Quarter four of 2025 ends a turbulent year which will be starkly remembered by the humanitarian sector for tidal changes. And while it may be a time many of us would like to forget and move on, every challenge is an opportunity and a chance to learn; for Sphere, the last quarter of 2025 brought new partnerships (including DanChurchAid/fabo, monday.com Foundation and NetHope), and deepening of existing ones (including ETC, CBi, OCHA, IOM and Offshorly). Remarkably, despite some enforced staff reductions early in the year, Sphere closed 2025 with the same number of staff as at the start of the year, for which we recognise our partners ADH, CADENA, UKHIH, and Offshorly. Sphere’s team at the start of 2026 is one filled with cultural diversity, youthful energy, resourcefulness, and intrinsic motivation to execute Sphere’s strategies, and face the opportunities and challenges of the year ahead as we move out of survival mode into a horizon of possibilities.

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The Sphere Handbook

The Sphere Handbook – Humanitarian responders make informed decisions that reduce morbidity and mortality by applying its principles and minimum standards. The Sphere Handbook continues to serve as a shared reference that enhances accountability, efficiency, and coordination in humanitarian action.

• Sphere supported their dedicated focal point for Brazil and Portugal, Fraternity – International Humanitarian Missions (FIHM) and Sphere trainers Ricardo and Brother Noah, to deliver the Spanish edition of the Dignity first, always! online workshop series. (English, French, Arabic and Portuguese editions were completed earlier in the year.)
• Development of the new Humanitarian Standards Platform (which will replace the Interactive Handbook from March 2026) continued with a series of interactive user group workshops during October. Participants were asked what content they would like to see on the platform, and what functionalities it should provide. The outputs of these workshops is already influencing the design of the minimum viable product (MVP), and will inform the product roadmap for months and years to come. The most popular request was to develop the platform for sharing community innovations. Sphere is grateful for the support of UKHIH and the CCCM Cluster/IOM in moving this project forwards.
• In September, Sphere trainers Axel Schmidt and Hamza Hmwie delivered a Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop in Syria. As part of the follow-up, Sphere Network Manager Raquel joined the team and facilitated an additional digital session in October focused on tools for online and hybrid facilitation. Using an interactive escape room format, participants explored a range of digital platforms, practical tips and tricks, and key do’s and don’ts for sharing Sphere Standards in engaging, effective, and context-appropriate ways.

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Strategic Partnerships

Strategic Partnerships – People responding to crises have streamlined access to humanitarian standards relevant to their context and stage of response. The Humanitarian Standards Partnership (HSP) is a leading authority on quality in humanitarian assistance.

• Sphere is delighted to be partnering with the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) again. Applied research consultants Bridget, Marcella and Johannes completed their desk research into a Conceptual framework for a Sphere self-assessment tool, and will be interviewing people from the Sphere network and other stakeholders early next year.
• As the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) prepares to launch Connectivity As Aid (CAA) Standards in early 2026, Sphere Operations Director Tristan travelled to Stockholm for the ETC Partner Days and a celebration of 25 years of Ericsson Response. Tristan presented a brief history of Sphere and the Humanitarian Standards Partnership (HSP), followed by a look forward to the new partnership between Sphere and the Cluster as the CAA standards join the growing HSP portfolio.
• In a new partnership with DanChurchAid, Sphere, LEGS and Camp Management online courses are now available via the fabo If you are part of the fabo learning community, please get these courses added to your learning pathways today! (For everyone else, the courses are also available on Kaya, with links on Sphere’s online courses page.)
• In October, Sphere co-organised and delivered a Strengthening Business Engagement in Humanitarian Action Through Sphere webinar in partnership with the OCHA–UNDP Connecting Business Initiative (CBi). The session brought together humanitarian, government and private sector actors to explore how businesses can engage in crisis response in a principled, coordinated and standards-driven way. Through interactive discussions and practical case examples from Asia and Latin America, the webinar highlighted the relevance of the Sphere standards for private sector engagement before, during and after emergencies for reinforcing dignity, accountability and quality in humanitarian action.
• As OCHA confirmed their plans for Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks (HNPW) 2026, Sphere Engagement Director Felicity was invited to be a member of the HNPW Steering Committee. Sphere has been engaged with HNPW for many years, and is thrilled to step up its involvement and strategic support in this way.

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Policy & Advocacy

Policy & Advocacy – Sphere principles and standards are embedded into policies and operational frameworks at all levels, from local organisations to international institutions.

• Felicity represented Sphere at the Geneva Policy Outlook (GPO), and events organised by the Geneva Philanthropy Centre and the Giga Connectivity Centre. Including topics such as climate change and COP30, these fora allow Sphere to be part of the conversation about how International Geneva faces the challenges of increasing humanitarian needs and decreasing funding from institutional donors.
• Tristan represented Sphere at the NetHope Global Summit, a forum that brings together some of the top minds in nonprofit tech and top providers of tech to nonprofits. The funding crisis, Artificial Intelligence (AI) including agentic AI, and Shared Services were among hot topics at this event.
• Sphere Executive Director William and Communications Manager Zunaira represented Sphere at the Regional Humanitarian Partnership Week (RHPW). William convened an engaging and packed session on Generation Alpha and the Future of Humanitarian Standards, exploring how humanitarian principles and minimum standards must evolve to remain relevant for the next generation. William also contributed as a panellist in the Quality + Accountability + Safeguarding (QAS) in Action: Turning Commitments into Collective Impact session, sharing reflections on dignity, rights, and accountability in complex humanitarian contexts, and highlighting the role of standards in translating commitments into practice.
• Raquel deployed as part of the monday.com emergency response team (ERT) to Jamaica in response to Hurricane Melissa.
• Felicity presented Sphere at the 2025 Annual meeting of Friends of Ecosystem Based Adaptation (FEBA).
• William was invited to present at several meetings including a Grand Bargain Community of Practice on Participation event and the FEBA Nature-based Solutions in Humanitarian Contexts Expert Working Group.
• The Sphere team participated at AidEx 2025, and gratefully joined an IOM Climate Fresk

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Champions Network

Champions Network – Sphere’s minimum standards are locally driven, strengthening national and community-based actors in their leadership and application of globally recognised humanitarian standards. This approach reinforces sustainability and enhances the effectiveness of humanitarian response.

• In her first months with Sphere, Raquel engaged in extensive dialogue with more than 75 focal points, members and trainers across regions, listening to diverse perspectives on how Sphere standards are applied, adapted and championed in different contexts. These conversations informed the development of a Network and Outreach Strategy that will guide Sphere’s engagement with its global community in the years ahead. Grounded in localisation, collaboration and sustainability, the strategy aims to strengthen connections across the network, support locally led action, and ensure that humanitarian standards remain relevant, accessible and impactful for practitioners working in complex and evolving humanitarian environments.
• Sphere completed an outreach programme in partnership with Community World Service Asia (CWSA) and CHS Alliance supported by H2H Network. Two of the many outputs of this programme are the first ‘Friendly’ Sphere Handbooks to be produced in English and Burmese. These short, illustrated versions of the Sphere Handbook are designed for new humanitarians and community members as a primer for the more technical full Handbook. These guides are inspired by the Spanish-language friendly guides that Sphere’s Hispanophone community has been providing for many years (e.g., see Manual Esfera Amigable – 2020 Bolivia).

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Communications

Sphere published six blog posts, sent one newsletter, and used targeted mail campaigns to advertise several events:

• Blog: Humanitarianism rooted in principles: An interview with Tamara Zibin
• Blog: Towards efficiency and a new humanitarian paradigm: Sphere’s Q3 2025 roundup
• Blog: Speaking the same language: Sphere Standards for more effective business engagement in emergency response

• Blog: Researching to what extent Sphere guidance informs humanitarian response: a first look
• Blog: Bringing Clean Water Closer to Communities in Rutshuru
• Blog: Hope grows in Sake through BIFERD and Islamic Relief’s food assistance

• Newsletter: Sphere spotlight: Highlights & news – December 2025
• Campaign: Join the P-FIM session: Feeding community insights into Sphere Standards
• Campaign: Learn to apply Humanitarian Inclusion Standards – Bangkok, Dec 6–7
• Campaign: Sphere Standards trainings across Mozambique
• Campaign: ¡La dignidad primero, siempre! Participa en el taller Esfera [Online workshop to introduce Sphere Standards and how to use them]

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Operations, management and governance

Sphere is delighted to welcome Patricia Visda to the global support team, based in Manila, Philippines. As Digital Systems Coordinator, Pat will ensure the organisation’s digital platform are accessible, reliable and easy to use.

“I believe that every journey is a collective effort, and that we are placed where we are meant to be. I genuinely enjoy doing outreach work, and with Sphere, I will be able to grow within my area of expertise while staying rooted in human connection and impact. Let’s connect and continue working together to make humanitarian standards more accessible for everyone.”

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The Sphere Team extends its deepest thanks to Helen Coronado who completed her six-month secondment with Sphere in the Autumn.