Too Many Humanitarian Networks – or Not Enough?

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Hey fellow humanitarian leader,

I recently read a wonderful email from the Center for Humanitarian Leadership, which I suggest you read.

It is all about change in the sector, with some eye-opening points.

I don’t want to discuss them now; they are a topic often seen in this newsletter.

One thing that really struck my mind was the number of NGO networks that exist.

I am not critical of these networks, not in principle, at least. On the contrary, I think they can do excellent coordination and academic work. Can their work be improved or optimized? Yes, but this is true for everyone.

This week’s email is about these networks, as knowing them can be helpful for a humanitarian like you.

Sphere - https://www.spherestandards.org/

Sphere plays a critical role in ensuring principled, accountable, and high-quality humanitarian action. Established in 1997, it has evolved into a global network, shaping response efforts through its Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards. Sphere’s Handbook remains a cornerstone reference for humanitarian leaders, guiding them in delivering life-saving aid with dignity and efficiency.

Its collaboration with NGOs, UN agencies, and governments strengthens collective capacity, while its role in the Humanitarian Standards Partnership underscores its influence in standard-setting. Sphere provides essential frameworks to enhance crisis response, promote accountability, and ensure that affected communities participate in decisions impacting their recovery.

CHS Alliance - https://www.chsalliance.org/

The CHS Alliance is a global network of humanitarian and development organizations committed to enhancing aid quality through accountability to affected populations.

By promoting the application of the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), the Alliance emphasizes the importance of placing crisis-affected individuals at the center of humanitarian efforts. Their approach includes advising and training organizations to be accountable to affected people, protect against sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (PSEAH), and improve people management.

The Alliance's strategy focuses on improving the delivery of CHS commitments, strengthening the CHS Alliance movement, and fostering a more accountable aid system. Humanitarian organizations are encouraged to integrate these principles to ensure effective and accountable aid delivery.

H2H Network - https://h2hnetwork.org/

The H2H Network is a collective of over 50 independent humanitarian service providers dedicated to improving humanitarian responses' efficiency, accountability, and impact.

Members specialize in areas such as data and information management, community engagement and accountability, security, logistics, program support, and quality and sector professionalization. Through the H2H Fund, the network rapidly disburses funds to members, enabling swift deployment of open-source services during crises. This approach fosters locally led responses, reduces duplication, and drives innovation.

Start Network - https://startnetwork.org/

The Start Network is a global consortium of 134 humanitarian organizations on six continents, including large international agencies and local NGOs. Established in 2010, the network aims to revolutionize the humanitarian system by addressing systemic challenges such as centralized decision-making, reactive funding, and resistance to change.

Its mission is to create a new era of humanitarian action that prioritizes communities affected by crises rather than being driven by media headlines or political agendas. Key initiatives include shifting power to locally led networks, developing proactive financing mechanisms to anticipate crises, and fostering community-driven innovation.

Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response - https://www.schr.info/

The Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response (SCHR), established in 1972, is a voluntary alliance of nine leading humanitarian organizations.

SCHR aims to enhance humanitarian actions' quality, accountability, and impact by facilitating shared analysis and learning among its members. The alliance focuses on key areas such as peer support, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, improving response quality, and promoting participation and accountability.

Humanitarian Standards Partnership - https://hspstandards.org/

Finally, the Humanitarian Standards Partnership (HSP) is a network of organizations dedicated to improving the quality and accountability of humanitarian action through shared standards. Hosted by the Sphere Secretariat, it unites key initiatives, including the CHS Alliance, CALP Network, and the Alliance for Child Protection. It is basically a network of networks.

HSP provides tools, training, and guidance to ensure a rights-based approach aligned with international legal frameworks. It strengthens humanitarian responses by fostering collaboration across sectors. Humanitarian leaders are encouraged to use HSP’s resources to uphold high standards that protect the dignity and rights of affected populations.

Apart from the networks above, there are a myriad of alliances based on your field, such as those for cash assistance, education, child protection, etc.

Thanks for reading this far,
Luca

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