Executive briefing on the Sphere Project

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Executive briefing on the Sphere Project
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Tools to put principles and values into action
2004Edition
The Code of Conduct
Each Chapter includes
Minimum standards
Key indicators
Guidance notes
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Why is the Sphere handbook needed?
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
Post- Rwanda 1994 - Multi-donor evaluation
Unnecessary deaths
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Extensive consultation
4000 people
80 countries around the world
400 organisations
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Sphere process
Make argument for universal assistance
Obtain agreement on core principles and
actions
Achieve consensus on technical indicators
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Main project activities
Awareness raising
Distributing the handbook and other tools
Technical revisions of the handbook
Training on how to apply the handbook
Support to agencies
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Management and funding
Member networks of Steering Committee for
Humanitarian Response - 7 networks plus ICRC
IFRC
InterAction
VOICE and ICVA
Additional funding Australia, Belgium,
Canada, Denmark, England, Finland , Ireland,
New Zealand, Norway, The Netherlands, Sweden,
Spain, United Kingdom, United States and ECHO.
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Humanitarian Charter Sections
Commitment to promote - observance of
fundamental humanitarian principles -
appreciation of our own ethical obligations
Statement of humanitarian principles
Description of roles, duties responsibilities
Commitment to consistently achieve the
minimum standards
Acknowledgement that our fundamental
accountability is to those we seek to assist
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Standards, key indicators and guidance notes
Minimum standards Minimum level (of service)
in humanitarian assistance
Key indicators Signals that show whether a
standard has been attained Measure and
communicate - impact, result, process or
methods used Qualitative or quantitative
Guidance notes Disseminate experience
Illuminate areas of controversy Help use
indicators properly in context
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Applications
Strengthen advocacy
Measure performance
Rationalise resource use
Enable coordination - more than 20 languages
Inform training curriculum
Promote participation
Evaluate policies and procedures
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Applications project cycle
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In conclusion
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
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www.sphereproject.org
Resources on the web-site include
Handbook in English, French, Spanish,
Russian and Arabic
Training material and trainers guide
Case studies
Lessons from institutionalising Sphere
Annual reports
Newsletters
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BREAK!