About us Sphere Standards

The Sphere Project: The Sphere Project was launched in 1997 by a group of humanitarian NGOs and the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement. 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.
• Sphere is three things: a handbook, a wide process of collaboration and an expression of commitment to quality and accountability. The project has developed several tools, the key one being the handbook.