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Geneva: Sphere announces the “Global Launch of the Sphere Handbook Revision”. The Sphere Handbook sets out minimum standards that uphold people’s right to life with dignity during crises, providing practical guidance to ensure principled, accountable, and effective humanitarian response worldwide.
The Launch will be a flagship event during this year’s Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks (HNPW), taking place from March 2 to March 12, 2026. The in-person sessions will occur at the CICG in Geneva, attended by UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, where strategic discussions will focus on the ongoing Humanitarian Reset in the light of 2024’s USAID funding cuts. During the HNPW, Sphere will host a series of events, including the highly anticipated “Global Launch of the Sphere Handbook Revision” at 11am on March 10, 2026. The launch will be hosted by Isabelle Kumar, award-winning journalist and international moderator. Following a ‘Fireside Chat’ with Ambassador Dominik Stillhart, Deputy Director General and Delegate of Swiss Humanitarian Aid, Isabelle Kumar will lead an engaging discussion with frontline responders from around the globe on the future of humanitarian assistance.About the revision of the Sphere Handbook
The comprehensive two-year revision consultation will ensure that humanitarian assistance continues to meet agreed minimum standards of quality and accountability for the hundreds of millions of people affected by conflict, disaster, and climate shocks every year. Last updated in 2018, the Handbook remains a vital reference for grounding humanitarian action in human rights and humanitarian principles. Drawing on lessons from recent crises, humanitarian standards: for life with dignity the revised Handbook will ensure that minimum standards remain relevant, practical, and globally recognised. Engaging diverse partners will be a core feature of the revision process, fostering collaboration and sharing expertise among UN agencies, governments, NGOs, academic institutions and frontline aid workers. Importantly, the perspectives of individuals directly affected by crises will be prioritised through the People-First Impact Method, ensuring that guidance is shaped by their lived experience. Moreover, Sphere is set to enhance its role as host of the largest Accessible Publishing platform in the humanitarian sector. This platform will facilitate digital knowledge sharing across humanitarian organizations., enabling humanitarian actors to access critical information more efficiently. For more information about the Sphere Handbook revision and the events at HNPW, please visit spherestandards.org and check here for details on the event. For interviews, in English and French, please contact Felicity Fallon, Engagement Director for Sphere (felicity.fallon@spherestandards.org) or Daniel Felli, Development Associate for Sphere (daniel.felli@spherestandards.org).Sphere is a Geneva based NGO dedicated to enhancing the quality and accountability of humanitarian action worldwide. Founded in 1997, Sphere has been at the forefront of establishing essential humanitarian principles and minimum standards, which positively impact the lives of over 100 million individuals affected by crises each year. With approximately 85% of the humanitarian sector utilizing these standards, Sphere plays a crucial role in promoting dignity and human rights in humanitarian responses. By providing vital resources and guidance, Sphere ensures that humanitarian workers can deliver effective, inclusive, and context-sensitive assistance. Through ongoing collaboration with various stakeholders, including NGOs, governments, and affected populations, Sphere continually adapts its standards to meet the evolving challenges in the humanitarian landscape.
