Sphere Project Newsletter No. 10 (May 2002)
Version française
Versión en español

Table of contents

1. Overview

Now in its fifth year, the Sphere Project continues to generate a process of dialogue around the issue of the quality and accountability of disaster response. June 2002 represents a significant milestone in this on-going process. Recently, a four-day "lessons learned" meeting occurred in which representatives from the Sphere Management Committee, the pilot agencies, independent trainers and project staff shared experiences and perspectives related to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards.

The openness and the vigor of discussion reflected the Sphere process is valuable. Additionally, the high volume of handbook sales, website visits, and spontaneous translations of the handbook into new languages indicates the broad-based movement of the project. The Sphere staff believe that all the above offers a learning opportunity for the humanitarian community, and that the great diversity of emerging practical experience will contribute to improving the next edition of the handbook. This is indeed worth celebrating.

2. Handbook revision process
Based on the practical experiences of individuals who use the Sphere handbook in their humanitarian work, the handbook will be revised over a 12-month period starting in June 2002. An editor has been hired, and one person will serve as a focal point for dialogue and revision for each technical sector. The focal points have been seconded by various NGO agencies. The best way to contribute to the handbook revision is to download a "handbook feedback form" from the Sphere Project website and send the completed version to the appropriate focal point person by September 30, 2002. The focal points are:

Water and Sanitation: Andy Bastable, Oxfam - abastable@oxfam.org.uk
Nutrition: Anna Taylor, Save the Children UK - a.taylor@scfuk.org.uk
Food Aid: John Solomon, CARE USA - Jsolomon@care.org
Shelter & Site: Graham Saunders, Catholic Relief Services - graham.saunders@crsbh.ba
Health: Rick Brennan, International Rescue Committee - rbrennan@theirc.org
Food Security: Helen Young, Tufts University - Hellen.young@tufts.edu

3. Lessons Learned from Piloting & Institutionalisation

The twenty agencies piloting the implementation of Sphere into their organisations met over four days in May. During this meeting, practical experiences were shared, findings were debated, and trends were proposed.

Emerging from the meeting were debates around the gap between policy and practice, future directions, and the current nature of "piloting" including its timeframe and objectives. Many pilot agencies felt that the current phase has successfully created a drive towards individual agency institutionalisation of Sphere but that there is a long way to go in field level application. There was strong consensus amongst pilot agencies and
the Management Committee that a new strategic plan should be created to map out future directions of institutionalisation. The Management Committee aims to draw up the plan in June 2002. In the context of this new plan, we expect there to be significant changes in the pilot programme and that piloting will achieve
closure in its present form.

The closure of this phase is is a major accomplishment worth celebrating and a lessons learned paper (available on the web from September) will capture experiences and views to date and serve as a valuable resource for many agencies.

4. Training News

After a three-year process of field based interagency workshops, training of trainers workshops, experimentation and numerous revisions, the Sphere Project training modules were also completed in May. Complementing the cross-agency learning approach of the piloting programme, the training modules focus on learning by individuals. Module 1, An Introduction to Sphere, introduces the Sphere process to a generalist audience and helps participants navigate through the Sphere handbook. Module 2, The Humanitarian Charter, explores the implications of shared principles and values to organisations and to individual decision-making. Module 3, Sphere and the Project Cycle, explores how the Sphere handbook can be used throughout the disaster response project cycle. Module 4, Sphere and Disaster Preparedness, explores how the handbook might be applied beyond the disaster response project cycle. Accompanying the modules is a 50-page Learning Guide that explains how to use the training modules in ways that are appropriate for any given context. The Learning Guide is designed for experienced trainers, as well as for non-trainers who may want to facilitate learning on Sphere within their agencies. These training modules as well as the Learning Guide will be available shortly on the Project website, in English, French and Spanish and for sale in hard copy by mid-2003. A test version of a CD ROM has been produced containing the training modules, case studies, photographs and the Project introductory video and is being tested by pilot agencies.

5. Evaluation Update

Finally, the 12-month evaluation of the Sphere Project commences in June. An independent Advisory Group consisting of the following individuals has been developed:

Niels Dabelstein, Chair - Danish Government Aid Agency
Mary B. Anderson - Collective for Development Action (Do No Harm)
Zia Choudhury - Oxfam (Thailand)
Arafat Jamal, UNHCR
Hugo Slim - Oxford Brookes University

The next newsletter will be produced and sent in August 2002.

The Sphere Project
P.O. Box 372
1211 Geneva 19
Switzerland

E-mail: sphere@ifrc.org
Tel: (4122) 730 4501
Fax: (4122) 730 4905
www.sphereproject.org