A key strength of the Humanitarian Standards Partnership (HSP) is consistency of approach, structure and foundations across handbooks.
Foundations
Rights-based approach
All HSP standards are based on international legal instruments relating to human rights, refugees and humanitarian action. Each standard is an expression of a human right, defining a minimum condition for life with dignity.
The Sphere Handbook includes an annotated list of the legal instruments most relevant to Sphere: Annex 1: Legal Foundation to Sphere.
The structure of a standard
Standards are presented in a similar format across all handbooks.
The standard itself is qualitative and states a minimum condition for life with dignity. It is based on human rights and applies in every context.
Sphere Shelter and settlement
standard 3: Living Space
People have access to living spaces that are safe and adequate, enabling essential household and livelihoods activities to be undertaken with dignity.
Actions outline practical steps to attain the standard. These are suggestions and may not be applicable in all contexts. The practitioner should select those most relevant for the situation.
Ensure that each affected household has adequate living space to perform basic domestic activities.
Indicators are suggested metrics for measuring progress towards achievement of the standard. The practitioner should select a set of indicators for each programme.
Percentage of the affected population who have adequate living space in and immediately around their shelters to carry out daily activities.
Some indicators include quantitative
descriptions of what is “adequate”. While these must be considered in context, this should be done with care. Such numerical values may be referred to as targets.
Minimum 3.5 square metres of living space per person, excluding cooking space, bathing area and sanitation facility
Guidance notes provide additional information to support the key actions.
Respect existing practices and customs and how these affect the need for internal subdivisions (curtains, walls).
It is important not to confuse standards with targets. In the example above, it is not appropriate to simply pursue a target of 3.5 square metres of living space per person as this is to assume that everyone has equal needs.
Always pursue the standard itself – of providing everyone with safe and adequate living spaces – because every person has equal rights. Recognise that what is adequate for one person may not be the same as what is adequate for their neighbour.
The Standards vs. Targets activity supports an interactive activity for workshops or courses which can easily be adapted for in-person or online learning. The learning objective is that learners fully understand the difference between standards and targets.
The Standards vs. Targets activity supports an interactive activity for workshops or courses which can easily be adapted for in-person or online learning. The learning objective is that learners fully understand the difference between standards and targets.
Common foundation chapters
HSP Handbooks created or revised since 2015 – when the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) was first released – are firmly based on the Humanitarian Charter, the Protection Principles and the CHS. These chapters appear only in the Sphere Handbook but form the common foundation of all HSP handbooks.
The Humanitarian Charter
Drafted by practitioners in 1997 and updated in 2011, The Charter expresses a commitment to humanitarian action and provides an ethical and legal framework for it
Read the Humanitarian Charter online via the Interactive Handbook.
Read more about the Charter and download the series of cartoons (in poster or postcard formats).
Protection Principles
Four Protection Principles apply to all humanitarian action and all humanitarian actors:
Principle 1) Enhance the safety, dignity and rights of people, and avoid exposing them to harm.
Principle 2) Ensure people’s access to assistance according to need and without discrimination.
Principle 3) Assist people to recover from the physical and psychological effects of threatened or actual violence, coercion or deliberate deprivation.
Principle 4) Help people claim their rights
Read the Protection Principles online via the Interactive Handbook.
Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS)
The Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability (CHS) sets out nine Commitments that organisations and individuals involved in humanitarian response can use to improve the quality and effectiveness of the assistance they provide. It also facilitates greater accountability to communities and people affected by crisis, staff, donors, governments and other stakeholders.
Read the 2018 CHS online (complete) via the Interactive Handbook.
Read the 2024 CHS online (commitments and requirements only) via the Interactive Handbook.
Discover more about the CHS via the dedicated website.
Learn more about the three custodians of the CHS: Sphere, CHS Alliance and Groupe URD.