The Ecuadorian government reaffirmed the Sphere standards’ role as the foundation of the country’s risk management structures as it unveiled its recently updated National Disaster Response Plan (RESPONDE Ec). In April 2016, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit the country, killing almost 700 people and leaving 700,000 more in need…

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The Sphere Executive Board convened for its biannual meeting on 8 May, hosted by Oxfam Intermón in Barcelona. The agenda included review and sign-off on the 2018 edition of the Sphere Handbook and a new application to join the Humanitarian Standards Partnership, as well as financial and administrative matters.

The Sphere Executive Board welcomed a humanitarian standards initiative focusing on older people and people with disabilities as the newest member of the Humanitarian Standard Partnership.

Following an intense year of drafting, consultation and review, the fourth edition of the Sphere Handbook is approaching the final stages of production. The consolidated manuscript of four foundational chapters and four technical chapters will be submitted to the Sphere Executive Board for validation and approval in May.

Marvin Parvez is one of the firmest believers in the positive impact of humanitarian standards, as well as an expert practitioner within the Sphere community. Discussing his work as a long-time Pakistani humanitarian professional and as a Sphere partner in Asia, he shared his experience and talked about the many times he saw standards improve people's lives in the aftermath of a crisis.

Two new focal points have recently joined the ranks of the Sphere network, making it a 54 members strong global community of practitioners engaged in the promotion of humanitarian standards.

With more than 15 percent of the global population living with a disability, Sphere has been working with partners and trainers to make sure that humanitarian assistance is more inclusive and accessible to all. Sphere Focal Points and trainers in Asia have been leading the way, with workshops in Bangladesh and Indonesia over the past several months to help humanitarian workers provide appropriate assistance to some of the most vulnerable members of society.

Japan is one of the world's most disaster-prone countries, with risks of earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. In such a context, local actors' training and preparedness play a key role in limiting the potential impact of these natural hazards, and in meeting the needs of people in the aftermath of crisis.

From the unparalleled consultative process which nurtured the revision of the Handbook to the growth of its global community, many achievements marked 2017 as an important year in Sphere's history.