Sphere India to host Sphere Board meeting

Sphere India member organisations like CASA are responding to the current floods in the Jammu and Kashmir districts. Photo: Distribution of rice. © CASA/Sphere India

Initiated to pilot the Sphere principles and standards in India in 2003, Sphere India has gradually evolved into a humanitarian network providing a common platform for all stakeholders working to improve quality and accountability in humanitarian response in India. Sphere India has been on the Board of the Sphere Project since 2009.

The meeting of the Sphere Board in New Delhi “provides an excellent opportunity for a wider consultation with stakeholders in the region to strengthen humanitarian networks and align with the new Sphere Project strategy,” says Sphere India CEO and Sphere Board member Vikrant Mahajan.

With this purpose in mind, Sphere India will hold a day-long event ahead of the Sphere Board meeting on 11 November. Some 100 participants are expected to share experiences and discuss best practice in developing “Humanitarian Networks for Quality and Accountability”.

The event is open to representatives of networks and Sphere focal points from India and other Asian countries, as well as national and international NGOs and other stakeholders such as governmental and UN agencies, corporate foundations and academic institutions.

On 12-13 November, the Sphere Project Board will tackle a busy agenda, including consideration of the upcoming Sphere Project strategy and updates on improved collaboration and synergy among Sphere companion standards. Programme updates and fund-raising plans will be on the table too.

The Board will debate its position regarding the finalized Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), to be . Issues to be discussed include the future of the CHS and Sphere’s involvement, ownership and participation in its promotion, utilization and revision.