Що таке гуманітарні стандарти та чим це допоможе Україні

The full-scale invasion caused serious humanitarian problems both in Ukraine and in other countries that accepted the affected population under temporary protection. That is why, in August 2022, the international organization "Sphere" launched a program to disseminate humanitarian standards for Ukraine and Eastern Europe. The "Tvoya opora" (Your Support) Charitable Foundation was certified under this program and became the first Ukrainian coordinator for minimum humanitarian response standards. 1,000 copies of the Humanitarian Standards Handbook are already in Ukraine.

The Sphere movement was initiated in 1997 by a group of professionals to improve the quality of humanitarian work during disasters and crises. Today, the community unites 14 coordination centers in Europe, including Ukraine, and 71 worldwide. Country coordinators are trusted organizations that actively promote and support the application of Sphere standards at the country level.

When the full-scale invasion occurred, we had to open a shelter in Lviv for people fleeing the war. In addition, we actively began transferring humanitarian aid to victims in various parts of the country. It became clear that our work needed to rely on certain standards: to provide assistance to people as effectively as possible, without violating their rights and ethical aspects, and to report on every hryvnia spent. We began looking for international experience – we found the Sphere project, applied, and became the sole coordinator from Ukraine. The entire Foundation team and members of the supervisory board have already undergone training in humanitarian standards, – Valeria Tatarchuk, founder and head of the "Tvoya opora" Charitable Foundation.

The organization develops and promotes the most well-known and internationally recognized set of principles and universal minimum standards in the field of humanitarian ¹ aid. Integrating them into the work of Ukrainian public organizations will help provide assistance qualitatively, timely, as intended, and according to needs. The standards are based on human rights, ethics, and real data obtained during various crises worldwide over the 25 years of Sphere's existence.  

I am very pleased that "Tvoya Opora" has become the coordinator of "Sphere" in Ukraine. I know that they are very passionate about promoting the idea of principled humanitarian response and demonstrate in practice how Minimum Humanitarian Standards can be used in the context of Ukraine. As I saw in Odesa last year, training in Minimum Humanitarian Standards, as well as promoting the Standards handbook in Ukraine, is very timely. We are confident that such close cooperation will bring a new focus on the quality and accountability of humanitarian aid in the context of the conflict that is so mercilessly destroying people's lives, – William Anderson, Executive Director of Sphere.

Currently, the Sphere project handbook has already been translated into Ukrainian, and 1,000 copies have been transferred to the "Tvoya opora" Charitable Foundation. Updates will be available on the Foundation's website and the project's official Facebook page. Ukrainian organizations and foundations that provide humanitarian assistance to people are invited to attend classes and training on humanitarian standards from the "Tvoya opora" CF.