Sphere Introductory Training in Romania

This introductory training on the Sphere Handbook: Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response was delivered in Bucharest, Romania (April 2023), in collaboration with Save the Children International (SCI), to strengthen the application of humanitarian standards within the Ukraine response context.

The training aimed to build foundational knowledge of Sphere among humanitarian practitioners, many of whom were relatively new to the sector and had been primarily operating within national regulatory frameworks. Through a combination of structured inputs and practical exercises, the course introduced participants to the core components of the Sphere Handbook, including the Humanitarian Charter, Protection Principles, Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), and the four technical chapters. Emphasis was placed on contextualisation and linking standards to real-life operational challenges.

The training engaged 39 participants, predominantly women, working across SCI programmes in Romania. Delivered bilingually (English with live Romanian translation), the course facilitated inclusive participation and enabled participants to reflect on their experiences, identify gaps in coordination and standards application, and explore opportunities for more structured and principled humanitarian action.