The Sphere Handbook is one of the most widely known and internationally recognized sets of common principles and universal minimum standards for the delivery of quality, accountable humanitarian response. In other words, it sets out what should be done when responding to crises. Because it is not owned by any one organization, the Sphere Handbook enjoys broad acceptance by the humanitarian sector as a whole. The Handbook was created by Sphere.

Anyone working or volunteering in a humanitarian response will hear frequent references to the Sphere handbook. Volunteers do not need to know the standards themselves, but they should know what the Sphere Project is and its history.

This 20-minute movie filmed in Africa, South America and South Asia depicts the contribution Sphere standards make to improving quality and accountability in humanitarian response.