FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Contents

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A. About Sphere

•  What is Sphere?
•  Where did Sphere originate?
•  What does 'Sphere' stand for?
•  Is the UN involved with the Sphere Project?
•  How does Sphere relate to other Quality & Accountability initiatives?
•  How many signatories are there to Sphere and the Humanitarian Charter?
•  Governance and Finance: What is the Role of the Sphere Board?
•  What is the Role of the Sphere Office in Geneva?

B. The Sphere Handbook

•  How was the Handbook written?
•  What is meant by Sphere's reference to dignity?
•  Are the standards universal?
•  What is the difference between standards and indicators?
•  Why focus on standards when grave issues, such as lack of access to affected populations or gross violations of protection persist?...
•  What if the Sphere standards are higher than those of the local population?...
•  We are just a small organisation, what if we can only reach 50% of the standards?...
•  Is Sphere useful if my organisation has limited funds?
•  Our organisation relies on government funding - will Sphere provide donors with a means of control?...
•  What will be addressed in the 2010 edition of the Sphere Handbook?
•  In what languages is the Sphere Handbook available?
•  How do I order a copy of the Handbook?
•  How much does the Handbook cost and can I get a discount?
•  Where does the money from the Sphere Handbook sales go to?

•  What other Sphere materials are available?
•  Can I translate, reproduce or adapt Sphere materials?
•  What Sphere Training is available?
•  How can I find out when the next Sphere training/ TOT is taking place?
•  How can I subscribe to the Sphere Newsletter?

•  How can I work for Sphere?
•  How can I keep abreast of Sphere news?

Many UN technical staff participated in the development of the Minimum Standards, and many of the references for each chapter are from UN Agencies such as WHO, WFP, UNICEF, UNHCR and OCHA. Additionally, the UN’s Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) has endorsed the Handbook and called upon all its members (the operational UN agencies) to use the Handbook (IASC WG XLII Meeting, New York, 14-15 September 2000, Summary Record, point 10). Sphere standards and indicators are also used in the Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP) and in the new needs assessment framework.
Because of the support it found within the UN, Sphere has become a welcome partner in the Humanitarian Reform Process, initiated in 2005 to improver inter-agency collaboration and predicability. Sphere contributed to introducing NGOs into the originally UN-centered process.
All relevant Humanitarian Clusters contributed actively to the 2009 Sphere Handbook Revision Process.


How does Sphere relate to other Quality & Accountability initiatives?
During the past decade the humanitarian community has initiated a number of inter-agency initiatives to improve accountability, quality and performance in humanitarian action. Eight of the most widely known initiatives are the Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance in humanitarian action (ALNAP); Coordination SUD; the Emergency Capacity Building Project (ECB); the Inter-Agency Network on Emergency Education (INEE); Groupe Urgence, Réhabilitation et Développement (Groupe URD); the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership International (HAP International); People In Aid; and the Sphere Project.

Those eight initiatives have agreed a shared vision regarding the ethical responsibility of humanitarian agencies to respect the dignity of people affected by disasters and to provide quality assistance. They meet regularly in order to share common issues and harmonise activities where possible. In particular, HAP and Sphere have carried out joint deployments to new emergencies, for example to Myanmar in 2008. Lessons learned from this experience will inform future work together.

For further information please consult our special Q and A page on Quality & Accountability initiatives. Please also consult the document “Taking the Initiative”, published in 2009 and to be found on the Sphere homepage under “recommended documents”.

How many signatories are there to Sphere and the Humanitarian Charter?
There are no signatories to the Sphere Project or to its Humanitarian Charter - unlike, for example, to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief. Adherence to the Charter is voluntary. This was decided largely on the basis that Sphere has no means for following up on implementation. Thus the initiative is effectively "self-regulatory".

For information on who uses Sphere, and how, please read the Handbook’s introductory chapter “What is Sphere?” and consult the “Sphere in practice” section on our website.

Governance and Finance – What is the role of the Sphere Board?
The Sphere Board is the body responsible for overseeing the Project. It was initially set up as a Management Committee, which was transformed into a new governance structure - the Sphere Board. Following the 2004 consultations on the future of Sphere. It was agreed that Board members’ contributions would cover the core costs of a project coordinator and office space.

Donor funding is sought for key activities led by the Sphere office, such as learning and training activities, the management of the interactive website, and the production and promotion of Sphere materials. The four Office staff positions (apart from the Sphere Project Manager) are also funded by external donors.

The members of the Sphere Board work together on an entirely voluntary and informal basis. There is consent that the Board has the potential to provide added value to the humanitarian system in ways that individual agencies or existing networks could not achieve on their own. The Sphere Board comprises a maximum of 19 members representing a wide range of NGOs and NOG families, both national and international, as well as the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

For the list of Board members, please visit the “who is who” page on the Sphere website. For further information on the consultation process and on the revision process for the 2010 Handbook edition, please consult the “About Sphere” page. 

 What is the role of the Sphere Office in Geneva?

Under the direction of the Board, the purpose of the Sphere Office in Geneva is to lead the implementation of the Sphere vision for improved quality and accountability in the delivery of humanitarian assistance. The Sphere Project Manager will seek to transform the strategic direction articulated by the Sphere Board into practice. This role will imply close and constructive interaction with the Board, and managing the Sphere office to support the effective application of Sphere around the world.

The ‘core’ of the Sphere Project Office, comprising the position of the Sphere Project Manager and a small office at the International Federation, is funded by contributions from Board members. Support for other activities and the staff required to implement them are funded by donors.

Core outputs of the Sphere office
• Active links with regional and national networks implementing Sphere, to support their work and contribute to a more comprehensive overview of the use of Sphere globally, and whether it is meeting its objectives;
• Representation of Sphere to key stakeholders including NGOs, UN agencies, donors, academic institutions and other quality and accountability initiatives;
• Active promotion of the effective use of Sphere and its contribution to improved quality and accountability, including maintenance of the existing Sphere Project website.

Outputs of additional activities (depending on funding):
• Based on existing resources, development of an active resource of information about Sphere, presented in a database accessible through the website, and development of the website to include an interactive function;
• High quality Sphere materials produced, translated, promoted, and revised as necessary;
• Support to Sphere training activities.

B. THE SPHERE HANDBOOK

How was the Handbook written?
It was a significant collaborative process - never before has there been such extensive and broad-based consultation in the formation of one disaster response text. The people who participate in writing and revising the Handbook come from national and international NGOs, UN agencies, and academic institutions. The 2000 edition of the Handbook contains a list of all contributors. Acknowledgements for the 2004 edition are available on the online version of the Handbook only.

What is meant by Sphere’s reference to dignity?
The principle of the right to life with dignity in the Humanitarian Charter is drawn from the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Every person has a different perception of what dignity means. Life with dignity implies a certain level beyond provision of life-saving assistance, and is a powerful and important principle for the humanitarian system. Consequently, participation is essential for people to define a programme that helps them achieve their right to life with dignity. The importance of participation of the women and men from the disaster-affected population is reflected throughout the 2004 edition of the Handbook.

Are the standards universal?
Yes - the Minimum Standards are an attempt to describe the level of disaster assistance to which all people have a right - regardless of political, ethnic or geographical specificity. The standards define the requirements for life with dignity in relatively general terms, while the indicators attach either qualitative or quantitative values to associated standards. Together the standards and indicators usefully inform any aspect of humanitarian action, from assessment to evaluation.

What is the difference between standards and indicators?
The standards are based on the principle that populations affected by disaster have the right to life with dignity. They are qualitative in nature, and are meant to be universal and applicable in any operating environment. The key indicators, as measures to the standards, can be qualitative or quantitative in nature. They function as tools to measure the impact of processes used and programmes implemented. Without them, the standards would be little more than statements of good intent, difficult to put into practice.

Why focus on standards when grave issues, such as lack of access to affected populations or gross violations of protection persist?
The Sphere Project was initiated for the specific purpose of improving the quality and accountability of humanitarian response. Its scope and limitations must be acknowledged and clearly understood. However, standards are a key component of an accountability framework. Although Sphere was never intended to address problems of access, for example due to political or conflict-related restrictions, it does provide a tool to raise the awareness that all populations are entitled to the same services, whether they are affected by conflict or natural calamity.

What if the Sphere standards are higher than those of the local population?
In countries where the vulnerability to disasters is high and/or where there is widespread poverty, humanitarian aid providers may find that local populations live below the Minimum Standards everyday. However, the disaster-affected population may initially need more resources to survive as their coping strategies have been severely diminished and their health may be weakened through trauma and a lack of sufficient food or clean water.
As the guidance notes in the 2004 edition highlight, programmes must be designed with local conditions in mind. Additionally, the Sphere Minimum Standards can usefully demonstrate the minimum level that should be available for all people all of the time. The chapter “What is Sphere?” states that “it is recognised that in many cases not all of the indicators and standards will be met – however, users of this book should strive to meet them as well as they can. In the initial phase of a response, for examople, prioviding basic facilities for all the affected population may be more important than reaching the Minimum Standards and indicators for only a proportion of the population.” (English Handbook p. 14).

This Handbook does not give solutions to each problem. Rather, it provides a starting point, with consensus-based standards and indicators derived from years of experience and good practice. It will never replace aid workers’ common sense!

We are just a small organization, what if we can reach the Standards only partially?
Standards require a mix of indicators (quantitative and qualitative) in order to be accurately measured. Some indicators may not be attainable in a given context. This does not necessarily mean that the organization is inefficient or irresponsible; however, the organization should be able to explain the gap between the indicators listed in the Handbook and the ones reached in actual practice. One aspect of accountability entails explaining this gap; working towards reaching the minimum standards implies working towards better quality in the programmes a humanitarian actor is conducting.

Furthermore, the Handbook covers a very wider range of Minimum Standards. No one organisation is meant to fulfill them all. Rather, each organisation should focus on the Standards that relate to their expertise and, according to Common Standard 3 (“Response”), coordinate its response with other agencies.

Is Sphere useful if my organization has limited funds?
Yes - Sphere is useful in two ways for organizations with a limited budget. First, many aspects of the Standards define good practices without requiring additional expense. For example, many of the process standards covering assessments, analysis and participation do not require much additional expenditure, rather a better understanding of good quality humanitarian work. Second, the Humanitarian Charter, together with the Standards, can be used to lobby for funding. They help quantify what is needed to work towards life with dignity, making them a powerful advocacy tool.

Our organization relies on government funding – will Sphere provide donors with a means of control?
In a context where all NGOs depend on donor funding and where donors increasingly base funding on evaluations of agencies’ performance, funding is fraught with political hazards. But the Sphere standards pose no greater opportunity for misuse by donors than any other funding criteria. Ideally the establishment of Sphere standards as a coherent and objective set of funding criteria would help displace idiosyncratic and/or politically motivated decisions. Additionally, agencies can use the Minimum Standards to advocate for increased funding.

As was the case with the 2004 Handbook, the revision process for the 2010 edition will bring to the forth developments in humanitarian practice since the previous revision. Input and feedback from practitioners in the field, national and international NGOs, the Red Cross & Red Crescent Movement, UN agencies, donor and government ministries and academic institutions will be gathered by numerous focal points. All four technical chapters will be updated (currently, those chapters are Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion, Food Security, Nutrition and Food Aid, Shelter, Settlement and Non-food Items, Health Services). Cross-cutting themes will again include protection, gender, children, older people, disabled people, HIV/AIDS and the environment. Additionally, climate change and disaster risk reduction will be considered. Other tools, such as for example the INEE Minimum Standards for Emergency Education in Emergencies, Chronic Crises and Early Reconstruction, will be referenced throughout the Handbook.

As with the previous ones, the current Handbook revision represents an extensive collaborative effort that reflects the collective will and shared experience of the humanitarian community, and its determination to improve on current knowledge in humanitarian assistance programmes.

In which languages is the Sphere Handbook available?

Although the Sphere Handbook was compiled and written in English, contributions were provided from all over the world. In order to acknowledge this and to enable the use of Sphere globally, the Sphere Handbook has been translated into a number of different languages.

The Sphere Project Office has directly coordinated the translation and production of the 2004 Handbook in French, Spanish, Arabic and Russian. The 2000 Edition was translated by the Sphere Project Office into Arabic, French, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Swahili.
However, most of the translated versions of the Handbook have been produced spontaneously in response to local demands. The 2000 edition was translated into over 20 languages, including Chinese, Indonesian, Turkish and Urdu. The 2004 edition currently exists in Arabic, Assamese, Azeri, Bahasa, Bengali, Chinese, Croatian, Darsi, Farsi, French, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Pashtu, Russian, Sinhala, Somali, Spanish, Tamil, Telegu, Urdu and Vietnamese.

For further information on the languages in which the Sphere Handbook is available please consult our website.

If you are interested in translating the Sphere Handbook into your national or local language, please contact the Office at: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .; also, please consult the translation guidelines.

How do I order a copy of the Handbook?
Please note that the Sphere Project Office does NOT distribute the Sphere Handbook. To order copies of the Handbook in English, Spanish or French, please contact a distributor near you.

There are also Oxfam’s local distributors in different parts of the world. For a comprehensive list, please check the “how to order” page on our website.

The Handbook is also available in its entirety on our website.

Regular Orders
From Practical Action
The Sphere Handbook costs £11.95. Postage/package must be added according to weight and speed of delivery. Please allow ONE MONTH for delivery if you want to avoid expensive delivery costs!

From Stylus Publishing LLC
The Sphere Handbook costs $19.00. Postage/package must be added as follows:  $5.00 for the first book, $1.00 for each additional book.

From Intermón Oxfam
The Sphere Handbook costs €15.00. Postage/package must be added as follows:
Spain - €3 for 1-4 copies, €5 for 5-10 copies, €7 for 11-20 copies
Europe – €7.5 per every 2 copies.
Latin America - €11 per every 2 copies

From Books for Change
Indian Rupees 210 for individual sales (Postage/package must be added)

From Dar Al-Shorok
USD $17.00 (Postage/package must be added)

Discounts and complimentary copies
Oxfam Press and Stylus discounts are available on orders of 20 or more items (Handbook or other, independently from language) for humanitarian, non-profit organisations only. The discount price per Handbook is £5/+ postage/package.

With Books for Change, a 50% bulk discount for orders over 50 and a 30% discount for 25 to 50 copies is applied for humanitarian, non-profit organisations.
Alternatively please check whether local reproductions of the Handbook are available in your region, as these are usually cheaper.

The Sphere Project Office holds a small stock of Handbooks reserved for the occasional distribution of complimentary copies to local humanitarian NGOs with very limited financial resources. If you think your organisation falls into this category and would like to obtain a copy of the Handbook, please write to: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Where does the money from the Sphere Handbook sales go to?
No profit is made from selling the Sphere Handbook. The money raised by the sales is used to pay our distributors and to cover reprint costs of all language versions produced by the Sphere Office.

C. Sphere Products and Services

What other Sphere materials are available?
The Sphere Office has produced a range of different materials other than the Sphere Handbook that can be used alongside it for further dissemination and training:
- Sphere Training Pack
- Sphere Orientation Film (DVD-45min)
- Sphere Introductory Video (9min)
- Sphere quarterly Newsletter
- Sphere Brochure

On our website, you will find a complete list of available materials, including prices and ordering details.

The Sphere Office is not the only producer of Sphere materials; Sphere users around the world produce their own, locally adapted, tools and materials. For more information on these, please consult our Sphere in Practice page.

Can I translate, reproduce or adapt Sphere materials?
Sphere encourages the translation, reproduction and adaptation of the Handbook and other Sphere materials where necessary, as this is seen as an important way of disseminating Sphere and of ensuring ownership at the local level.
Nonetheless, a number of procedures need to be respected, particularly acknowledgement of the authorship of the Sphere Project. If you are interested in translating the Sphere Handbook into your national/local language, please contact the Office at: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .
Also, please consult the translation guidelines.

What Sphere Training is available?
Sphere training originally took the form of 3-4 day inter-agency workshops. In 2002 a shift was made by the Project to focusing on 8-day Training of Trainers courses (ToTs), with a view to developing a pool of trainers who would use their acquired skills to organise Sphere workshops. For a list of people who have participated in a Sphere ToT, consult the “who is who” section on our website.

Sphere training used to be organised exclusively by the Sphere Project Office. However, with Sphere now widely disseminated, training on Sphere is now led by a wide variety of organisations throughout the world. To find out more about training activities run by others, please visit the “training news” page on the training section of the Sphere website.

An on-line database of active Sphere trainers will soon provide a user-friendly tool to find people around the world with experience delivering Sphere training, workshops and learning activities. It will also allow trainers to create and update their own training profile.

How can I find out about the next Sphere Training / ToT?
All Sphere trainings are announced in advance on the website. A notice is also circulated through our list-serve.
In the events calendar on the website you will also find information on Sphere training and learning opportunities run by others worldwide.

If you would like to receive an electronic version of the Sphere newsletter, please send an email to: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it with the subject line saying: “subscribe sphere-newsletter-english”. If you would like to receive it in French, please type in the subject line: “subscribe sphere-newsletter-french”, or in Spanish: “subscribe sphere-newsletter-spanish”.


D. THE SPHERE PROJECT AND I

How can I work for Sphere?

The Sphere Project Office consists of a small team based in Geneva, Switzerland, and therefore does not have the means to provide internships. Vacancies are rare and are advertised when they occur on the website.  Occasionally, the Sphere Office locally recruits interns to carry out specific tasks to support the office. Other specific tasks such as translation, research and training are carried out by external consultants.

However, the Sphere Office is not the only way to work with Sphere. A great variety of institutions work with Sphere throughout the world, from local NGOs to international organizations. Further information on Sphere focal points in a number of countries can be found under our Sphere in Practice page

How can I keep abreast of Sphere news?  
A Sphere Newsletter is prepared four times a year; it is posted on our website.
See above on how to subscribe to our Newsletter & listserve. Sphere-related news are also circulated through the list serve. For any further information on Sphere, you can write to: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .


E. Contact Details

Postal Address Sphere Project P.O. Box 372 CH - 1211 Geneva 19 Switzerland                     Tel:  +41 22 730 4501 Fax: +41 22 730 4905 This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it	Visiting Address Sphere Project 17, chemin des Crêts CH-1209 Geneva www.sphereproject.org