The Sphere Handbook presents a principled approach to quality and accountability in humanitarian response. It is a practical translation of Sphere’s core belief that all people affected by disaster or conflict have a right to life with dignity and the right to receive humanitarian assistance.

The Humanitarian Charter is the cornerstone of the Handbook, with the Protection Principles and Core Humanitarian Standard providing a foundation which informs all sectors of assistance. Technical standards outline priorities to ensure response in four key life-saving sectors: water, sanitation and hygiene promotion; food security and nutrition; shelter and settlement; and health.

The measurable minimum standards describe what needs to be achieved in a humanitarian response in order for people to survive and re-establish their lives and livelihoods in ways that respect their voice and promote their dignity. Key actions, indicators and guidance notes provide ways to apply these standards in diverse context. The chapters are all linked and reinforce each other.

The strength of the Sphere Handbook lies in its universality and adaptability to all humanitarian settings. It enjoys broad ownership in the humanitarian sector and therefore provides a common language for working with all stakeholders towards quality and accountability in humanitarian contexts.

Did you know? You can request free copies of the Minimum Standards for Education, and the Humanitarian Inclusion Standards for Older People and People with Disabilities (the postage is payable).
Contact INEE for your copy of the Minimum Standards for Education
Contact ADCAP for your copy of the Humanitarian Inclusion Standards for Older People and People with Disabilities

Sphere Association
The Sphere Project was initiated in 1997 by a group of NGOs and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to develop a set of universal minimum standards in core areas of humanitarian response. In 2017, the Sphere Project became independent as and is now the Sphere Association.

Health Care in Contexts of Risk, Uncertainty, and Hybridity

Unpacking the “Oughtness” of Palliative Care in Humanitarian Crises: Moral Logics and What Is at Stake?

Nouvet, Elysée

Hunt, Matthew

Krishnaraj, Gautham

Schuster-Wallace, Corinne

Bernard, Carrie

Elit, Laurie

DeLaat, Sonya

Schwartz, Lisa

2022

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80443-5_12 [Citations: 0]

Understanding “process vs product” in the shelter and settlements sector: a reflection

George, Jennifer Ward

Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal, Vol. 31 (2022), Iss. 1 P.92

https://doi.org/10.1108/DPM-03-2021-0113 [Citations: 0]

Presentation and evaluation of a modern course in disaster medicine and humanitarian assistance for medical students

Hermann, Sabine

Gerstner, Jessica

Weiss, Florian

Aichele, Simon

Stricker, Eric

Gorgati, Eleonora

Rosenberger, Peter

Wunderlich, Robert

BMC Medical Education, Vol. 21 (2021), Iss. 1

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-021-03043-6 [Citations: 1]

Laboratory Demonstration and Preliminary Techno-Economic Analysis of an Onsite Wastewater Treatment System

Trotochaud, Lena

Andrus, Rebecca M.

Tyson, Kayana J.

Miller, Graham H.

Welling, Claire M.

Donaghy, Patrick E.

Incardona, Joseph D.

Evans, William A.

Smith, Paul K.

Oriard, Tim L.

Norris, Ian D.

Stoner, Brian R.

Guest, Jeremy S.

Hawkins, Brian T.

Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 54 (2020), Iss. 24 P.16147

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c02755 [Citations: 5]

Lessons Learned From Helping Babies Survive in Humanitarian Settings

Amsalu, Ribka

Schulte-Hillen, Catrin

Garcia, Daniel Martinez

Lafferty, Nadia

Morris, Catherine N.

Gee, Stephanie

Akseer, Nadia

Scudder, Elaine

Sami, Samira

Barasa, Sammy O.

Had, Hussein

Maalim, Maimun Farah

Moluh, Seidou

Berkelhamer, Sara

Pediatrics, Vol. 146 (2020), Iss. Supplement_2 P.S208

https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2020-016915L [Citations: 2]

Breastfeeding and humanitarian emergencies: the experiences of pregnant and lactating women during the earthquake in Abruzzo, Italy

Giusti, Angela

Marchetti, Francesca

Zambri, Francesca

Pro, Elide

Brillo, Eleonora

Colaceci, Sofia

International Breastfeeding Journal, Vol. 17 (2022), Iss. 1

https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-022-00483-8 [Citations: 0]

Humanitarian Civil Engineering

Civil engineers and humanitarian challengesApplying Civil Engineering in Humanitarian SettingsIS SAFE THE ENEMY OF SAFER? HOUSING AFTER DISASTERS AND THE ROLE OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT PROFESSIONALS?

Bird, Simon

Cortés, Gustavo

Flinn, Bill

Haiselden, Step

2021

https://doi.org/10.1680/hce.64683.025 [Citations: 0]

Time to Recovery and Determinants of Uncomplicated Severe Acute Malnutrition Among 6 to 59 Months Children From the Outpatient Therapeutic Feeding Program in North Shewa Zone of Oromia Region, Ethiopia: A Prospective Follow-up Study

Bekalu, Amare

Sahlu, Degemu

Tadesse, Addisu Waleligne

Asmare, Biachew

Hune, Yidersail

Tilahun, Bayou

Nutrition and Metabolic Insights, Vol. 15 (2022), Iss. P.117863882211069

https://doi.org/10.1177/11786388221106984 [Citations: 0]

A review of the impact of shelter design on the health of displaced populations

Conzatti, Anna

Kershaw, Tristan

Copping, Alexander

Coley, David

Journal of International Humanitarian Action, Vol. 7 (2022), Iss. 1

https://doi.org/10.1186/s41018-022-00123-0 [Citations: 0]

Creating an institutional ecosystem for cash transfer programmes in post-disaster settings: A case from Indonesia

Lassa, Jonatan A.

Nappoe, Gisela E.

Sulistyo, Susilo B.

Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies, Vol. 14 (2022), Iss. 1

https://doi.org/10.4102/jamba.v14i1.1046 [Citations: 1]

4D structures for the short-time building of emergency shelters

Costa, L Alice

Rangel Carvalho, Bárbara

Lino Alves, Jorge

Marques, António T

da Silva, André Filipe BM

Esfandiari, Puria

da Silva, João Francisco MG

Rita Silva, Ana

Parente, Marco

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part L: Journal of Materials: Design and Applications, Vol. 236 (2022), Iss. 9 P.1869

https://doi.org/10.1177/14644207221086496 [Citations: 0]

Predictors of time to recovery and non-response during outpatient treatment of severe acute malnutrition

Kangas, Suvi T.

Salpéteur, Cécile

Nikièma, Victor

Ritz, Christian

Friis, Henrik

Briend, André

Kaestel, Pernille

Wieringa, Frank

PLOS ONE, Vol. 17 (2022), Iss. 5 P.e0267538

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0267538 [Citations: 0]

Humanitarian Civil Engineering

Humanitarian engineering framework and practicesBEING TRANSFORMATIVETHE HUMANITARIAN WORK OF ENGINEERS FOR OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT (EFOD)

Potangaroa, Regan

Flower, Ian

Sudworth, Sally

2021

https://doi.org/10.1680/hce.64683.055 [Citations: 0]

Evaluation of monitoring tools for WASH response in a cholera outbreak in northeast Nigeria

Ricau, Marine

Lacan, Lise

Ihemezue, Emmanuel

Lantagne, Daniele

String, Gabrielle

Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, Vol. 11 (2021), Iss. 6 P.972

https://doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2021.056 [Citations: 1]

CHILD-SAN: a new disability-inclusive framework for emergency sanitation for children aged five to 11, based on a systematic review of existing guidance

Rosato-Scott, Claire

Evans, Barbara E.

Barrington, Dani J.

Journal of International Humanitarian Action, Vol. 6 (2021), Iss. 1

https://doi.org/10.1186/s41018-021-00107-6 [Citations: 0]

Handbook of Security Science

Food Security and Complex Disasters

Hydrick, Ashley

Dunn, Elizabeth

2022

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51761-2_26-1 [Citations: 0]

Reusing Earthquake Rubble in a Temporary Housing Structure for Hot Arid Climates

Soleimani, Kamyar

Matini, Mohammadreza

Journal of Architectural Engineering, Vol. 28 (2022), Iss. 2

https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)AE.1943-5568.0000542 [Citations: 0]

It's Ordered Chaos: What Really Makes Polycentrism Work

Koinova, Maria

Deloffre, Maryam Zarnegar

Gadinger, Frank

Mencutek, Zeynep Sahin

Scholte, Jan Aart

Steffek, Jens

International Studies Review, Vol. 23 (2021), Iss. 4 P.1988

https://doi.org/10.1093/isr/viab030 [Citations: 1]

Effect of under-nutrition during pregnancy on low birth weight in Tigray regional state, Ethiopia; a prospective cohort study

Berhe, Kidanemaryam

Weldegerima, Lemlem

Gebrearegay, Freweini

Kahsay, Amaha

Tesfahunegn, Afewerki

Rejeu, Mehammedseid

Gebremariam, Brhane

BMC Nutrition, Vol. 7 (2021), Iss. 1

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-021-00475-7 [Citations: 0]

Humanitarian Civil Engineering

Making humanitarian engineersDEVELOPING SKILLS FOR A HUMANITARIAN CAREER THROUGH SEMI-FORMAL TRAINING FORMATS, USING CASE STUDIESHUMANITARIAN ENGINEERING IN INDIA: STATUS AND PROGNOSISDESIGN THINKING FOR SOCIAL IMPACT

White, Douglas

Edmond, Hannah

Eller, Carrie

Lui, Ellis

Singh, Seema

O’Toole, Robert

2021

https://doi.org/10.1680/hce.64683.129 [Citations: 0]

Burden and risk factors for relapse following successful treatment of uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition in young children: Secondary analysis from a randomised trial in Niger

Bliznashka, Lilia

Grantz, Kyra H.

Botton, Jérémie

Berthé, Fatou

Garba, Souna

Hanson, Kerstin E.

Grais, Rebecca F.

Isanaka, Sheila

(2022)

https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13400 [Citations: 0]

Pathways and approaches for scaling-up of community-based management of acute malnutrition programs through the lens of complex adaptive systems in South Sudan

Renzaho, Andre M. N.

Dachi, Gilbert

Ategbo, Eric

Chitekwe, Stanley

Doh, Daniel

Archives of Public Health, Vol. 80 (2022), Iss. 1

https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-022-00934-y [Citations: 0]

Humanitarian Civil Engineering

Learning from humanitarian engineering projectsDELIVERING A NEW MATERNITY UNIT IN KACHUMBALA, UGANDAENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT MITIGATION: ADAPTING SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT SOLUTIONS IN BURUNDICHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES OF LOCAL PROJECTS: COMPARING THE TRADITIONAL DEVELOPMENT APPROACH WITH COMMUNITY-BASED DEVELOPMENT IN TANZANIAUNPACKING DENSITY IN SITES – OBSERVATIONS FROM THE SITE-PLANNING GBV PROJECT IN MAIDUGURI, NIGERIA

Flower, Ian

Flower, Dan

Vitale, Antonella

Kelly, Lewis

Paul, Daniel

Ashmore, Joseph

Kennedy, Jim

Piccioli, Alberto

Saoudi, Amina

2021

https://doi.org/10.1680/hce.64683.085 [Citations: 1]

Stability, security, and the social determinants of health

Aguirre, Diana L.

Perez, Casey

Burkett, Edwin K.

Global Security: Health, Science and Policy, Vol. 7 (2022), Iss. 1 P.13

https://doi.org/10.1080/23779497.2022.2047092 [Citations: 0]