more queues than required */
+	if (eventdev_config->nb_eventqueue > nb_eth_dev + 1) {
+		/* One queue is reserved for Tx */
+		eventdev_config->nb_eventqueue = nb_eth_dev + 1;
+	}
+
+	/* Check if there are more ports than required */
+	if (eventdev_config->nb_eventport > lcore_count) {
+		/* One port per lcore is enough */
+		eventdev_config->nb_eventport = lcore_count;
+	}
+
+	/* Update the number of event devices */
+	em_conf->nb_eventdev++;
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int
+eh_validate_conf(struct eventmode_conf *em_conf)
+{
+	int ret;
+
+	/*
+	 * Check if event devs are specified. Else probe the event devices
+	 * and initialize the config with all ports & queues available
+	 */
+	if (em_conf->nb_eventdev == 0) {
+		ret = eh_set_default_conf_eventdev(em_conf);
+		if (ret != 0)
+			return ret;
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int
+eh_initialize_eventdev(struct eventmode_conf *em_conf)
+{
+	struct rte_event_queue_conf eventq_conf = {0};
+	struct rte_event_dev_info evdev_default_conf;
+	struct rte_event_dev_config eventdev_conf;
+	struct eventdev_params *eventdev_config;
+	int nb_eventdev = em_conf->nb_eventdev;
+	uint8_t eventdev_id;
+	int nb_eventqueue;
+	uint8_t i, j;
+	int ret;
+
+	for (i = 0; i < nb_eventdev; i++) {
+
+		/* Get eventdev config */
+		eventdev_config = &(em_conf->eventdev_config[i]);
+
+		/* Get event dev ID */
+		eventdev_id = eventdev_config->eventdev_id;
+
+		/* Get the number of queues */
+		nb_eventqueue = eventdev_config->nb_eventqueue;
+
+		/* Reset the default conf */
+		memset(&evdev_default_conf, 0,
+			sizeof(struct rte_event_dev_info));
+
+		/* Get default conf of eventdev */
+		ret = rte_event_dev_info_get(eventdev_id, &evdev_default_conf);
+		if (ret < 0) {
+			EH_LOG_ERR(
+				"Error in getting event device info[devID:%d]",
+				eventdev_id);
+			return ret;
+		}
+
+		memset(&eventdev_conf, 0, sizeof(struct rte_event_dev_config));
+		eventdev_conf.nb_events_limit =
+				evdev_default_conf.max_num_events;
+		eventdev_conf.nb_event_queues = nb_eventqueue;
+		eventdev_conf.nb_event_ports =
+				eventdev_config->nb_eventport;
+		eventdev_conf.nb_event_queue_flows =
+				evdev_default_conf.max_event_queue_flows;
+		eventdev_conf.nb_event_port_dequeue_depth =
+				evdev_default_conf.max_event_port_dequeue_depth;
+		eventdev_conf.nb_event_port_enqueue_depth =
+				evdev_default_conf.max_event_port_enqueue_depth;
+
+		/* Configure event device */
+		ret = rte_event_dev_configure(eventdev_id, &eventdev_conf);
+		if (ret < 0) {
+			EH_LOG_ERR("Error in configuring event device");
+			return ret;
+		}
+
+		/* Configure event queues */
+		for (j = 0; j < nb_eventqueue; j++) {
+
+			memset(&eventq_conf, 0,
+					sizeof(struct rte_event_queue_conf));
+
+			/* Read the requested conf */
+
+			/* Per event dev queues can be ATQ or SINGLE LINK */
+			eventq_conf.event_queue_cfg =
+					eventdev_config->ev_queue_mode;
+			/*
+			 * All queues need to be set with sched_type as
+			 * schedule type for the application stage. One queue
+			 * would be reserved for the final eth tx stage. This
+			 * will be an atomic queue.
+			 */
+			if (j == nb_eventqueue-1) {
+				eventq_conf.schedule_type =
+					RTE_SCHED_TYPE_ATOMIC;
+			} else {
+				eventq_conf.schedule_type =
+					em_conf->ext_params.sched_type;
+			}
+
+			/* Set max atomic flows to 1024 */
+			eventq_conf.nb_atomic_flows = 1024;
+			eventq_conf.nb_atomic_order_sequences = 1024;
+
+			/* Setup the queue */
+			ret = rte_event_queue_setup(eventdev_id, j,
+					&eventq_conf);
+			if (ret < 0) {
+				EH_LOG_ERR("Failed to setup event queue %d",
+					   ret);
+				return ret;
+			}
+		}
+
+		/* Configure event ports */
+		for (j = 0; j <  eventdev_config->nb_eventport; j++) {
+			ret = rte_event_port_setup(eventdev_id, j, NULL);
+			if (ret < 0) {
+				EH_LOG_ERR("Failed to setup event port %d",
+					   ret);
+				return ret;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	/* Start event devices */
+	for (i = 0; i < nb_eventdev; i++) {
+
+		/* Get eventdev config */
+		eventdev_config = &(em_conf->eventdev_config[i]);
+
+		ret = rte_event_dev_start(eventdev_config->eventdev_id);
+		if (ret < 0) {
+			EH_LOG_ERR("Failed to start event device %d, %d",
+				   i, ret);
+			return ret;
+		}
+	}
+	return 0;
+}
+
+int32_t
+eh_devs_init(struct eh_conf *conf)
+{
+	struct eventmode_conf *em_conf;
+	uint16_t port_id;
+	int ret;
+
+	if (conf == NULL) {
+		EH_LOG_ERR("Invalid event helper configuration");
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
+	if (conf->mode != EH_PKT_TRANSFER_MODE_EVENT)
+		return 0;
+
+	if (conf->mode_params == NULL) {
+		EH_LOG_ERR("Invalid event mode parameters");
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
+	/* Get eventmode conf */
+	em_conf = conf->mode_params;
+
+	/* Validate the requested config */
+	ret = eh_validate_conf(em_conf);
+	if (ret < 0) {
+		EH_LOG_ERR("Failed to validate the requested config %d", ret);
+		return ret;
+	}
+
+	/* Stop eth devices before setting up adapter */
+	RTE_ETH_FOREACH_DEV(port_id) {
+
+		/* Use only the ports enabled */
+		if ((conf->eth_portmask & (1 << port_id)) == 0)
+			continue;
+
+		rte_eth_dev_stop(port_id);
+	}
+
+	/* Setup eventdev */
+	ret = eh_initialize_eventdev(em_conf);
+	if (ret < 0) {
+		EH_LOG_ERR("Failed to initialize event dev %d", ret);
+		return ret;
+	}
+
+	/* Start eth devices after setting up adapter */
+	RTE_ETH_FOREACH_DEV(port_id) {
+
+		/* Use only the ports enabled */
+		if ((conf->eth_portmask & (1 << port_id)) == 0)
+			continue;
+
+		ret = rte_eth_dev_start(port_id);
+		if (ret < 0) {
+			EH_LOG_ERR("Failed to start eth dev %d, %d",
+				   port_id, ret);
+			return ret;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+int32_t
+eh_devs_uninit(struct eh_conf *conf)
+{
+	struct eventmode_conf *em_conf;
+	uint16_t id;
+	int ret, i;
+
+	if (conf == NULL) {
+		EH_LOG_ERR("Invalid event helper configuration");
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
+	if (conf->mode != EH_PKT_TRANSFER_MODE_EVENT)
+		return 0;
+
+	if (conf->mode_params == NULL) {
+		EH_LOG_ERR("Invalid event mode parameters");
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
+	/* Get eventmode conf */
+	em_conf = conf->mode_params;
+
+	/* Stop and release event devices */
+	for (i = 0; i < em_conf->nb_eventdev; i++) {
+
+		id = em_conf->eventdev_config[i].eventdev_id;
+		rte_event_dev_stop(id);
+
+		ret = rte_event_dev_close(id);
+		if (ret < 0) {
+			EH_LOG_ERR("Failed to close event dev %d, %d", id, ret);
+			return ret;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
diff --git a/examples/ipsec-secgw/event_helper.h b/examples/ipsec-secgw/event_helper.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7685987
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/ipsec-secgw/event_helper.h
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+ * Copyright (C) 2020 Marvell International Ltd.
+ */
+#ifndef _EVENT_HELPER_H_
+#define _EVENT_HELPER_H_
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+extern "C" {
+#endif
+
+#include <rte_log.h>
+
+#define RTE_LOGTYPE_EH  RTE_LOGTYPE_USER4
+
+#define EH_LOG_ERR(...) \
+	RTE_LOG(ERR, EH, \
+		RTE_FMT("%s() line %u: " RTE_FMT_HEAD(__VA_ARGS__ ,) "\n", \
+			__func__, __LINE__, RTE_FMT_TAIL(__VA_ARGS__ ,)))
+
+/* Max event devices supported */
+#define EVENT_MODE_MAX_EVENT_DEVS RTE_EVENT_MAX_DEVS
+
+/**
+ * Packet transfer mode of the application
+ */
+enum eh_pkt_transfer_mode {
+	EH_PKT_TRANSFER_MODE_POLL = 0,
+	EH_PKT_TRANSFER_MODE_EVENT,
+};
+
+/* Event dev params */
+struct eventdev_params {
+	uint8_t eventdev_id;
+	uint8_t nb_eventqueue;
+	uint8_t nb_eventport;
+	uint8_t ev_queue_mode;
+};
+
+/* Eventmode conf data */
+struct eventmode_conf {
+	int nb_eventdev;
+		/**< No of event devs */
+	struct eventdev_params eventdev_config[EVENT_MODE_MAX_EVENT_DEVS];
+		/**< Per event dev conf */
+	union {
+		RTE_STD_C11
+		struct {
+			uint64_t sched_type			: 2;
+		/**< Schedule type */
+		};
+		uint64_t u64;
+	} ext_params;
+		/**< 64 bit field to specify extended params */
+};
+
+/**
+ * Event helper configuration
+ */
+struct eh_conf {
+	enum eh_pkt_transfer_mode mode;
+		/**< Packet transfer mode of the application */
+	uint32_t eth_portmask;
+		/**<
+		 * Mask of the eth ports to be used. This portmask would be
+		 * checked while initializing devices using helper routines.
+		 */
+	void *mode_params;
+		/**< Mode specific parameters */
+};
+
+/**
+ * Initialize event mode devices
+ *
+ * Application can call this function to get the event devices, eth devices
+ * and eth rx & tx adapters initialized according to the default config or
+ * config populated using the command line args.
+ *
+ * Application is expected to initialize the eth devices and then the event
+ * mode helper subsystem will stop & start eth devices according to its
+ * requirement. Call to this function should be done after the eth devices
+ * are successfully initialized.
+ *
+ * @param conf
+ *   Event helper configuration
+ * @return
+ *  - 0 on success.
+ *  - (<0) on failure.
+ */
+int32_t
+eh_devs_init(struct eh_conf *conf);
+
+/**
+ * Release event mode devices
+ *
+ * Application can call this function to release event devices,
+ * eth rx & tx adapters according to the config.
+ *
+ * Call to this function should be done before application stops
+ * and closes eth devices. This function will not close and stop
+ * eth devices.
+ *
+ * @param conf
+ *   Event helper configuration
+ * @return
+ *  - 0 on success.
+ *  - (<0) on failure.
+ */
+int32_t
+eh_devs_uninit(struct eh_conf *conf);
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+}
+#endif
+
+#endif /* _EVENT_HELPER_H_ */
diff --git a/examples/ipsec-secgw/meson.build b/examples/ipsec-secgw/meson.build
index 9ece345..20f4064 100644
--- a/examples/ipsec-secgw/meson.build
+++ b/examples/ipsec-secgw/meson.build
@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@
 # To build this example as a standalone application with an already-installed
 # DPDK instance, use 'make'
 
-deps += ['security', 'lpm', 'acl', 'hash', 'ip_frag', 'ipsec']
+deps += ['security', 'lpm', 'acl', 'hash', 'ip_frag', 'ipsec', 'eventdev']
 allow_experimental_apis = true
 sources = files(
 	'esp.c', 'ipsec.c', 'ipsec_process.c', 'ipsec-secgw.c',
-	'parser.c', 'rt.c', 'sa.c', 'sp4.c', 'sp6.c'
+	'parser.c', 'rt.c', 'sa.c', 'sp4.c', 'sp6.c', 'event_helper.c'
 )
