Sphere Working Group in India
Sphere India is a coalition, a collaborative partnership,
between government and non-governmental agencies involved in humanitarian
initiatives in India. Launched in 2002, Sphere India aims at contributing
towards the quality of humanitarian response by ensuring improved coordination
among various stakeholders in humanitarian work, while promoting the
spirit and commitment embodied in the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum
Standards in Humanitarian Response.
GOAL:
To facilitate institutionalization of Sphere Quality
& Accountability principles in India
OBJECTIVES:
- Advocate Sphere principles and guidelines
Facilitate institutionalization of Sphere within the country among humanitarian
actors
Build capacities of stakeholders for effective humanitarian response
-Improve quality and accountability of humanitarian programming
-Document the Sphere institutionalization process
ACHIEVEMENTS:
- Strong collaboration of humanitarian agencies based
on partnership in a coalition mode
- Collaborative grassroots initiatives in disaster-prone areas set up
- Joint response actions promoted and facilitated during disasters
- Critical joint assessment indicators shared with partner agencies
- Comprehensive and resource-rich web site on Sphere India established
- Sphere Handbook published/disseminated in vernacular languages (Hindi,
Gujarati, Oriya)
- Sphere India process of institutionalisation recognised as a best
practice by regional and global institutions such as ALERTNET.
Sphere India Members:
• ADRA
• ACT/DCA/LWS
• CARE India
• CARITAS India
• CISF
• CRS |
• DMI
• EFICOR
•
IRCS/IFRC
• NIDM, Government of India
• OXFAM
GB
|
• SCF UK
• UNICEF
• UNDP
• VANI
•VASUDEVA
• WHO |
KEY MESSAGES
• Mutual respect, goodwill and credibility
• Purposive interaction
• Effective coordination
• Decision making through consensus
• Proactive sub-committees with empowered delegation
• Promotion of complementarity
• Acknowledgement of core competencies, roles, mandates and niche
areas of member agencies
Sphere dissemination
• Distribution of 500 handbooks and 300 CDs,
Sphere Handbook in vernacular languages (1500 nos in Hindi, 1500 nos
in Oriya and 500 nos in Gujarati)
• Publication of pocket books, checklists and formats for joint
assessment
Capacity Building
National ToT in Bangalore in May 2004
• 23 participants including government and grassroots NGO trainees
from disaster-prone states attended.
• Selection of participants guided by gender concerns and cross-sectoral
and geographic representation.
• Co-trainers were identified from among the trainees to support
the Regional ToT.
Regional ToT in New Delhi in October-November 2004
• 24 participants from the South Asia region and beyond attended.
• Participants from Iran, Iraq and Syria recommended by Sphere
Project Secretariat included as trainees.
• Trainees from Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh acknowledged Sphere
India process to be replicated back home.
Rapid Environmental Assessment Workshop in Nov 2003
with CARE
Emergency Needs Assessment Workshop in Feb 2004 with RedR India
Institutionalization Process
• Shift from a loose coalition to a formal
and established structure
• Inter-agency facilitation and coordination by Management Committee
of 17 member agencies
• Monthly meeting of Managing Committee and specialised sub-committees
• Joint interagency needs assessment during Assam Floods 2003
• Joint Response during Orissa Floods 2003
• Promoted Joint Action during floods of 2004
• Collaboration with other networks: Duryog Nivaran, AlertNET,
INEE, INPSYCHE, etc.
• Information dissemination and sharing on DM issues
• Facilitated local, national and regional consultations on Sphere
• Sphere India Managing Committee members invited to disseminate
Sphere among professional groups like Pediatricians, senior administrators,
etc.
Original working plan (2003-2004)
For more information have a look at Sphere
India
Contact : Mr.Mayank Agarwal mayank@sphereindia.org
Sphere Elsewhere:
(archives):
Material Available
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