2004 Sphere Handbook - Launch in Tajikistan

		Finally after weeks of preparations, the revised edition of the Russian Sphere Handbook was launched in Tajikistan on the 8th of July 2005, in the city capital of Dushanbe under the initiative of Oxfam GB and supported by members of REACT. It is important to note that this was the first launch of the Russian version among other Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The event in itself was very important, as the frequency and intensity of natural disasters keep increasing in this part of the world. About 50 people from both national and international NGOs, government officials, including the Ministry of Emergency Situations and Media , participated in the launch.
Hand book released Ministry of Emergency First Deputy Minister, Mr. Abdurahim Rajabov and Mr. Savio Carvalho, Country Programme Manager, Oxfam GB, Tajikistan
Objectives of the Sphere Launch: 1. Awareness raising of different stakeholders (Government, Civil Society and International Community accredited in Tajikistan) on Minimum Standards and Humanitarian Charter for Emergency Response by presenting updated version of the handbook 2. Influence Government of the Republic of Tajikistan to incorporate “Sphere” standards into national policy for emergency responses 3. Involve Mass Media for wider dissemination of SPHERE.
Savio Carvalho, Country Programme Manager, Oxfam GB in Tajikistan chaired the event. He opened the ceremony and thanked all agencies for their interest in the Sphere project and underlined its importance in international and local context. The speakers during the Sphere Launch included the First Deputy Minister for Emergency Situations Mr. Abdurahim Rajabov and Bela Tsugaeva, World Vision International, who was also the trainer for the Sphere training. Mr. Abdurahim Rajabov, Deputy Minister of Emergencies, underlined the importance and potentials of the Sphere Project in Tajikistan. Ms. Bela Tsugaeva–briefed the attendees about the Sphere Project and described the structure of the Handbook, its application and value worldwide. Later, the participant from of the Sphere Workshop previously conducted in Gissar valley, Tajikistan on the 5-6 July 2005 received their certificate of participation from the hand of Abdurahim Rajabov. The programme ended with a vote of thanks by Ms. Tahmina Niyazova, Oxfam GB.			MoES First Deputy Minister's speaks on the "Importance of Sphere in Tajikistan" Looking on (left to right): Ms. Bela Tsugaeva, World Vision, Mr. Savio Carvalho, Tajikistan Oxfam GB, CPM, MoES First Deputy Minister, Mr. Rajabov Abdurahim, Mr. Ruslan Zighanshin, Oxfam, Ms. Tahmina Niyazova, Oxfam
QUESTIONS FOR THE MEDIA How the results of the application of the Sphere handbook are evaluated. Are there any pilot agencies in Tajikistan who have already started to apply the Sphere minimum Standards and key indicators in their work. What is more important in Humanitarian response speed or accuracy? How the Sphere can be applied in Tajikistan? Will the government of Tajikistan will be interested in applying the Sphere Minimum standards? All questions were addressed in by Savio Carvalho and Bela. At the end of the press conference Mr. Savio Carvalho thanked all media and agencies for their attendance and for the questions asked. He also expressed his hope that media will support the dissemination of the Sphere Project including the handbook in Tajikistan. Have a look at the press release