The Sphere Project - IFRC

1 The Sphere Project Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response 2011 EDITION. The Sphere Project Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response Published by: The Sphere Project Copyright@The Sphere Project 2011. Email: Foreword Website : This latest edition of the Sphere Handbook, Humanitarian Charter and Minimum The Sphere Project was initiated in 1997 by a group of NGOs and the Red Cross Standards in Humanitarian Response, is the product of broad inter-agency and Red Crescent Movement to develop a set of universal minimum standards collaboration. in core areas of humanitarian response: the Sphere Handbook.

2 The aim of the Handbook is to improve the quality of humanitarian response in situations The Humanitarian Charter and minimum standards reflect the determina- of disaster and conflict, and to enhance the accountability of the humanitarian tion of agencies to improve both the effectiveness of their assistance and their system to disaster-affected people. The Humanitarian Charter and Minimum accountability to their stakeholders, contributing to a practical framework for Standards in Humanitarian Response are the product of the collective experience of many people and agencies. They should therefore not be seen as representing accountability.

3 The views of any one agency. The Humanitarian Charter and minimum standards will not of course stop human- First trial edition 1998 itarian crises from happening, nor can they prevent human suffering. What they First final edition 2000. offer, however, is an opportunity for the enhancement of assistance with the aim Second edition 2004. of making a difference to the lives of people affected by disaster. Third edition 2011. ISBN 978-1-908176-00-4 From their origin in the late 1990s, as an initiative of a group of humanitarian NGOs A catalogue record for this publication is available from The British Library and the and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the Sphere standards are now US Library of Congress.

4 Applied as the de facto standards in humanitarian response in the 21st century. All rights reserved. This material is copyright but may be reproduced by any A word of gratitude must, therefore, be given to all those who have made this method without fee for educational purposes but not for resale. Formal permission happen. is required for all such uses but normally will be granted immediately. For copying in other circumstances or for reuse in other publications, or for translation or adaptation, prior written permission must be obtained from the copyright owner, and a fee may be payable. Distributed for the Sphere Project by Practical Action Publishing and its agents and representatives throughout the world.

5 Practical Action Publishing, Schumacher Centre for Technology and Development, Ton van Zutphen John Damerell Bourton on Dunsmore, Rugby, CV23 9QZ, United Kingdom Sphere Board Chair Project Manager Tel +44 (0) 1926 634501; Fax +44 (0)1926 634502. email: website: Practical Action Publishing (UK Company Reg. No. 1159018) is the wholly owned publishing company of Practical Action and trades only in support of its parent charity objectives. Designed by: , Metz-Tessy, France . 0,; . 3 DSHU IURP . UHVSRQVLEOH VRXUFHV . Printed by: Hobbs the Printer, Southampton, United Kingdom )6& & .. ii iii Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response Acknowledgements Cross-cutting themes Children: Monica Blomstr m and Mari M rth (both Save the Children Sweden).

6 Acknowledgements .. Older people: Jo Wells (HelpAge International). Persons with disabilities: Maria Kett (Leonard Cheshire Disability and The revision of the Sphere Handbook has been an extensive, collaborative and Inclusive Development Centre). consultative process, engaging a considerable number of people around the Gender: Siobh n Foran (IASC GenCap Project ). world too many to mention individually by name. The Sphere Project acknowl- edges the breadth of the contributions made and the willingness of organisations Psychosocial issues: Mark van Ommeren (WHO) and Mike Wessells and individuals to be involved. (Columbia University).

7 HIV and AIDS: Paul Spiegel (UNHCR). The Handbook revision process was led by a group of focal points for the technical chapters and cross-cutting themes, supported by resource persons for emerging Environment, climate change and disaster risk reduction: Anita van issues, all drawn from the sector, either seconded from humanitarian organisa- Breda (WWF) and Nigel Timmins (Christian Aid). tions or directly hired, depending on the level of work envisaged. Consultants led the revision of elements relevant for the Handbook as a whole, and which Sphere companion standards required substantial new work. Where not stated otherwise, the people listed Education: Jennifer Hofmann and Tzvetomira Laub (both INEE).

8 Below were consultants. Livestock: Cathy Watson (LEGS). Humanitarian Charter: James Darcy, Mary Picard, Jim Bishop (InterAction), Economic recovery: Tracy Gerstle and Laura Meissner (both SEEP network). Clare Smith (CARE International) and Yvonne Klynman (IFRC). Resource persons Protection Principles: Ed Schenkenberg van Mierop (ICVA) and Claudine Haenni Dale Early recovery: Maria Olga Gonzalez (UNDP-BCPR). Camp coordination and camp management : Gillian Dunn (IRC). Core Standards: Peta Sandison and Sara Davidson Cash transfer programming : Nupur Kukrety (Cash Learning Partnership network). Technical chapters In addition, a number of people were consulted with regard to the civil military Water supply, sanitation and hygiene promotion : Nega Bazezew Legesse interface, conflict sensitivity and urban settings.

9 (Oxfam GB). Food security and nutrition: Working groups and reference groups were established to support the focal points in their work; while The Sphere Project acknowledges the contribution of -- Nutrition: Susan Thurstans (Save the Children UK) all these persons, their individual names are not included herein. However, a full -- Food security and livelihoods: Devrig Velly (Action contre la Faim) listing of all working group and reference group members can be found on the -- Food aid: Paul Turnbull (WFP) and Walter Middleton (World Vision Sphere website: International). Shelter, settlement and non-food items: Graham Saunders (IFRC) Editors: Phil Greaney, Sue Pfiffner, David Wilson Health action: Mesfin Teklu (World Vision International) Revision workshop facilitator: Raja Jarrah Monitoring and evaluation specialist: Claudia Schneider, SKAT.

10 Iv v Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response Contents Sphere Board (as at 31 December 2010). Action by Churches Together (ACT) Alliance (John Nduna) * Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief (ACBAR) (Laurent Saillard) * Aktion Deutschland Hilft (ADH) (Manuela Rossbach) * CARE International (Olivier Braunsteffer) * CARITAS. Internationalis (Jan Weuts) * The International Council of Voluntary Agencies Foreword iii (ICVA) (Ed Schenkenberg van Mierop) * International Rescue Committee (IRC). (Gillian Dunn) * InterAction (Linda Poteat) * Interm n Oxfam (Elena Sgorbati) * Acknowledgements iv International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) (Simon Eccleshall) * The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) (Rudelmar Bueno de Faria) What is Sphere ?