| SPHERE
URS
About
Sphere
India
In early 2006, SPHERE India in consultation with its member agencies
launched an initiative to establish a system of unified response
in humanitarian emergencies. UNICEF India, one of the lead member
of Sphere India offered to support the concept design and piloting
phase. The initiative is termed as the Unified Response Strategy
(URS), and aims to develop mechanism, tools, capacities and protocols
for information sharing, pre-positioning,
Unified
Response Strategy (URS)
An inter-agency effort aiming to provide a prompt and effective
response to humanitarian emergencies by ensuring comprehensive
assessment, timely provision and equitable distribution of necessary
relief items to the most affected and vulnerable populati
Collective and collaborated work in response
Humanitarian agencies have a desire and a mandate to help the
affected populations suffering from the natural or man-made disasters;
however there are often many gaps in emergency response, lack
of cohesive coordination is one of such major factors.
During
major humanitarian emergencies Sphere member organizations and
other NGO’s formed interagency groups (IAG) and worked in
close coordination. The positive impact of such coordinated work
was widely appreciated that a need was felt to formalize such
groups and work on improving humanitarian concerns across sectors
at the state level even during the non-disaster period of the
year.
Sphere India
The Sphere Project which resulted in the development
of Sphere Standards was initiated after the humanitarian crisis
in Rwanda in 1994. The refugee crisis in Rwanda, which was followed
by unprecedented international humanitarian response, under the
spotlight of the international media, publicly magnified the fault
lines within the humanitarian system to an extraordinary degree.
These were major factors creating the momentum for change particularly
amongst NGOs, and their increasing
openness to radical change. In 1997 a group of humanitarian NGOs
and the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement launched the Sphere
Project. Sphere is based on two core beliefs: first, that all
possible steps should be taken to alleviate human suffering arising
out of calamity and conflict, and second, that those affected
by disaster have a right to life with dignity and therefore a
right to assistance
Values and principles that guided the
development of Sphere Standards
• International Humanitarian, Human Rights, and Refugee
law
• The Code of Conduct: Principles of Conduct for the International
Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Response
Programmers.
Components of Sphere:
A Hand Book (Minimum Standards in Disaster response).
Conducting trainings and TOT’s.
Expression of commitment to quality and accountability in humanitarian
response taking forms of various initiatives across the globe.
The Sphere Hand Book
Sphere Hand Book is the most essential tool produced under the
initiative. The hand book which was first launched in 1999 and
then revised in 2004 was a result of multi-layer, multi-sectoral
and cross-continent consultations among about 4000 development/relief
professionals from 400 odd organizations across 80 countries.
Sphere
Hand Book is the most essential tool produced under the initiative.
The hand book which was first launched in 1999 and then revised
in 2004 was a result of multi-layer, multi-sectoral and cross-continent
consultations among about 4000 development/relief professionals
from 400 odd organizations across 80 countries.
The hand book has a separate chapter dedicated on each of the
following sectors
• Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene promotion
• Food Security, Nutrition and Food Aid
• Shelter, Settlement and Non-Food items
• Health Services
Each of the chapter includes minimum standards, key indicators
and guidance notes which clearly underline the qualitative and
quantitative criteria to be factored while designing and implemented
emergency responses.
Sphere India
Sphere
India is a coalition and 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. Sphere
Hand Book has been translated into many Indian languages including
Hindi, Gujarati, Oriya, Malayalam, Bengali, Telugu and Urdu.
Programme
& Research Focus
Unified
Response Strategy (URS)
A Hand Book (Minimum Standards in Disaster response)
Conducting trainings and TOT's.
Expression of commitment to quality and accountability in humanitarian
response taking forms of various initiatives across the globe.
Visit DevelopedNation.org
for programme details
Year
of Establishment
2006
Contact
Us
Sphere
India -URS( Unified Response Strategy)
C/0 SEEDS
D-11, Panchsheel Enclave
New Delhi , 110 071
Ph: 011 26498371
Fax: 011 26498372
Mob: 091- 9350953643
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