CODP_Disaster and Development
Session: Humanitarian Ethics
&
Sphere Standards
23 November 2021
Dr.Parivelan
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What is humanitarianism?
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Humanitarian framework
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Rights based approach
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Humanitarian ethics and principles relevance
Dr.Parivelan
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The ‘Code of Conduct in disaster relief’ is developed by Red
Cross and Red Crescent Movement, it seeks to maintain the high
standards of independence, effectiveness and impact to which
disaster response requires
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It is a voluntary code, enforced by the will of the organisation
accepting it to maintain the standards laid down in the Code. In
the event of armed conflict, the present Code of Conduct will be
interpreted and applied in conformity with international
humanitarian law
Dr.Parivelan
1 The humanitarian imperative comes first
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The right to receive humanitarian assistance, and to
offer it, is a fundamental humanitarian principle which
should be enjoyed by all citizens of all countries
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As members of the international community, it is
obligation to provide humanitarian assistance wherever
it is needed
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Hence the need for unimpeded access to affected
populations is of fundamental importance in exercising
that responsibility
Dr.Parivelan
2 Impartiality
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Aid is given regardless of the race, creed or nationality of the
recipients and without adverse distinction of any kind.
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Aid priorities are calculated on the basis of need alone
wherever possible
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The provision of relief aid is based upon a thorough
assessment of the needs of the disaster victims and the local
capacities already in place to meet those needs
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Within the entirety of programmes, it reflects the
considerations of proportionality.
Dr.Parivelan
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Thus, the provision of aid will reflect the degree of suffering it
seeks to alleviate
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In implementing this approach, we recognise the crucial role
played by women in disaster-prone communities and will ensure
that this role is supported, not diminished, by aid programmes
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The implementation of such a universal, impartial and
independent policy, can only be effective if humanitarian
partners have access to the necessary resources to provide for
such equitable relief, and have equal access to all disaster victims
Dr.Parivelan
3 Aid will not be used to further a particular
political or religious standpoint
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Humanitarian aid will be given according to the need of
individuals, families and communities
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Notwithstanding the right of Non-Governmental Humanitarian
Agencies (NGHAs) to espouse particular political or religious
opinions, we affirm that assistance will not be dependent on the
adherence of the recipients to those opinions
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Delivery or distribution of assistance should not be tied to the
embracing or acceptance of a particular political or religious
creed
Dr.Parivelan
4 Shall endeavour not to act as instruments of
government foreign policy:
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NGHAs are agencies which act independently from
governments
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E.g USAID, DFID, SIDA, etc. ?
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We therefore formulate our own policies and
implementation strategies and do not seek to
implement the policy of any government, except in so
far as it coincides with our own independent policy
Dr.Parivelan
USAID
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USAID is the lead U.S. Government agency that works to
end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic
societies to realize their potential
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USAID has adopted as its mission statement "to partner to
end extreme poverty and to promote resileint, democratic
societies while advancing the security and prosperity of
USA
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USAID operates in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern
Europe.
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Mark Green is the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for
International Development.
Dr.Parivelan
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The cost of supplying USAID's assistance includes the
agency's "Operating Expenses,” 1.99 Lakh crores.
Dr.Parivelan
DFID
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The Department for International Development (DFID) is a
United Kingdom government department responsible for
administering overseas aid. The goal of the department is "to
promote sustainable development and eliminate world
poverty".
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The Secretary of State for International Development is
Alok Sharma
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DFID's main programme areas of work are Education,
Health, Social Services, Water Supply and Sanitation,
Government and Civil Society, Economic Sector (including
Infrastructure, Production Sectors and Developing
Planning), Environment Protection, Research, and
Humanitarian Assistance
Dr.Parivelan
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DFID's total programme budget is 1.16 Lakh crores to
help meet the UK government’s
Dr.Parivelan
SIDA
u Sida's mission
The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency,
Sida, is a government agency working on behalf of the Swedish
parliament and government, with the
mission to reduce
poverty in the world.
Through our
work and in cooperation with others, we
contribute to
implementing Sweden’s Policy for Global
Development
u In order to carry out its work, Sida cooperates with Swedish
government agencies, organisations and international bodies
like the UN, the EU and the World Bank.
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Sweden’s total development aid budget for 2019 is 37
Thousand crores
Dr.Parivelan
OXFAM
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Oxfam is an international confederation of 17 organisations
working in approximately 94 countries worldwide to find
solutions to poverty and injustice around the world
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In all Oxfam's actions, the ultimate goal is to enable people
to exercise their rights and manage their own lives
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Oxfam works directly with communities and seeks to
influence the powerful, to ensure that poor people can
improve their lives and livelihoods and have a say in
decisions that affect them.
Dr.Parivelan
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We will never knowingly – or through negligence –
allow ourselves, or our employees, to be used to gather
information of a political, military or economically
sensitive nature for governments or other bodies that
may serve purposes other than those which are strictly
humanitarian, nor will we act as instruments of foreign
policy of donor governments
Dr.Parivelan
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We will use the assistance we receive to respond to
needs and this assistance should not be driven by the
need to dispose of donor commodity surpluses, nor by
the political interest of any particular donor
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We value and promote the voluntary giving of labour
and finances by concerned individuals to support our
work and recognise the independence of action
promoted by such voluntary motivation
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In order to protect our independence we will seek to
avoid dependence upon a single funding source
Dr.Parivelan
5 We shall respect culture and custom
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We will endeavour to respect the culture, structures
and customs of the communities and countries we are
working in.
Dr.Parivelan
6 We shall attempt to build disaster response on local
capacities
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All people and communities – even in disaster – possess capacities as
well as vulnerabilities
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Where possible, we will strengthen these capacities by employing local
staff, purchasing local materials and trading with local companies
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Where possible, we will work through local NGHAs as partners in
planning and implementation, and cooperate with local government
structures where appropriate
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We will place a high priority on the proper co-ordination of our
emergency responses
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This is best done within the countries concerned by those most directly
involved in the relief operations, and should include representatives of
the relevant UN bodies.
Dr.Parivelan
7 Ways shall be found to involve programme beneficiaries in the
management of relief aid
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Disaster response assistance should never be imposed
upon the beneficiaries
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Effective relief and lasting rehabilitation can best be
achieved where the intended beneficiaries are involved
in the design, management and implementation of the
assistance programme
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We will strive to achieve full community participation
in our relief and rehabilitation programmes
Dr.Parivelan
8 Relief aid must strive to reduce future vulnerabilities to disaster
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All relief actions affect the prospects for long-term
development, either in a positive or a negative fashion
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Recognising this, we will strive to implement relief
programmes which actively reduce the beneficiaries’
vulnerability to future disasters and help create
sustainable lifestyles
Dr.Parivelan
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We will pay particular attention to environmental
concerns in the design and management of relief
programmes
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We will also endeavour to minimise the negative
impact of humanitarian assistance, seeking to avoid
long-term beneficiary dependence upon external aid.
Dr.Parivelan
9 We hold ourselves accountable to both those we seek to
assist and those from whom we accept resources
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We often act as an institutional link in the partnership
between those who wish to assist and those who need
assistance during disasters
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We therefore hold ourselves accountable to both
constituencies
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All our dealings with donors and beneficiaries shall reflect
an attitude of openness and transparency
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We recognise the need to report on our activities, both from
a financial perspective and the perspective of effectiveness
Dr.Parivelan
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We recognise the obligation to ensure appropriate
monitoring of aid distributions and to carry out regular
assessments of the impact of disaster assistance
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We will also seek to report, in an open fashion, upon
the impact of our work, and the factors limiting or
enhancing that impact
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Our programmes will be based upon high standards of
professionalism and expertise in order to minimise the
wasting of valuable resources
Dr.Parivelan
10 In our information, publicity and advertising activities,we shall
recognise disaster victims as dignified humans, not hopeless objects
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Respect for the disaster victim as an equal partner in
action should never be lost
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In our public information we shall portray an objective
image of the disaster situation where the capacities and
aspirations of disaster victims are highlighted, and not
just their vulnerabilities and fears.
Dr.Parivelan
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While we will cooperate with the media in order to
enhance public response, we will not allow external or
internal demands for publicity to take precedence over
the principle of maximising overall relief assistance
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We will avoid competing with other disaster response
agencies for media coverage in situations where such
coverage may be to the detriment of the service
provided to the beneficiaries or to the security of our
staff or the beneficiaries.
Dr.Parivelan
Recommendations to the governments of disaster affected
countries
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1 Governments should recognise and respect the
independent, humanitarian and impartial actions of
NGHAs
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NGHAs are independent bodies. This independence
and impartiality should be respected by host
governments.
Dr.Parivelan
2 Host governments should facilitate rapid access to
disaster victims for NGHAs
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If NGHAs are to act in full compliance with their
humanitarian principles, they should be granted rapid
and impartial access to disaster victims, for the purpose
of delivering humanitarian assistance.
Dr.Parivelan
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3 Governments should facilitate the timely flow of relief goods
and information during disasters
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Relief supplies and equipment are brought into a country solely
for the purpose of alleviating human suffering, not for
commercial benefit or gain.
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Such supplies should normally be allowed free and unrestricted
passage and should not be subject to requirements for consular
certificates of origin or invoices, import and/or export licences or
other restrictions, or to importation taxation, landing fees or
port charges.
Dr.Parivelan
4 Governments should seek to provide a coordinated
disaster information and planning service
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The overall planning and coordination of relief efforts
is ultimately the responsibility of the host government.
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Planning and coordination can be greatly enhanced if
NGHAs are provided with information on relief needs
and government systems for planning and
implementing relief efforts as well as information on
potential security risks they may encounter.
Dr.Parivelan
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5 Disaster relief in the event of armed conflict
In the event of armed conflict, relief actions are
governed by the relevant provisions of international
humanitarian law.
Dr.Parivelan
Politics and Humanitarian Action
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The tragedies of the past decade have led to an identity crisis
among humanitarians
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Respecting traditional principles of neutrality and impartiality
and operating procedures based on consent has created as many
problems as it has solved
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A debate is raging between “classicists,” who believe that
humanitarian action can be insulated from politics, and various
“political humanitarians,” who are attempting to use politics to
improve relief and delivery in war zones
Dr.Parivelan
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We need to examines the pros and cons of impartial
versus political humanitarianism and differing
approaches across a spectrum of actors, including the
classicists, led by the International Committee of the
Red Cross, who believe that humanitarian action can
and should be completely insulated from politics;
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the “minimalists,” who “aim to do no harm” in
delivering relief;
Dr.Parivelan
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the “maximalists,” who have a more ambitious agenda
of employing humanitarian action as part of a
comprehensive strategy to transform conflict
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“solidarists,” exemplified by Médecins Sans Frontières
(Doctors without Borders), who choose sides and
abandon neutrality and impartiality as well as reject
consent as a prerequisite for intervention.
Dr.Parivelan
Humanitarian Accountability
Dr.Parivelan
ANLAP
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ALNAP (Active Leaning Network for Accountability
and Performance) is a unique system-wide network
dedicated to improving humanitarian performance
through increased learning and accountability
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ALNAP was established in 1997, as a mechanism to
provide a forum on learning, accountability and
performance issues for the humanitarian sector,
following the Joint Evaluation of Emergency Assistance
to Rwanda (JEEAR).
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The JEEAR is the most comprehensive system-wide
evaluation of an international response to a
humanitarian crisis to date. It led to demands for
increased professionalisation of the humanitarian
sector.
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Consequently, several initiatives were developed during
the same few years to improve the performance of the
humanitarian sector
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These include The Code of Conduct for The
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
and NGOs in Disaster Relief, the Sphere Project, the
Humanitarian Ombudsman Project (which became
HAP International) and People In Aid.
Structure
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ALNAP consists of Members and subscribers. We are
governed by a Steering Committee representing the
membership, and serviced by a small secretariat.
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The ALNAP Membership is designed to reflect the structure
of the humanitarian sector through its six different
membership groupings:
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Donor organisations
UN agencies
independent academic organisations and experts
Red Cross/Red Crescent movement
non-governmental organisations
private sector
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ALNAP had developed a 2013-2018 strategy to increase
the efficiency and internal coherence of the network by
helping to ensure that the different members and
constituent groups of ALNAP have a shared
understanding of the network’s focus.
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The strategy encapsulates ALNAP’s vision, values,
strategic focus areas and key principles. Importantly,
the strategy recognises that humanitarian action evolves
in a constantly changing landscape which does not lend
itself to static long term objectives and indicators.
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The approach is therefore to define direction without
confining it by presenting some ‘simple rules’ that will
guide decisions about how ALNAP allocates and uses
its resources to work towards its vision.
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Check video on HAP
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=fvUur1NKTtQ#t=192
1
1
1
2
3
1
2
Assistance appropriate and
relevant to their needs
3
2
12
3
4
Access to the humanitarian
assistance they need
at the right time
12
4
32
4
5
1
4
3
5
6
4
2
4
5
6
3
45
67
To know their rights and
entitlements, have access
to information and participate
in decisions that affect them
45
7
675
8a
4
7
6
5
8a 7
9 8a
6
Coordinated,
complementary
assistance
3
1
Communities and
people affected by
crisis can expect:
1
2
2
76
9 8a
9
32
5
3
3
6
That they are not negatively
affected and are more
prepared, resilient and
less at-risk as a result of
humanitarian action
65
8a
5
6
9
Access to safe and
responsive mechanisms
to handle complaints
8 a9
9
8b
7
Delivery of improved
assistance as organisations
learn from experience
Core Humanitarian Standard
(CHS Alliance)
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Mission is to
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Promote respect for the rights and dignity of people and
communities vulnerable to risk and affected by disaster,
conflict or poverty and enhance the effectiveness and impact
of assistance by building a culture of quality and
accountability
Sphere Standards
Dr.Parivelan
Dr.Parivelan
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Established in 1997, the Sphere Project has become a leading
supporter of humanitarian standards grounded in rights, evidence
and best practice, promoting quality and accountability in
humanitarian response at field level.
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Over nearly two decades, Sphere has evolved into a common
language across the humanitarian sector and a force for
collaboration among quality and accountability initiatives.
Building on this experience, Sphere is well positioned to rise to
today’s complex humanitarian challenges.
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The time is ripe for Sphere to consolidate its organic growth,
respond to the priorities of the community of Sphere practitioners
and advocates and establish an ambitious agenda to continue
fulfilling its unique role within the humanitarian sector.
Dr.Parivelan
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Sphere 2020 sets about to transform Sphere from a project into a
vigorous, deeply connected network of practitioners and organisations
which will act as a global catalyst for humanitarian quality and
accountability.
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Four strategic priorities will enable realisation of this ambitious goal:
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Priority 1: The establishment of a robust, inclusive network of Sphere
practitioners will allow humanitarian actors and first responders to
develop greater capacity to put humanitarian principles and standards
into practice.
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Priority 2: The collective ability of the Sphere network to carry out
training and advocacy will be strengthened, targeting first responders,
traditional and new humanitarian actors, international systems as well
as local and national authorities.
Dr.Parivelan
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Priority 3: A revision of the Sphere Handbook will
offer the opportunity to sharpen the relevance and
usability of Sphere standards by consolidating the
evidence base and aligning them with innovative best
practice in the sector.
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Priority 4: The progressive formalisation of a global
standards alliance will improve coordinated action,
allowing humanitarian standards to better influence
humanitarian response, building greater ownership by
individuals, communities and organisations.
Dr.Parivelan
Sphere Protection Principles
Dr.Parivelan
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The Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian
Response, also known as the Sphere Handbook, is widely seen to be
the most popular basic text in humanitarian assistance. Its
usefulness and practical value have led to spontaneous translation
into more than 40 languages.
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At a global level, Sphere has not only emphasised the central place
of disaster- or conflict-affected communities in humanitarian
action but has also helped donors to align their priorities. Local
organisations and authorities champion Sphere in their countries,
emerging as strong advocates for quality in preparedness and
response. Sphere standards have been integrated into disaster
management policies at national or district levels in a range of
countries.
Dr.Parivelan
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Sphere has established itself as the primary multi-sector
reference, a viable and responsive model and a key custodian
of standards for humanitarian action. A growing number of
formally related Companion Standards complement the
Sphere Handbook, providing humanitarian professionals
with a pool of harmonised quality standards that drive more
effective humanitarian action1.
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Working in a collaborative manner with other quality and
accountability initiatives, Sphere has contributed to the
development of the Core Humanitarian Standard on
Quality and Accountability (CHS), which will be fully
integrated into the Sphere Handbook.
Dr.Parivelan
Guiding values
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Dignity All people have intrinsic human dignity and a
right to control and live their lives with dignity.
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Evidence Sphere develops practical tools for field
workers based on evidence and best collective practice.
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Collaboration Sphere values the leadership and
engagement of diverse constituents as well as inclusive,
consultative processes that distil
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the collective knowledge of the sector.
Dr.Parivelan
Vision and mission
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Vision Sphere envisions a world in which all people
affected by disaster or conflict are able to re-establish
their lives and recover their livelihoods in ways that
respect and promote their dignity.
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Mission Sphere convenes and supports individuals,
communities, organisations and like-minded standardssetting bodies who apply, promote and encourage
voluntary adherence to humanitarian standards and
principles.
Dr.Parivelan
Priority 3: Sphere standards
Objective: The Sphere standards’ relevance and usability is sharpened by
consolidating the evidence base and by aligning them to innovative best practice
in the sector
Actions:
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Research and disseminate evidence of how applying Sphere standards
improves the quality and accountability of humanitarian response.
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Develop guidance and tools to facilitate the use of Sphere standards4
throughout project cycle management, with renewed focus on implementation
in operational contexts and ownership by disaster-affected communities.
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Establish the framework for and conduct the revision of the Sphere
Handbook, fully informed by innovation in the fields of humanitarian
response, social collaboration and information technologies.
Dr.Parivelan
Putting the Principles into practice
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Child protection;
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Gender-based violence;
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Housing, land and property rights;
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Rule of law and justice;- legal counselling;
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Human rights advocates and defenders;
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Internally displaced populations;
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Refugee rights
Dr.Parivelan
Protection activities
Protection-related activities can be preventive, responsive, remedial and
environment-building. Upholding the Protection Principles requires a
combination of these activities.
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▪ Preventive: Preventing threats to safety, dignity or rights from
occurring, or reducing exposure or vulnerability to these threats.
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▪ Responsive: Stopping ongoing violations or abuse by immediate
response to incidents of violence, coercion and deprivation.
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▪ Remedial: Providing remedies for ongoing or past abuses by offering
healthcare (including psychosocial support), legal assistance or other
support, to help people restore their dignity.
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▪ Environment-building: Contributing to a policy, social, cultural,
institutional and legal environment that supports the full respect of the
rights of the affected population. This includes encouraging respect for
rights in accordance with international law.
Dr.Parivelan
Dr.Parivelan
WASH
Dr.Parivelan
WASH Principles
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Food and Nutrition
Dr.Parivelan
Nutritional Scale
Dr.Parivelan
Recap of topics
1. Introduction to Disasters
2. Hazards, Risks and Vulnerability
3. Disaster experience and Genesis of Disaster
Management
4. Disaster management in India- Laws, Policies and
Practices
5. International Disaster Law
6. HFA
Dr.Parivelan
7. Sendai Declaration
8. CBDRM
9. Humanitarian ethics and ALNAP
10. Sphere standards
Mob no. 9029090802
Email: parivelan@tiss.edu
Dr.Parivelan