The Sphere Standards Training, which was organised by the International Relations Unit of the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation in Istanbul, took place between 5 and 9 January 2026. This five-day programme brought together participants from various foundations and organisations involved in humanitarian aid, who had different roles and areas of expertise. The training addressed the minimum quality and ethical principles that should guide humanitarian aid activities in disaster and crisis situations. In line with the Sphere Standards, an internationally recognised reference framework, participants had the opportunity to learn about the minimum standards that should be applied in key areas such as water and sanitation, food security, shelter and health, and to work on implementing these standards.

A comprehensive training process using interactive methods.

The programme evaluated the theoretical dimension of the Sphere Standards, as well as how they can be applied in practice. This was supported by interactive presentations, group work, case studies, and scenario-based exercises. This ensured active participation and the sharing of institutional experiences.

By the end of the training, participants should have acquired the knowledge and skills to integrate the Sphere Standards into their organisations' humanitarian aid activities. It was stated that the programme strengthened approaches focusing on quality, accountability and human dignity in humanitarian aid work, and that it provided significant gains in terms of inter-organisational cooperation and coordination.


What is Sphere training?

The Sphere Movement was set up in 1997 by experts working in the field of humanitarian aid. Its goal is to enhance the quality of humanitarian aid efforts in the response processes following disasters. It is a global initiative that brings together local and international civil society organisations, donor agencies, public institutions, and private sector representatives to strengthen the effectiveness and reliability of humanitarian aid. Training sessions cover the basic standards established by the Sphere Initiative for humanitarian aid, and include presentations on these standards and the sharing of comprehensive information with participants.

At the end of the programme, training certificates were presented to participants.