The document summarizes the Sphere Project, which establishes minimum standards for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in humanitarian responses. It provides an overview of the Sphere Handbook, including its core beliefs of the right to assistance and alleviating human suffering. The minimum standards cover WASH, food, shelter and health. Each WASH standard addresses key areas like hygiene promotion, water supply, excreta disposal, and provides minimum requirements, key actions, indicators and guidance notes.

1. SPHERE PROJECT
Minimum Standards in WASH
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By: Rafi ULLAH

2. WHAT IS SPHERE…. . .?
 Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in
Humanitarian Response
 Initiated by a Group of NGOs & ICRC/RC in 1997
Editions
 First trial edition 1998
 First final edition 2000
 Second edition 2004
 Third edition 2011 (Present Edition )
Aim of the Project
“The aim of the Handbook is to improve the
quality of humanitarian response in situations
of disaster and conflict, and to enhance the
accountability of the humanitarian system to
disaster-affected people”
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3. WHAT IS SPHERE…. . .?
CORE BELIEFS
First, that those affected by disaster or conflict
have a right to life with dignity and, therefore, a
right to assistance; and
Second, that all possible steps should be taken to
alleviate human suffering arising out of disaster
or conflict.
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4. LIST OF MINIMUM STANDARDS
 Minimum Standards in Water Supply, Sanitation
and Hygiene Promotion
 Minimum Standards in Food Security and
Nutrition
 Minimum Standards in Shelter, Settlement and
non-Food Items
 Minimum Standards in Health Action
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5. MINIMUM STANDARDS IN WATER SUPPLY,
SANITATION AND HYGIENE PROMOTION
This chapter is divided into SEVEN main sections;
1. Water supply, sanitation and hygiene promotion
(WASH)
2. Hygiene Promotion
3. Water Supply
4. Excreta Disposal
5. Vector Control
6. Solid Waste Management (SWM)
7. Drainage
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6. SECTION COMPONENTS
Each section contains the following:
 Minimum standards: These are qualitative in nature and
specify the minimum levels to be attained in humanitarian
response regarding the provision of water, sanitation and
hygiene promotion
 Key actions: These are suggested activities and inputs to
help meet the standards
 Key indicators: These are ‘signals’ that show whether a
standard has been attained. They provide a way of measuring
and communicating the processes and results of key actions;
they relate to the minimum standard, not to the key action
 Guidance notes: These include specific points to consider
when applying the minimum standards, key actions and key
indicators in different situations They provide guidance on
tackling practical difficulties, benchmarks or advice on
priority issues. They may also include critical issues relating
to the standards, actions or indicators, and describe dilemmas,
controversies or gaps in current knowledge. 6

7. SECTION: HYGIENE PROMOTION
 Standard 1: Hygiene promotion implementation
Guideline: Two hygiene promoters / community
mobilisers per 1,000 members of the affected
population (Camp Scenario)
 Standard 2: Identification and use of hygiene
items
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8. SECTION: WATER SUPPLY
 Standard 1: Access and Water Quantity
Cont….
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9. SECTION: WATER SUPPLY
 Standard 1: Access and Water Quantity
Cont….
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10. SECTION: WATER SUPPLY CONT…
 Standard 2: Water Quality
 Implement all necessary steps to minimize post-
deliver y water contamination (Hygiene
promotion)
 For piped water supplies, or all water supplies at
times of risk of diarrheal epidemics, use
disinfectant so that there is a chlorine residual of
0.5mg/l and turbidity is below 5 NTU
 Where household-level water treatment is
proposed, ensure that it is accompanied by
appropriate promotion, training and monitoring
 There are no faecal coliforms per 100ml of water
at the point of deliver y and use (INDICATOR) 10

11. SECTION: WATER SUPPLY CONT…
 Standard 3: Water facilities
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12. SECTION 4: EXCRETA DISPOSAL
 Standard 1: Environment free from human faeces
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13. SECTION 4: EXCRETA DISPOSAL
 Standard 2: Appropriate and adequate toilet facilities
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14. SECTION 5. VECTOR CONTROL
 Standard 1: Individual and family protection
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Standard 2: Physical, Environmental and Chemical
Protection Measures
Standard 3: Chemical Control Safety

15. SECTION 6: SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
 Standard 1: Collection and Disposal
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16. SECTION 7: DRAINAGE
 Standard 1: Drainage Work
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