Sphere India

1. Sphere India ECB Interactive, Bangladesh 29 Feb, 2012 Vikrant Mahajan

2. About Sphere India • Country Pilot of Sphere Project • Initiated in Feb, 2003 • National Coalition of Humanitarian Agencies in India • 48 Member Agencies: • Govt. of India: (NCDM, NIDM) • UN Agencies: (Unicef, UNDP, UNFPA) • Red Cross: (IRCS, IFRC, ICRC) • INGOs: (Care, Christian Aid, Plan, Oxfam….) • NGO Networks : (VANI, Vasudeva…..) • National NGOs: (Seeds, CASA, IGSSS, AIDMI, Biswa…) • State level IAGs: (Inter Agency Groups in 15 states) • Associate membership opened to CSRs and Academic Institutes

3. Sphere India Outreach • 48 Member Agencies • + 30 New Interests • 15 IAGs • 6000 + partners and local NGOs

4. Vision and Mission Vision: To build a safer and disaster resilient India by promoting Quality and Accountability in Humanitarian Action through a principle based inclusive collaboration of all humanitarian actors including UN agencies, Red Cross, INGOs, NNGOs, Networks, CBOs, and communities in cooperation with Govt. Agencies. Mission: To enhance Quality and Accountability of Humanitarian Action in India and protecting the rights and dignity of people affected by natural calamities or conflict situations in India.

5. Governance of Sphere India • General Body comprising of representative from each member organization and the state level IAG. • Meet once a year or as required. • Executive Body comprising of representatives of all type of members and/or chairs of thematic working groups. • Meets once every quarter or as required. • Secretariat led by Chief Executive Officer and focal point for each program area • Fund Management by Member agencies designated as fund managers on rotation

6. Sphere India Program Areas Promoting Sphere (Process, Principles and Standards) • Inter Agency Coordination • Training and Capacity Building • Collaborative Advocacy • Information Knowledge and Learning Management • Quality and Accountability

7. Sphere India – GoICollaboration Highlights: • NIDM as government representative in Sphere India coalition. • Contributed during consultation of High Powered Committee and drafting of National Disaster Management Act 2005. • Inclusion of minimum standards for India in National Disaster Management Act -2005. • Representation in National level NGO task force set up by NDMA. • Key Contribution to various NDMA guidelines, especially : • Minimum Standards • Role of NGOs in disaster management • Development of CBDM framework. • Post Disaster Reconstruction • Represents in Planning Commission working groups. • Consultations with NAC on Food Security Act.

8. Humanitarian Coordination in India • Early Experiences: • ODMM: Orissa Super Cyclone, 1999 • KNNA: Bhuj Earthquake, 2001 • TNTRC: Indian Ocean Tsunami, 2004 • Sphere India: Kashmir EQ, 2005 • Sphere India Unified Response Strategy:2007-2012 • Steered by Plan, SEEDS, EFICOR, CASA, Unicef, UNDP, EHA, ESAF, CARE

9. Unified Response Strategy in Practice Objective 1: To build local and decentralized capacities for coordination and collaboration: Objective 2: To develop a common process for collaborative response by all actors: • URS in preparedness: The member agencies share their preparedness plans and pre positioning as preparedness exercise. The resources are mapped for gap analysis. • EW detection and Sitrep dissemination: • URS activation: • Common Assessment format and Multi-Sectoral Multi Agency Assessment • Coordination at all levels: • Sectoral Coordination and joint Strategies: • Common M&E and learning: • URS deactivation:

10. Unified Response Strategy in Practice Objective 1: To build local and decentralized capacities for coordination and collaboration: Objective 2: To develop a common process for collaborative response by all actors: • URS in preparedness: The member agencies share their preparedness plans and pre positioning as preparedness exercise. The resources are mapped for gap analysis. • EW detection and Sitrep dissemination: • URS activation: • Common Assessment format and Multi-Sectoral Multi Agency Assessment • Coordination at all levels: • Sectoral Coordination and joint Strategies: • Common M&E and learning: • URS deactivation:

11. Unified Response Strategy in Practice • URS in Practice (2007 – 2011) • 2007 (Floods in Bihar, Assam, and Orissa), • 2008 (Floods in Kosi, Orissa and Assam), • 2009 (Cyclone Aila in West Bengal and south India floods), • 2010 (Ladakh flash floods, Floods in western UP, Uttarakhand and Drought in WB) • 2011 (Floods in Orissa, WB, UP and Assam , Sikkim Earthquake, Cyclone Thane)

12. Sphere India TCBP • Initiated in 2008. • Modeled on ECB Project. • Steered by IFRC, UNDP, Plan, IIPA, NIDM, CRS, Concern Worldwide and World Vision • Periodic TNA • Joint Inter Agency Trainings • Need based trainings for members and partners • Mainstream Sphere in Govt. TCB efforts

13. Sphere India Collaborative Advocacy • Initiated in 2009. • Modeled on Indian Experiences • Steered by CA, DCA, Oxfam, TF, WHH, Action Aid • Annual Advocacy Analysis and selection of priorities for collaborative advocacy • Current Priorities: • Humanitarian Advocacy during disasters • Mainstreaming DRR in Govt. Flagship programs. • Contextualization of Minimum Standards • Social Inclusion • Sensitization of MPs/MLAs • Media Sensitization • Corporate Sensitisation

14. Sphere India Knowledge Management • Initiated in 2008 • Modeled on ALNAP • Steered by EFICOR, TF, UNDP, AIDMI, Cordaid, ACTED, Plan • Good Practice Documentation: • Turning The Tide • Learning Missions: • Common forward looking Learning Mission, Ladakh Floods • Lessons from 2011 Disasters in India • Research Studies: • Impact of disasters on education in India. • Humanitarian Systems Analysis in India. • Model Knowledge Products: • Model DDMP Pilots

15. Sphere India: Way forward Towards Formal Institutionalisation • 9 years of Collaborative Journey • Steps towards formal entity • Rotation in Governance • New Strategic Plan

16. Thank You