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Focal Points

Sphere Focal Points around the globe

Learn about focal points, becoming a focal point, and browse through our focal points directory.

  • Country focal points

    Focal points

    Country focal points are organisations that champion quality and accountable humanitarian action at the national level. They work with governments, humanitarian organisations, local actors, and academic institutions to promote the contextualisation and practical application of the Sphere standards, ensuring they are relevant and responsive to local realities and humanitarian needs.

    Their activities are shaped by the priorities of their country and may include training, advocacy, knowledge sharing, capacity strengthening, and encouraging the integration of the Sphere standards into humanitarian policy and practice.

  • Regional partners

    Regional partners

    Regional partners are organisations, or networks of organisations, that advance the Sphere standards across a region. They strengthen collaboration among humanitarian actors, support regional learning and capacity strengthening, and promote the consistent application of humanitarian standards across countries.

    By building relationships with regional institutions, networks, and national organisations, they help foster knowledge exchange, advocacy, and collective action to improve the quality and accountability of humanitarian response.

  • Become a Focal Point

    Become a focal point

    Interested in becoming a Sphere focal point? We welcome organisations committed to promoting quality and accountable humanitarian action through the Sphere standards. To express your interest or submit an application, please contact network@spherestandards.org.

Focal points

Country focal points are organisations that champion quality and accountable humanitarian action at the national level. They work with governments, humanitarian organisations, local actors, and academic institutions to promote the contextualisation and practical application of the Sphere standards, ensuring they are relevant and responsive to local realities and humanitarian needs.

Their activities are shaped by the priorities of their country and may include training, advocacy, knowledge sharing, capacity strengthening, and encouraging the integration of the Sphere standards into humanitarian policy and practice.

Regional partners

Regional partners are organisations, or networks of organisations, that advance the Sphere standards across a region. They strengthen collaboration among humanitarian actors, support regional learning and capacity strengthening, and promote the consistent application of humanitarian standards across countries.

By building relationships with regional institutions, networks, and national organisations, they help foster knowledge exchange, advocacy, and collective action to improve the quality and accountability of humanitarian response.

Become a focal point

Interested in becoming a Sphere focal point? We welcome organisations committed to promoting quality and accountable humanitarian action through the Sphere standards. To express your interest or submit an application, please contact network@spherestandards.org.

  • All Regions
  • Asia
  • Africa
  • Americas
  • Oceania
  • Europe
  • Middle East / North Africa
  • All Languages
  • Arabic
  • Bahasa/Indonesian
  • Bangla
  • Burmese
  • Chinese
  • English
  • English/Urdu
  • Filipino
  • French
  • German
  • Hindi/Urdu
  • Indonesian
  • Italian
  • Japanese
  • Korean
  • Nepali
  • Pashtu
  • Portuguese
  • Romanian
  • Russian
  • Spanish
  • Swahili
  • Tetum
  • Ukrainian
  • Various languages
  • All Countries
  • Afghanistan‎
  • Africa Regional Partner
  • Angola
  • Argentina
  • Asia Regional Partner
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Bangladesh
  • Bolivia
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Brazil
  • Burkina Faso
  • Burundi
  • Cameroon
  • Canada
  • Chile
  • China
  • Colombia
  • Czech Republic
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador
  • El Salvador
  • Estonia
  • Ethiopia
  • France
  • Gambia
  • Germany
  • Ghana
  • Greece
  • Guatemala
  • Guyana
  • Haïti
  • Honduras
  • Hungary
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Iran (Islamic Republic of)
  • Iraq
  • Ireland
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Jordan
  • Kenya
  • Lebanon
  • Libya
  • Malaysia
  • Mauritius
  • MENA region
  • Mexico
  • Moldova
  • Morocco
  • Myanmar
  • Nepal
  • Niger
  • Pakistan
  • Panama
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Philippines
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Romania
  • Russia
  • Rwanda
  • São Tomé and Príncipe
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Slovak Republic
  • Somalia
  • South Africa
  • South Korea
  • South-Eastern Europe Regional Partner
  • Spain
  • Sri Lanka
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Syria
  • Taiwan
  • Thailand
  • The Netherlands
  • Türkiye
  • Ukraine
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom
  • United States of America
  • Uruguay
  • Vatican City
  • Venezuela
  • Yemen
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

    Frequently Asked Questions

    • What does a Sphere country focal point do?

      The activities of Sphere focal points vary greatly from country to country, depending on local humanitarian needs. Generally speaking, focally points:

      • Are the point of contact for people and organisations seeking support to implement Sphere, and for regional partner organizations;
      • Advocate with local governments for the use Sphere in their humanitarian and disaster management policies;
      • Promote the use of the Sphere Handbook with humanitarian organisations;
      • Translate the Sphere Handbook and materials into local languages;
      • Promote humanitarian quality and accountability activities and groups within the country.
    • Do focal points receive compensation?

      The role of the country focal point is voluntary. Focal points receive no financial compensation from Sphere.

    • What does it take to become a country focal point?

      Sphere favours applications from organisations, agencies, networks of agencies, advocacy or umbrella organisations, to ensure continuity to focal points’ activities over time.

      To become a Sphere focal point, an organisation should:

      • Have extensive experience implementing the Sphere standards in the field;
      • Prove a record of carrying out Sphere-related activities;
      • Have the potential to successfully promote Sphere in the country – including with Humanitarian agencies, donor groups, and relevant government bodies;
      • Have enough time to dedicate to Sphere activities (5-10%);
      • Be endorsed by two Sphere members organisations.
    • A Sphere focal point is already present in my country. May I still apply?

      Sphere encourages applications for priority countries with no existing focal points.

      Depending on the humanitarian needs in a specific region, there may be more than one focal point in a country. When this happens, the focal points are expected to work closely together and coordinate their activities. There is no hierarchy among focal points.

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