The Sphere Handbook and Humanitarian Standards Training Course

The Sphere Handbook and Humanitarian Standards Training Course

Introduction

The Sphere Handbook and Humanitarian Standards Training Course is designed to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of internationally recognized humanitarian principles, protection frameworks, and quality standards in humanitarian response. With increasing global challenges such as climate change, displacement, public health emergencies, and natural disasters, humanitarian workers need structured training to ensure effectiveness, accountability, and alignment with globally accepted humanitarian standards. This course focuses on the application of The Sphere Handbook and its humanitarian standards to strengthen program design, implementation, and monitoring in crisis settings.

Through practical modules, participants will explore rights-based approaches, humanitarian principles, protection standards, and quality benchmarks that safeguard the dignity of affected populations. The training also emphasizes community engagement, resilience-building, and inter-agency coordination to ensure humanitarian interventions remain people-centered, ethical, and sustainable. The course provides applied case studies and interactive learning methods to bridge theory with practice, equipping participants to navigate complex emergencies with confidence and professionalism.

Course Objectives

1. To enhance knowledge of The Sphere Handbook and humanitarian core standards.
2. To build skills in applying humanitarian principles in diverse contexts.
3. To strengthen capacity in emergency preparedness and disaster risk management.
4. To develop strategies for protection mainstreaming and safeguarding.
5. To apply accountability and quality assurance mechanisms.
6. To explore humanitarian ethics and rights-based approaches.
7. To enhance program design using global humanitarian standards.
8. To build community engagement and resilience strategies.
9. To improve monitoring, evaluation, and learning in humanitarian action.
10. To strengthen inter-agency coordination and humanitarian partnerships.
11. To use case studies to analyze real humanitarian interventions.
12. To advance skills in needs assessment and response planning.
13. To promote sustainability and localization in humanitarian programs.

Organizational Benefits

• Improved alignment with global humanitarian standards
• Strengthened institutional accountability and transparency
• Enhanced staff capacity in humanitarian response and quality assurance
• Increased donor confidence and credibility in programming
• Better program design using international best practices
• Stronger resilience-building for affected communities
• Improved inter-agency collaboration and partnerships
• Effective monitoring and evaluation frameworks
• Sustainable humanitarian interventions with local ownership
• Greater organizational reputation in humanitarian leadership

Target Audiences

1. Humanitarian workers and field staff
2. NGO and INGO program managers
3. Emergency response coordinators
4. Disaster risk management specialists
5. Government officials in humanitarian roles
6. Development and resilience officers
7. Community-based organization leaders
8. Policy makers and humanitarian advocates

Course Duration: 10 days

Course Modules

Module 1: Introduction to Humanitarian Principles and Standards

• Understanding humanitarian principles and rights-based approaches
• Overview of The Sphere Handbook structure and framework
• Principles of protection and accountability
• Humanitarian charter and minimum standards
• Relevance of standards in global crises
• Case study: Applying humanitarian principles in natural disasters

Module 2: The Humanitarian Charter

• Overview of the humanitarian charter and commitments
• Rights of affected populations
• Application in conflict and displacement contexts
• Core humanitarian values and dignity principles
• Accountability to affected communities
• Case study: Charter application in refugee crises

Module 3: Protection Principles

• Understanding protection in humanitarian response
• Mainstreaming protection across programs
• Safeguarding vulnerable groups
• Risk reduction and safety frameworks
• Integrating protection with humanitarian standards
• Case study: Protection of children in emergencies

Module 4: Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS)

• CHS principles and commitments
• Application in humanitarian operations
• Quality and accountability benchmarks
• Ensuring transparency and feedback
• Linking CHS with program performance
• Case study: Accountability framework in field operations

Module 5: Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene Promotion (WASH)

• Minimum standards in WASH programming
• Safe water supply systems
• Sanitation infrastructure in emergencies
• Hygiene promotion and behavioral change
• Monitoring WASH interventions
• Case study: Cholera outbreak response in humanitarian settings

Module 6: Food Security and Nutrition

• Minimum standards for food assistance
• Nutritional assessment methods
• Linking food aid with resilience strategies
• Addressing malnutrition in crisis
• Integration with health interventions
• Case study: Food security in drought-affected communities

Module 7: Shelter and Settlement Standards

• Shelter planning in emergencies
• Minimum requirements for safe housing
• Site planning and settlement design
• Cultural considerations in shelter responses
• Linking shelter with protection
• Case study: Shelter interventions in earthquake response

Module 8: Health Action in Humanitarian Settings

• Minimum health standards in emergencies
• Disease surveillance and outbreak control
• Health workforce mobilization
• Primary health care delivery in crises
• Coordination of health actors
• Case study: Humanitarian health response during epidemics

Module 9: Education in Emergencies

• Right to education during crises
• Minimum standards for safe learning environments
• Psychosocial support through education
• Integrating inclusive education practices
• Building resilience through education programs
• Case study: Education continuity during displacement

Module 10: Livelihoods and Early Recovery

• Linking livelihoods with humanitarian response
• Early recovery frameworks
• Sustainable livelihood interventions
• Building resilience and self-reliance
• Transition from relief to development
• Case study: Livelihood support in post-conflict communities

Module 11: Needs Assessment and Response Analysis

• Rapid needs assessment methods
• Response planning frameworks
• Data collection and analysis tools
• Prioritization of interventions
• Linking assessments to standards
• Case study: Needs assessment during cyclone response

Module 12: Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)

• MEAL systems in humanitarian action
• Accountability to affected populations
• Participatory monitoring tools
• Evaluation frameworks and reporting
• Learning for program improvement
• Case study: MEAL framework in multi-sector response

Module 13: Coordination and Partnerships in Humanitarian Response

• Inter-agency coordination mechanisms
• Working with clusters and sectors
• Role of governments and local actors
• Building effective humanitarian partnerships
• Donor coordination and resource mobilization
• Case study: Coordination in large-scale disaster response

Module 14: Localization and Community Engagement

• Local leadership in humanitarian response
• Empowering community-based organizations
• Participatory planning approaches
• Localization and sustainability frameworks
• Shifting power dynamics in humanitarian action
• Case study: Community-led disaster risk reduction

Module 15: Humanitarian Ethics and Future Challenges

• Ethical dilemmas in humanitarian response
• Addressing climate change in humanitarian programs
• Technology and innovation in humanitarian action
• Balancing neutrality and advocacy
• Building future-ready humanitarian systems
• Case study: Ethical challenges in conflict-affected settings

Training Methodology

• Interactive lectures and facilitated discussions
• Group work and collaborative problem-solving
• Role-playing and scenario-based exercises
• Real-world case studies for practical learning
• Multimedia presentations and guided readings
• Field simulation exercises and applied practice

Register as a group from 3 participants for a Discount

Send us an email: [email protected] or call +254724527104 

Certification

Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with a globally- recognized certificate.

Tailor-Made Course

 We also offer tailor-made courses based on your needs.

Key Notes              

a. The participant must be conversant with English.

b. Upon completion of training the participant will be issued with an Authorized Training Certificate

c. Course duration is flexible and the contents can be modified to fit any number of days.

d. The course fee includes facilitation training materials, 2 coffee breaks, buffet lunch and A Certificate upon successful completion of Training.

e. One-year post-training support Consultation and Coaching provided after the course.

f. Payment should be done at least a week before commence of the training, to DATASTAT CONSULTANCY LTD account, as indicated in the invoice so as to enable us prepare better for you.