The Sphere Project

Why is Sphere needed? Post- Rwanda Multi-donor evaluation “Unnecessary deaths” NGO concern with quality and accountability - has been ongoing Historic practice no longer sufficient - Increasing complexity of disasters - Numbers of disasters increasing - Changing nature of humanitarian community and increasing diversity - Increasing number of actors with different measures of success

Aims: To create a common working language To make humanitarian interventions more efficient To improve accountability and transparency To improve program quality People affected by disasters have the right to live in dignity.

The Sphere Handbook Tools to put principles and values into action Each Chapter includes Minimum standards Introduction What is Sphere? Key indicators Guidance notes The Code of Conduct 2004 Edition The Humanitarian Charter Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion Food Security and Nutrition Shelter, Settlement and Non-Food items Health Actions Core standards for all sectors Protection Principles Key Actions

Getting Familiar with your Sphere Handbook Turn to your Sphere handbooks. Use Post-It notes to mark the beginning of each section: - The humanitarian charter - The Protection Principles - The core standards - The technical standards - The Code of Conduct

Process: extensive consultation people 400 organisations 80 countries around the world 2011 handbook revised edition 1997 Initial consultation 2000 handbook launched 2004 handbook revised edition

Sphere process Make argument for universal assistance Achieve consensus on technical standards and indicators Obtain agreement on core principles and actions

The Humanitarian Charter Our beliefs: “As local, national, and international humanitarian agencies, we commit to promoting and adhering to the principles of this Charter and to meeting minimum standards in our efforts to assist and protect those affected.”

Humanitarian Charter Common principles, rights and duties “ We offer our services as humanitarian agencies on the basis of the principle of humanity and the humanitarian imperative, recognising the rights of all people affected by disaster or conflict”

Humanitarian Charter: Three Rights Informed by International Law Right to life with dignity “entails the duty to preserve life where it is threatened. Implicit in this is the duty not to withhold or frustrate the provision of life- saving assistance.” - Universal Declaration of Human Rights - Civil, political, economic and social covenants - The Geneva Conventions Right to receive humanitarian assistance “assistance must be provided according to the principle of impartiality. This reflects the wider principle of non- discrimination” - Geneva Conventions - Rights of the Child Right to protection and security “The safety & security of people in situations of disaster or conflict are of particular humanitarian concern, including the protection of refugees and internally displaced individuals” - Convention on the Status of Refugees - Convention against Torture - Convention on the Rights of the Child

The main legal instruments The International Bill of Rights The right to life with dignity Everyone Distinction between combatants and non-combatants Principle of non- refoulement States (legally) but everyone (morally) Most apply always, some don’t in states of emergency The Geneva Convention The Convention on the Status of Refugees Non-combatants in conflict Refugees, but not IDPs Warring partiesStates where refugees reside In armed conflicts only Wherever refugees exist Example of documentary source Core ideas Who has rights? Who has duties? When do they apply? Human Rights Humanitarian Law Refugee Law

Roles and Responsibilities (p.20-21) The basic needs of people affected by calamity are first met through their own efforts. We acknowledge the primary role of the state to assist when people’s capacity has been exceeded. Those affected are legally entitled to assistance and protection. States and warring parties are legally obliged to assist. Our role reflects the reality that those with primary responsibility are not always able or willing to perform this role.

Protection Principles (p.28) Avoid causing further harm as a result of your actions Ensure people’s access to impartial assistance Protect people from physical and psychological harm due to violence or coercion Assist with rights claims, access to remedies, and recovery from abuse

Modes of Protection Activity (p.32) Preventive: Preventing physical threats or rights abuse Responsive: Stopping ongoing violations Remedial: Providing remedies

Translating principles into action How much food … is the human right to food? “Sphere's specific standards in the provision of health care, water and sanitation, shelter, food security and nutrition translate people's rights into specific agency duties.” (Hugo Slim 2001) Emphasis by Sphere

What is a minimum standard? The minimum level of service to be attained in humanitarian assistance Food security - food transfers standard 1: General nutrition requirements Ensure the nutritional needs of the disaster affected population, including those most at risk are met. see page 180

What are key actions? Suggested activities and inputs to help meet the standards. Design food transfers on the basis of the standard initial planning requirements for energy, protein, fat, and micronutrients Ensure the populations access to appropriate nutritious foods and nutritional support is protected, promoted, and supported. see page 180

What are key indicators? Signals that show whether a standard has been attained. They provide a way of measuring and communicating both the impact, or result, of programmes as well as the process, or methods, used. The indicators may be qualitative or quantitative. Key indicators There is adequate access to a range of foods… There are no cases of scurvy, pellagra or beri-beri, … The prevalence of Vitamin A deficiency, iron deficiency anaemia and iodine deficiency disorders are not of public health significance… see page

What are guidance notes? They disseminate experience, illuminate areas of controversy, and help use indicators properly in context Guidance notes “Options for improving the nutritional quality of the ration include fortification of staple commodities...” see page 182

Standards, key actions, key indicators and guidance notes Minimum standards Guidance notes Key indicators When asked, please find examples of each of these in your handbook. Key actions

To Summarize: Declaration that populations affected by conflict and calamity have a right to assistance Commitment towards a defined and measurable level of competence and delivery Distillation of current global knowledge and experience into a practical tool for: - individuals - their organisations - the humanitarian community Challenge to all actors in the humanitarian community for increased accountability and quality

Applications Strengthen advocacy Measure performance Rationalise resource use Enable coordination - more than 20 languages Inform training curriculum Promote participation Evaluate policies and procedures

Applications: project cycle Evaluation Programme planning AssessmentPreparedness Impact monitoring Problem analysis