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.

18/06/2026

Want to know what's happening with the Sphere Handbook revision?

The Sphere Handbook Revision webpage is your go-to place for updates on the process, key milestones and opportunities to get involved.

For decades, the Sphere Handbook has helped shape humanitarian action worldwide. As work begins on the next edition, the revision will review the Handbook's foundational and technical chapters, strengthen cross-cutting themes and enhance alignment across the Humanitarian Standards Partnership.

This is a collaborative effort by and for the humanitarian community. Opportunities to contribute expertise, participate in consultations and engage with the revision process will be shared throughout the revision.

🔗 Explore the webpage and follow the revision journey.
[Link in the comments]

17/06/2026

We are pleased to welcome Sarah Ward as Sphere’s Global Content Lead for the Sphere Handbook Revision.

With more than 25 years of experience working in crisis, post-conflict and post-disaster settings across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, Sarah brings a wealth of field experience and technical expertise to the role.

Throughout her career, she has worked with governments, communities, UN agencies and donors to strengthen humanitarian programmes and support people affected by crises. She is also widely recognised for her contributions to humanitarian standards, including as a founding author of the Minimum Economic Recovery Standards (MERS) and a contributor to the EMMA Toolkit and the Refugee Self-Reliance Index. Sarah is also a senior member of the Markets in Crisis and Market Systems Development communities of practice and serves on UNHCR’s Livelihoods Advisory Board.

Sarah has lived and worked extensively across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, including many years working in West Africa, particularly in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Benin. She is a proud mother of three and a former small-business owner.

As Sphere embarks on the next phase of the Handbook Revision, we are delighted to have Sarah on board to help shape content that will support humanitarian practitioners worldwide.

Please join us in welcoming Sarah to the Sphere team.

16/06/2026

Last week, members from across our global network came together at the 2026 Annual General Assembly to reflect on the year behind us and shape the path ahead.

Together, members approved Sphere's 2025 Annual Report, endorsed the new 2026–2028 Strategy, and discussed key priorities for the coming years, including the revision of the Sphere Handbook, stronger global engagement, and greater collaboration across the humanitarian sector.

The meeting was also an opportunity to recognise the collective efforts of our , , , and who continue to champion quality and accountability in humanitarian action worldwide.

Our 2025 Annual Report tells the story of these efforts and achievements. From new partnerships and advocacy initiatives to the growing reach of the Sphere network, it highlights what we can accomplish together.

Read the report and discover the impact behind the year: [link in the comments]

11/06/2026

What if learning about humanitarian standards felt less like studying and more like solving problems together?

This International Day of Play, we are highlighting The Humanitarian Standards Partnership Challenge board game – an interactive way to explore humanitarian standards through real-world crisis scenarios.

Players roll the dice, navigate unexpected challenges, and work together to make decisions at different stages of the humanitarian response. Along the way, players discover how different humanitarian standards can support quality and accountability in practice.

Today, we are reminded that playing is not separate from learning. Some of the most meaningful learning happens when we play, collaborate and put knowledge into action.

To download The HSP Challenge board game and accompanying resources, follow the link in the comments below.

10/06/2026

¡Ejemplares gratuitos del Manual Esfera! - Versiones en árabe y español

Estamos ofreciendo ejemplares del Manual Esfera 2018 en árabe y español de forma gratuita, hasta agotar existencias.

Las personas interesadas únicamente deberán cubrir los costos de manejo y envío postal (desde Southampton, Inglaterra). Estos ejemplares se ofrecen sin costo para uso individual u organizacional y no están destinados para su reventa.

Si deseas recibir copias, por favor contacta a:
📩 [email protected]

Incluye la siguiente información:
-Idioma solicitado
-Número de copias requeridas
-Organización (si aplica)
-Lugar de entrega

Esta es una iniciativa temporal para liberar existencias, por lo que las solicitudes se atenderán por orden de llegada.

También puedes seguir solicitando paquetes al por mayor en inglés y copias individuales impresas bajo demanda en varios idiomas a través de nuestra editorial.

05/06/2026

🌍 World Environment Day 2026

Protecting people and protecting the planet are inseparable. Climate change is already reshaping humanitarian needs worldwide.

As a signatory to The Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organizations, Sphere is committed to strengthening climate action across the humanitarian sector and reducing our own environmental footprint in line with global frameworks including the SDGs and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Through our Environmental Sustainability Policy, we are committed to:
🌱 Reducing our environmental footprint, including emissions from travel
♻️ Minimising waste and promoting circular use of resources
🤝 Supporting nature-based and locally led solutions
📊 Measuring, tracking, and improving our environmental performance

Guided by the principles of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover and Rethink, we are working to embed environmental responsibility across everything we do – from internal operations to partnerships and programmes.

This includes committing to measure our carbon footprint, prioritise lower-carbon travel options, and continuously improve how we design and deliver our work.

This World Environment Day, we reaffirm our commitment to climate responsibility – not as a separate agenda, but as part of delivering humanitarian action that protects dignity, resilience and the planet we all depend on.

05/06/2026

On World Environment Day, Ary Ananta Prasetya who is a WASH Advisor for ECT WASH Programme & Emergency Response Manager at Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund shares how Nature-based Solutions (NbS) can help communities address environmental challenges while strengthening resilience to disasters.

In many parts of Indonesia, climate change and environmental degradation are increasing the risks of floods, droughts and limited access to clean water. Through Nature-based Solutions, communities are finding practical ways to work with nature to address these challenges.

As Ananta explains, community engagement is at the heart of these efforts. By involving local people in decision-making and building on their knowledge and capacities, communities can develop sustainable solutions that benefit both people and the environment.

Communities are managing organic waste through biopores that improve soil health and increase water absorption. They are also harvesting rainwater to help replenish groundwater reserves.

These simple yet effective nature-based solutions help reduce environmental risks while improving daily life. They can also provide valuable support in humanitarian settings and emergency response.

This World Environment Day, Ary Ananta’s story reminds us that Nature-based Solutions are not only about protecting ecosystems – they are about strengthening communities, reducing disaster risks and creating a more resilient future for all.

To learn more about how nature-based solutions can be applied in humanitarian and disaster risk reduction contexts, explore Sphere’s Nature-based Solutions e-learning course on Kaya (link in the comments).

Also, watch our webinar, Scaling Up Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in Humanitarian Contexts, on our YouTube channel. (link in the comments)

05/06/2026

Sphere’s Annual Report 2025 is here.

In a year of geopolitical turmoil, Sphere demonstrated resilience and relevance.

Supported by its strong global network of standards users, partners and advocates, 2025 was a year of shared commitment to upholding the dignity of people affected by the crisis.

Inside the report, you will find:
- Progress in promoting quality and accountability across the globe
- New tools, resources and learning initiatives
- Key achievements from across the Sphere network

Swipe through the highlights and download the full report via the link in comments.

fans

03/06/2026

At the global launch of the Sphere Handbook Revision at Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks - HNPW 2026, Kareem Elbayar reflected on the growing role of businesses and the private sector in humanitarian response.

He spoke about how companies, from local enterprises to multinational corporations, are increasingly engaging in disaster response and recovery as active partners embedded within the communities they serve.

He highlighted the importance of equipping businesses with the knowledge and tools needed to engage effectively, helping to strengthen humanitarian action and support affected communities when it matters most.

As private sector engagement in humanitarian action continues to grow, Sphere Standards can help strengthen accountability, improve the quality of response and foster more effective collaboration between humanitarian actors and businesses.

Watch the full recording of the session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2kTxSSN0Oc

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)

Adresse

Route De Ferney 150
Geneva
1211

Webseite

http://www.spherestandards.org/

Benachrichtigungen

Lassen Sie sich von uns eine E-Mail senden und seien Sie der erste der Neuigkeiten und Aktionen von Sphere erfährt. Ihre E-Mail-Adresse wird nicht für andere Zwecke verwendet und Sie können sich jederzeit abmelden.