The Sphere Handbook 2004 (English version): Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response

by The Sphere Project

Following the worldwide success of the first edition of The Sphere Handbook, this new second edition is the result of feedback from current users and from training workshops, with revisions from a focal group of representatives from major organisations. Key changes

· addition of an entirely new section on Food security
· revisions from a cross-cutting review on Gender, Children, Elderly, Disabled, Environment, HIV/AIDS, Protection
· updated and refined qualitative and quantitative indicators
· expanded introduction and development of common standards
· clearer cross-referencing and more concise, user-friendly text

The new edition is in the same handy format and structure, with a new CD-ROM featuring the full text.

Paperback

First published June 28, 2004

Reviews

[FiveBooks]

This was launched after the Rwandan crisis and it’s based on human rights – specifically that everyone has the right to live in dignity. This is enshrined in international law but the handbook tries to define what dignity is. There is now a minimum standard for providing food relief, sanitation, shelter and so forth.

[Winter]

Incredibly informative and applicable in the world of international humanitarian affairs. Practical methodologies and standards to implement in complex humanitarian emergencies.