Effective Assistance - The Sphere Project

In 1996 an international consortium of non-government organisations based in Geneva created the Sphere Project. Its achievement was a set of guidelines for effective humanitarian response. Built around core humanitarian principles, Sphere sets down the 'minimum standards' communities affected by conflict and natural disasters need to survive.

Both private citizens and the Australian Government rightly expect that when they provide funds for humanitarian causes their contributions will be used quickly, effectively and responsibly. The Sphere Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response builds confidence in the international humanitarian system. This set of guidelines developed by over 400 organisations in 80 countries is the leading reference for many humanitarian aid agencies across the world.

'Sphere sets minimum standards for the basic needs for human survival,' says Steve Darvill, AusAID'S Peace, Conflict and Development adviser. 'In an emergency, where you might find many international and domestic humanitarian groups, it can be chaotic. But the Sphere Minimum Standards provide important benchmarks. Application of the standards allows a clearer understanding of what needs to be done, the order in which it should be done, how to do it and so on. By following the guidelines urgent assistance can be given effectively.'

Fundamental to Sphere is the 'do no harm' principle. 'It's a harsh fact,' says Steve Darvill, 'that well intentioned aid, not properly managed, can be quite detrimental. But by applying the do no harm methodologies aid workers can analyse the impact of humanitarian interventions on disaster-affected areas. They can predict where, for example, a certain type of assistance might become the source of competition, pose security threats to recipients, or may be subject to manipulation. Armed with such knowledge, aid workers can better identify the most appropriate type of aid to suit particular circumstances.'

In this way, potentially harmful impacts of aid are minimised and positive impacts maximised.

Another guiding Sphere principle is listening to the views of crisis-affected communities and allowing them to participate in decisions determining their futures. Contrary to common perceptions, crisis-affected communities do not view themselves as passive recipients of assistance. They have their own skills and ways of doing things that are integral to rebuilding their lives.

'The involvement of local people in relief and recovery processes should always be sought and it's critical because they have the local knowledge that will ensure that we do no harm,' explains Steve Darvill. 'For example, if building a temporary settlement in a country riddled by conflict you need to consider local customs and practices. You need to ensure that familiar food commodities are distributed. You have to make sure women and girls feel safe when they visit facilities like latrines. Local laws and customs must be understood so that the right to use water and other natural resources, such as wood, are negotiated and understood by nearby communities. If these issues are not properly considered by humanitarian workers and aid agencies the temporary settlement is not going to work. In fact, it could create further conflict between the camp inhabitants and those outside.

'It's important to remember that members of disaster-affected communities are survivors - not victims - and they deserve a dignified future. Always the overriding concern for humanitarian workers should be to reduce long-term vulnerabilities and build capacities so that survivors are able to re-gain control over their lives in the shortest possible time.'

AusAID is one of the original supporters of Sphere and funds the training of people in Asia and the Pacific on how to implement Sphere guidelines.

The Sphere Project www.sphereproject.org

Above: Bejinji camp on the Chad-Sudan border is filled with Sudanese refugees. Photo O. Saltbones/ICRC

Note: This and other stories about Australia's aid program can be found in AusAID's Focus Magazine.

May 2007