Sphere

Sphere is a global community that sets standards for humanitarian action and promotes quality and accountability.

The Sphere movement was started in 1997 by a group of humanitarian professionals aiming to improve the quality of humanitarian work during disaster response. With this goal in mind, they framed a Humanitarian Charter and identified a set of humanitarian standards to be applied in humanitarian response. Initially developed by non-governmental organisations, along with the Red Cross and Red Crescent

Movement, the Sphere standards have become a primary reference tool for national and international NGOs, volunteers, UN agencies, governments, donors, the private sector, and many others. Today, Sphere is a worldwide community which brings together and empowers practitioners to improve the quality and accountability of humanitarian assistance. Sphere’s flagship publication, the Sphere Handbook, is one of the most widely known and internationally recognized sets of common principles and universal minimum standards in humanitarian response.

22/05/2026

📚 FREE Sphere Handbook Giveaway — Arabic & Spanish versions!

We are offering Sphere Handbook 2018 editions in Arabic and Spanish free of charge while stocks last.

Recipients only need to cover handling and postage costs (from Southampton, England). These copies are offered free for individual or organisational use. They are not intended for resale.

If you are interested in receiving copies, please contact:
📩 [email protected]
Please include:
• Language requested
• Number of copies needed
• Organisation (if applicable)
• Delivery location

This is a limited-time destocking initiative, so requests will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis.

You can also continue to order English bulk packs and print-on-demand single copies in multiple languages from our publisher (link in comments)

21/05/2026

We often think of in humanitarian work in terms of programmes and processes.

But what about ?

How do we make sure that the way we communicate reflects the same standards we expect in humanitarian action?

This was the focus of a recent learning session facilitated by Sphere, led by Communications Manager, Zunaira Shams, bringing together 25 participants from different regions.

Rather than focusing on outputs or reporting, the discussion explored how accountability can be made more visible in everyday communications practice – through the questions we ask before we share information, images, or updates.

The carousel highlights some of the key questions explored in the session, offering a simple framework for reflection on how communications can better reflect , , , and .

A small shift in how we think about communications can change how our work is understood.

To learn more about the session or explore similar learning opportunities, connect with Zunaira Shams.

18/05/2026

Behind strong humanitarian collaboration are the people helping connect ideas and action — and we are excited to welcome one of them to Sphere!

Susanna Davies joined Sphere in May 2026 as Humanitarian Standards Partnership Coordinator.

Bringing 17 years of humanitarian experience, Susanna has worked extensively on humanitarian standards, protection, localisation, and partnership practice. She is particularly passionate about helping organisations collaborate more effectively and translate learning into action.

Before joining Sphere, Susanna co-led global work on the Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, supporting inter-agency learning, advocacy, and collaboration across the child protection sector. She has also worked with organisations including Save the Children International, UNHCR, UNICEF, and the International Rescue Committee across contexts such as South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Lebanon, Iraq, Türkiye, Jordan, Chad, Malawi, and Zambia.

At Sphere, Susanna supports coordination across the Humanitarian Standards Partnership (HSP), helping strengthen collaboration between partners and shape shared strategies and priorities for collective action.

Alongside her role at Sphere, Susanna also serves as Head of Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives at JRNY Consulting. She holds a Master of Science in International Social Work and Administration from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from The George Washington University.

A warm welcome to Susanna as she joins Sphere’s growing team.

15/05/2026

Experience from across West and Central Africa is now part of the Sphere team!

We are happy to welcome Hassane Koubere as Sphere’s new Training & Events Coordinator.

With years of experience in humanitarian action, facilitation and capacity strengthening, Hassane has worked across Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Chad supporting organisations and communities in applying quality and accountability standards.

His journey has taken him from coordinating regional operations for the Burkina Faso Red Cross to leading programmes in child protection, education, and community resilience with organisations including the Danish Refugee Council, Save the Children, and Plan International.

At Sphere, Hassane coordinates training and events to bring humanitarian practitioners together to exchange ideas and strengthen practice.

Alongside his field and leadership experience, Hassane is also a recognised trainer with Bioforce, Sphere, CHS Alliance, and the Centre of Competence on Humanitarian Negotiation (CCHN). He holds a Master’s degree in International Cooperation and Humanitarian Action from the Kalu Institute.

When he’s not coordinating training or supporting humanitarian learning, you will likely find him on a volleyball court, out jogging or exploring books and audiobooks on mindset and motivation.

We are thrilled to have Hassane bringing his expertise, and experience to Sphere!

14/05/2026

Storytelling that brings ideas and impact together — now with a new voice in the team!

We warmly welcome Dur E Nayab, who joined Sphere as Communications Associate in 2026. She will be supporting communications across Sphere and Community World Service Asia in her role.

With a passion for strategic communications and digital storytelling, Dure supports the development of content and communications that help strengthen Sphere’s global presence and engagement.

Before joining Sphere, Dure has experience in content creation, stakeholder engagement and digital communications. Her work reflects a strong interest in creating accessible, people-centred communications that connect global audiences.

Based in Karachi, Dure holds a degree in Applied Linguistics and is particularly interested in visual storytelling and humanitarian work.

Beyond storytelling and social media, she enjoys three things equally: discovering good coffee, relaxing by the beach and unapologetically enjoying a good nap.

Please join us in welcoming Dur E Nayab to Sphere!

13/05/2026

As we enter the phase of revising the Sphere Handbook, we’re excited to welcome Andrea Espinosa as the Revision Project Manager.

Andrea is leading a collective effort leading a collective effort to shape the next edition of the Sphere Handbook. Her role brings together diverse perspectives and expertise from across the sector to help shape a tool that remains practical, relevant, and grounded in today’s humanitarian realities.

She brings experience across NGOs, public institutions, and private consulting, with a focus on sustainability, advocacy, and community-led development. Over the years, she has worked on multi-stakeholder initiatives in Kenya, Ecuador, Canada, and Spain, building a strong international perspective along the way.

Andrea holds a Master’s degree in Sustainability and Circular Economy and a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies.

Outside of work, she enjoys hiking and exploring the city with her adopted dog, learning to cook the family recipes she grew up with and saying yes to new experiences just for the joy of it.

We’re really glad to have her on the team – welcome, Andrea.

12/05/2026

New code, fresh ideas and another great addition to the team!

We’re happy to welcome Julius Namata, based in the Philippines, who joined Sphere this year as a Web Developer Intern.

Julius contributes to Sphere’s digital presence and is supporting the rebuild of the website to help improve its functionality and user experience for the communities.

Beyond web development, Julius has also worked on community-driven initiatives that use technology to address real-world challenges. One of these projects includes Layag, a security system designed to help and support small-scale fishers in his local community.

Currently completing his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, Julius brings both technical expertise and a thoughtful approach to problem-solving.

When he’s not coding, you’ll probably find him running, playing basketball or badminton, or making music on his guitar.

We’re excited to have Julius on board – welcome to Sphere!

11/05/2026

Sphere is growing, and so is the team behind the tools that keep us connected across the world.

This week, we’re starting with a warm welcome to Patricia Visda, who joined us in December 2025 as Digital Systems Coordinator, based in the Philippines. Patricia works at the heart of Sphere’s digital ecosystem. She supports and strengthens the platforms that make our collaboration possible — from maintaining the Sphere and HSP websites to improving user experience and helping ensure our systems are secure, reliable, and easy to use for everyone.

Before joining Sphere, Patricia worked on a range of projects that connected technology with public service, including developing a website for a national cemetery to honour fallen heroes as part of her academic work. She holds a degree in Information Technology, specialising in web and mobile applications, and brings a strong interest in using digital tools to support meaningful, people-centred work.

Beyond work, she spends her time walking her dog, playing badminton and creating rhythms on the drums.

We’re really glad to have her on the team – please join us in welcoming Patricia Visda to Sphere.

07/05/2026

Sixteen humanitarian practitioners from across came together in Bangkok, Thailand, to strengthen their understanding of quality and accountable humanitarian response through the Sphere Standards and the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS).

Held on 23–24 April 2026 at the International Institute of Peace and Development Studies - IIPDS, the training was led by Muhammad Waqqas Ali, Sphere and CHS Trainer. The training brought together participants from organisations and institutions including Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office/UK Aid Direct (Pakistan), Caritas(Indonesia and Myanmar), มูลนิธิศุภนิมิตแห่งประเทศไทย - World Vision Foundation of Thailand, and representatives from the Government of Nigeria.

Participants explored the Sphere Handbook in depth, reflecting on both its foundational principles and technical chapters in humanitarian response.

The discussion also created space to examine emerging challenges and practical solutions shaping humanitarian action today – including the growing potential of AI-supported humanitarian assistance and the use of telephonic guidance systems to support communities during emergencies where feasible.

Participants further reflected on challenges faced by larger families, highlighting the need for more practical and space-efficient shelter solutions in humanitarian settings.

The sessions reinforced the importance of , and -centred humanitarian action in an evolving global landscape.

06/05/2026

What does “sufficient water” actually look like in people’s daily lives?

Sphere WASH Standard 2.1 focuses on equitable access to enough safe water for drinking and domestic use. In practice, this is often measured using supply benchmarks like “15 litres per person per day” – but these don’t always reflect real access.

James Brown, WASH Consultant and Sera Young from
Northwestern University & United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment, and Health explore why measuring water supply alone can overlook the realities of water access. Distance, queues, cost, and unreliable supply all shape whether water is truly sufficient.

The article introduces the Water Insecurity Experiences (WISE) Scales, an experiential approach that captures how people experience water insecurity in their everyday lives, including impacts on drinking, hygiene, wellbeing and uncertainty.

Read more: https://spherestandards.org/wise-scales-for-wash-standard-2-1/

For Water Supply Standard 2.1 (Access and water quantity): https://spherehandbook.io/en/sphere

Adresse

Route De Ferney 150
Geneva
1211

Webseite

http://www.spherestandards.org/

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