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Achieve standards for humanitarian action

The minimum standards for humanitarian response reflect fundamental human rights and are universally applicable. To implement these standards effectively, it is essential to understand, monitor and analyse the specific context in which a response is occurring.

The Sphere Handbook builds from the philosophy that all people affected by disaster or conflict have a right to life with dignity and therefore deserve assistance. Its aim is to enhance the quality and accountability of humanitarian responses.43

The Sphere Standards are complemented by additional specific standards relevant to nutrition.

Why are standards important for the prevention of undernutrition in humanitarian contexts?

A multisectoral response will typically involve many organisations and individuals, making it essential to have shared approaches and practices to ensure an effective response. The Sphere Standards provide clear guidelines to ensure quality and effective assistance across WASH, food security and nutrition, shelter and settlement and health. All of these sectors have a role to play in the prevention of undernutrition. Moreover, adherence to the principles of human rights and impartiality in delivery of humanitarian aid are a cornerstone of all responses.

Key Conditions and considerations

The Sphere Handbook operationalises these principles through several key elements:

  • The Humanitarian Charter: Establishes the moral and legal foundations for humanitarian action.
  • Minimum Standards: Provides clear guidelines to ensure quality and effective assistance across WASH, food security & nutrition, shelter & settlement and health. All of these sectors have a role to play in the prevention of undernutrition.
  • Protection Principles: Safeguard individuals' rights and dignity in humanitarian response.
  • Core Humanitarian Standard: Outlines commitments to ensure accountability in humanitarian activities.

Tools and Guidance

Partner organisations have developed complementary standards in several sectors, based on the same philosophy and commitments as Sphere’s. These are available through Sphere, the Humanitarian Standards Partnership and their partner organisations’ own websites: Resources | Sphere

  • Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards (LEGS): LEGS Project.
  • Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (CPMS): Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action.
  • Minimum Standards for Education: Preparedness, Response, Recovery: Inter–Agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE).
  • Minimum Economic Recovery Standards (MERS): Small Enterprise Education and Promotion (SEEP) Network.
  • Minimum Standard for Market Analysis (MISMA): Cash Learning Partnership (CaLP)
  • Humanitarian Inclusion Standards for Older People and People with Disabilities: Age and Disability Consortium.

References

43 Sphere. (2018). Sphere Handbook: Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response.