Crown Agents USA recently ran Sphere Project training for NGOs and international development companies in the Washington DC area. Its highlights included breakout sessions where participants applied handbook concepts to real-life scenarios and experienced simulated challenges of aid coordination in the field. Led by Crown Agents' humanitarian advisor, Simon Williamson, the training spurred discussion on how to implement Sphere within participants' organizations to be able to better plan for, implement, monitor and evaluate relief projects.
The Sphere Project's goal is to establish a consensus on minimum standards in disaster response. The Sphere Project Humanitarian Charter and handbook have had a profound effect on coordinating disaster response in situations including the Pakistan earthquake and the ongoing crisis in Darfur.