OBJECTIVES

Session 1:

• Participants can identify the relationship between broad international standards — human rights — and eventual technical programme standards and benchmarks, and situate these as references for M&E

Session 2

• Same as Session 1, and
• Participants are aware of the Sphere Standards (Minimum Standards in Disaster Response) and their relevance for M&E of humanitarian response.

OUTLINE

Do we need to intervene on a given issue? If so, to what extent? What has been the impact of our intervention? To answer these questions, data collected must allow us to compare the current situation to different sets of standards and benchmarks. This part of the module focuses on standards and benchmarks for performance measurement, situating these in relation to the longer-term vision of human rights and development goals.

This part has two alternative sessions. The first session is oriented more to M&E in stable contexts.
The second session will use the core content sheets from the first session as well as additional material to focus on emerging standards for some areas of humanitarian response: the Minimum Standards for Disaster Response developed by the Sphere Project.

LINKS TO OTHER SESSIONS

MODULE 2.3 - INDICATORS.
Note that definitions of indicators, benchmarks, targets, and the various types of indicators are covered in Module 2.3.

4.4.1

CHILDREN'S RIGHTS AND INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS

This session introduces the continuum, from universal norms to planning goals, to targets and benchmarks, to indicators. It refers specifically to Human Rights Conventions and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the World Fit for Children goals and the global standardised indicators in the Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey (MICS). It situates the value and limitations of performance standards and benchmarks in framing information needs.

FN	Children's rights and international standards Insert description
CCS	Human rights as a reference CRC, world conferences for children, Multi-Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS)
OH	Human rights as a reference

LINKS TO OTHER SESSIONS
PART 7.3.1 - DATABASES FOR INFORMATION SHARING
Ad hoc data collection and sharing tools (e.g. Childinfo) have been created to collect and exchange indicators related to the MICS.

4.4.2

FROM MINIMUM STANDARDS TO HUMAN RIGHTS

This session is an appropriate alternative to Session 4.4.1 when the focus is on M&E in crisis and unstable contexts. It provides a brief introduction to the Sphere Project and the Minimum Standards developed, as well as the limitations to these standards and benchmarks. As with Session 4.4.1, standards and benchmarks are situated as part of a continuum with human rights as an overarching reference.

FN	From minimum standards to human rights as a reference This training session begins with a "quiz": assess the situation in a camp using a given list of key indicators. Facilitator then briefly introduces the Sphere standards to participants (if they are not familiar), and follows with a discussion on the need to take into consideration wider criteria in order to fully appreciate a situation. Human rights will be presented as a reference. The session concludes with a brainstorming on the advantages and important considerations in using standards.
CCS	Human rights as a reference Human rights and humanitarian law as a reference Humanitarian principles Sphere: Minimum standards in Disaster Response Minimum standards as a guide
OH	Minimum standards in Disaster Response
EX	Is the situation good?

REFERENCE MATERIALS

UNICEF/EMOPS (1999). Humanitarian Principles Training. UNICEF, New York. Available in English, French and Spanish and on CD-ROM format. Request info at: opscen@unicef.org

The Sphere Project (2004) The Sphere Handbook: Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response — http://www.sphereproject.org/ http://www.sphereproject.org/
The site of the Sphere Project contains the full text on the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response, as well as background material and training modules.