The vulnerability profile, the diversity, frequency and sheer size of the both natural and manmade disasters coupled with the Socio-political-economic diversity has often led to complex humanitarian situations in India. India also happened to be base for a lot of Humanitarian agencies working in South Asian region and a large number of Humanitarian agencies have been working in India. Thus, when Sphere piloting agencies recommended for country piloting, India was selected as one of the country pilots.
Interagency Consultation on Sphere India Piloting: Three consultative meetings were held – in Ahmadabad, Kolkata and New Delhi. The inputs from over 40 organizations and over a hundred people gave the outline for a focused approach for institutionalizing Sphere in India, giving a broad shape to the India Piloting initiative. Mr. Sean Lowrie from Sphere Project facilitated the national consultations.
Sphere India NCHA: True to Indian context, Sphere India consultation led to emergence of Sphere India as a National Coalition of Humanitarian Agencies in India. Sphere India launched on 21st Feb 2003 followed an inclusive consultative process of collaboration with a goal to collectively work towards improving the quality and accountability of humanitarian action in India. Sphere India members include the Government of India, International and National non-government agencies, Ngo networks and UN agencies working in India.
Sphere India phase I, (2003 – 2004): Sphere India secretariat established in Oxfam GB and the management committee of representative of member agencies was constituted as a governing body. The elections were held for the Chair and Vice Chair of the management committee. Sphere Institutionalisation initiated through training of trainers, advocacy, debate, documentation and dissemination of best practices and lessons learned to mainstream Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in disaster response. Sphere India facilitated inter agency assessment of 2004 floods in Assam.
Sphere India phase II, (2005 – 2006): Sphere India process strengthened formation of thematic subcommittees and drafting of Sphere India constitution. The institutionalisation process focussed on mainstreaming of Sphere in training curriculums and in the coordination forums during Indian Ocean Tsunami Response and South Asian Earthquake 2005 response. The learning from these disasters led to Sphere India conceptualisation and initiating piloting of Sphere India Unified Response Strategy in 2007.
Sphere India phase III, (2007 – 2009): Initiated through collation and documentation of challenges experienced by grassroots practitioners and emerging ideas for Sphere India coalition, the phase marked the renewal in energy and participation by the member agencies. The number of member agencies gradually increased to 44 and the members reflected on gaps in the aspirations and performance of Sphere India coalition. This led to initiation of Sphere India Organisation Evolution process and development of focussed programs in desired areas (Inter Agency Coordination, Training and Capacity Building, Information and Knowledge Management, Advocacy) to enhance Quality and Accountability in Humanitarian Action in India.
Sphere India outreach expanded through six autonomous Inter Agency processes in highly vulnerable provinces of India. Sphere India played a key role in Humanitarian Coordination, Information sharing and advocacy during the 2007 and 2008 (Specially Bihar Kosi River floods) India floods.
Recruitment for Sphere India Coordinator: Sphere India phase III begin with the initiation of the recruitment process for the new Sphere Coordinator in April 2007. Oxfam GB agreed provided the initial support for the recruitment process, hosting Sphere India secretariat and revival of Sphere India program.
The recruitment was completed through Sphere India recruitment sub committee comprising of representatives from IFRC, Oxfam GB, NIDM, Seeds, IDMSP and CARE India. Mr. Vikrant Mahajan was selected as the first Choice for the position and he resumes his responsibilities from 15th July 2007. As an induction process, Vikrant visited the field areas and interacted with a number of front line agencies and humanitarian practitioners at all levels.
Emerging ideas and strategy for Sphere Institutionalization in India: Vikrant summarized the discussions with different stakeholders at all levels as challenges in Sphere implementation, lessons learnt and emerging ideas for Sphere India. The ideas were put together to develop the strategy for institutionalization of Sphere in India that was presented by Vikrant to Sphere India management committee and later to Sphere Project Board meeting in Bangalore.
Revival of the old systems and committees: Sphere India management committee reestablished old systems and thematic sub committees. In the initial meetings discussions centered on strengthening of Sphere India process as a coalition to enable it to deliver what is desired and meet the aspirations of different stakeholders. A new subcommittee on Organsation Evolution was created to steer the process for the strengthening Sphere India.
A survey was facilitated by Sphere secretariat through Organisation Evolution subcommittee conducted a survey with Sphere India member’s organizations and larger humanitarian community in India to find further directions and options for future of Sphere India. This initiated the consolidation of the Sphere India program in different thematic areas as per the mandate of Sphere India:
Sphere India Mandate (Program themes)
Sphere India process continued with periodic Management committee meetings, Emergency meetings as required and activation of URS, Organisation Evolution subcommittee meetings and other thematic subcommittee meetings. The celebration of Sphere India Day on 21st February 2008 and 2009 marks the beginning of annual event in Sphere India on which a larger audience from across the country participated and contributed to Sphere India process. The event of 21st feb 2009 also marks an important milestone as a special meeting was organized to capture the views and insights from the CEOs or Country Directors of the member originations.
Organisation Options and future directions: Sphere India organization evolution process continued with subcommittee meeting and deliberating on the core issue of strengthening Sphere India coalition. A consultant was engaged to study different networks and processes and suggest future options and direction for Sphere India. The findings of the study were shared with larger audience on 21st February 2009 event and with the CEOs / Country directors of the member originations. Incorporating the feedbacks and suggestions a management retreat was organized and a future road map as below was developed for Sphere India organization evolution:
Road Map: Sphere India Organisation Evolution
