Sphere Handbook

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About

The Sphere Project is based in Geneva, Switzerland, but incorporates practitioners from around the globe. The Sphere Handbook highlights best practices for humanitarian operations. Its recommendations are derived from or adhere to the Humanitarian Charter, and they outline minimum standards for stability and humanitarian operations that involve contact with local populations.

According to the Sphere Project, "The aim of the project is to improve the quality of assistance provided to people affected by disasters, and to enhance the accountability of the humanitarian system in disaster response. The Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response are the product of the collective experience of many people and agencies. They should not therefore be seen as representing the views of any one agency."^{[ref 1]}

When referencing the Sphere Handbook, it is useful to understand the Sphere Handbook Minimum Standards for Operations. These Minimum Standards are the core topics addressed in the handbook. They identify and explain essential “process and people” standards that are relevant to each of the technical sectors and response efforts initiated in a coordinated stability operation. They are meant to serve as guiding principles and best practices for international aid workers, and they also lend useful guidelines to military personnel assisting in humanitarian operations.

Overview and Principles

Two core principles are the foundation of the Sphere Handbook:

1. The alleviation of human suffering should be attempted, by all measures possible, after a disaster or violent conflict.

2. All persons have the right to dignity and assistance after conflict and calamity.^{[ref 2]}

The ICRC movement and various humanitarian NGOs initiated the Sphere project in 1997. In 2000 the first Sphere Handbook was published; the current edition was published in 2004; and a review is currently underway to produce the third edition.

The cornerstone of Sphere is the Humanitarian Charter. The Sphere principles are derived from and protected under international humanitarian law codes that require nations to protect citizens in time of war, violent conflict, and in the wake of natural disasters.

Minimum Standards are a major theme of the publication and they should guide practitioners in best practices, implementation of projects, and observance of human rights.

Vulnerable groups include: women, children, older people, disabled people, PLWH/A and ethnic minorities. When providing humanitarian assistance to populations, practitioners should also identify particular risks to vulnerable populations and determine what capacity exists to assist them.

References

1. ↑ “The Sphere Project,” Sphere Handbook, p. 2; 2004: http://sphereproject.org.
2. ↑ “The Sphere Project,” Sphere Handbook, p. 5; 2004: http://www.sphereproject.org/

Sources:

Sphere Handbook

Relief Web, Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response, 2003.[1]

Sphere Handbook