Training background:
India being a country of diverse geographical features and also with diversity in the people faces a large number of disasters. The nature of hazards and vulnerabilities of the people are very diverse and required lot of contextualization for effective solutions. Largely it’s the poor and the marginalized communities, the women, children and other vulnerable groups who get affected the worst, as their socio-economic vulnerability are further exposed by disasters, making them victims of circumstances.

The recent experience in disaster situations in India viz. Kosi Floods in Bihar, Cyclone Aila – West Bengal, Leh flash floods, Sikkim Earthquake, floods in different states have opened up the need for multi-pronged approach and strategies to build resilience among the communities and to work in collaboration to reduce disaster risk among the communities. The varying capacities of organizations/agencies responding to recent disasters in India, especially on needs assessments, prioritization, response management and targeting, have given enormous opportunity to work towards improving the overall response mechanism towards disasters through extensive capacity building efforts at various levels.

The Sphere handbook has become one of the most widely recognized tools for improving humanitarian planning and response. Since the publication of the 2004 handbook, there have been a number of technical advances, new cross-cutting issues have evolved, and the humanitarian environment has changed with the launch of the Humanitarian Reform process and the Cluster approach. On 14th April 2011, the 2011 edition of Sphere handbook was launched, with protection principles, updated humanitarian charter, qualitative and quantitative indicators, key actions, guidance notes and enhanced linkages between sectors. The handbook has been most widely used by the agencies and professionals involved in humanitarian interventions across the globe. Trainings on Sphere process and the handbook have been the most effective way to manifold the reach of the handbook to number of agencies and professionals.

Sphere India along with OXFAM India, Lutheran World Relief and CASA have come together to host a training of trainers on the newly developed SHPERE 2011 to assist in developing capacity of humanitarian practitioners to build capability, to share their knowledge, promote good practice and raise awareness about the importance of appropriate humanitarian delivery. Sphere India invites applicants to join this training and become part of a family of trainers who are dedicated to moving this agenda forward. The training will be held in English and run from the 12th February, 2012 until the 19th February, 2012 in New Delhi, India.

Specific Objectives/Expected Results of the ToT:
Strengthened facilitation knowledge and skills in delivering the Sphere Project Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian response training.
By the end of the training of trainers, training partners will be able to:

• Explore how to apply the Sphere Handbook as a tool for disaster response
• Describe the structure and content of the Sphere Handbook
• Explore the links between the Humanitarian Charter and humanitarian action
• State the principles of adult learning and apply them to designing and running a Sphere learning event
• Define content, and write aims and objectives for Sphere training workshops
• Demonstrate a range of training and facilitation skills
• Prepare for running a Sphere learning event in the field or for your organisation
• Devise tools and techniques for assessing learning needs and for evaluating training.

(The OBJECTIVE of this training IS NOT to thoroughly study the content of The Sphere Project or its Handbook, since participants are expected to have prior knowledge, use of and/or practical experience in utilization of the Sphere Guidelines prior to the start of the course.)

Building No. 3, Flat No. 401/3, Sona Apartments, Kaushilya Park, Hauz Khas, New Delhi – 16 (India)
Phone: +91-11-46070374, 75; Fax: +91-11-46070379
E-mail: info@sphereindia.org.in
Website: www.sphereindia.org.in

Sphere India is a National Coalition of Humanitarian Agencies in India. The members include key nodal agencies from Govt. of India, UN Agencies, INGOs, NGO Networks and National NGOs. Sphere India facilitates Inter Agency Coordination, Training and Capacity Building, Collaborative Advocacy and Information Knowledge and Learning Management through a collaborative process for Quality & Accountability.