A new era of humanitarian action

A woman pulls a cart loaded with NFI kits in India. — NEADS, 2022

Strategy 2024-2026

Our focus for these three years reaffirms our commitment to humanitarian system change, modelled through practical action. We will focus on our key strengths and value offer as a networker, funder, innovator and influencer to help transform the sector into a more equitable, ethical and pro-active in protecting communities.

People walk through rubble in the aftermath of landsliding in Peru, to deliver hot meals to affected communities. — © ADRA, 2023

Locally-led action: The missing link in crisis finance

Reflecting on the recent report from the High-Level Panel on Closing the Crisis Protection Gap, our policy experts share key takeaways and way forward.

A woman collecting items from the distribution centre — ©2022 Elysé Andriamanantenasoa, Madagascar Cyclone response

A new era of humanitarian action

Start Network is made up of 134 humanitarian agencies across six continents, ranging from large international organisations to national NGOs

About Start Network

Humanitarians distributing kits — © 2022 Cadena

10 YEARS OF START FUND

2024 marked a decade of impact for Start Network's Start Fund. Launched in 2014, the Start Fund has become a vital mechanism, empowering our circa 100 member organisations to deliver swift and anticipatory humanitarian action around the world.

Our reach

Crisis alerts we respond to around the world.

A man speaks into a megaphone during a community awareness session occuring amid buildings damaged by the storm.

Storm Franklin Response: Supporting Affected Communities in Haiti

Following the activation of Alert 766, a coordinated response was launched to address the immediate needs of those affected by Tropical Storm Franklin.

Start Fund Handbook

The January 2025 edition of the Handbook incorporates the updated ways of working with Start Fund including its revised principles, funding threshold, project duration and Assurance and Accountability tool. It introduces a mandatory Indirect Cost Recovery (ICR) sharing policy, guidance on managing foreign exchange gains and losses, and clarification on allowable and disallowable project costs.

Early and rapid financing

We innovate to find new approaches to funding that are proactive and that reach people at risk quickly.

Locally led action

Start Network’s vision is for a more balanced international aid system that is accountable to people affected by or at risk of crises.

Systems innovation

Start Network is based on innovation: looking for new ways to create the system change that will shape a more effective humanitarian system.

Where we work

Americas

Guatemala

Guatemala Hub

The Guatemala Hub is a space that seeks to guarantee the life, security and justice of people in conditions of vulnerability.
Venezuela

Flooding in South America

Intense rains caused ravines to overflow and water systems to collapse in Venezuela.
Central and South America

Start Fund Response

Start Fund provides rapid response funding to under-the-radar, small to medium-scale crises, filling a critical gap in the humanitarian aid system.

Europe

Ukraine

The need for a more equitable humanitarian response

Start Network's approach to the Ukraine crisis is based on learning from other larger-scale crises that the Start Fund has responded to in the past.
Serbia, Bulgaria

Migration Emergency Response Fund

The objective of the MERF was to rapidly respond to acute and emerging gaps and changes in needs along migration route.
Greece, Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia, Serbia

European Refugee Response

Start Network co-ordinated a two phase response to the European Refugee Crisis through ERR1 and ERR2.

Africa

DRC

DRC Hub

The mission of the DRC Hub is to build a proactive operating system to mitigate the impact of natural, man-made and other disasters,
Somalia

Somali Humanitarian Hub

The Somali Humanitarian Hub (SHH) is a locally led humanitarian system, integrating humanitarian, development, and peace programming within Somalia.
South Sudan

South Sudan Hub

The South Sudan Hub comprises local, national, and international NGOs, advocating for a humanitarian architecture characterised by dependable, flexible, adequate, and needs-based funding.

Asia

Bangladesh, Nepal

National Start Funds

National Start Funds are there to finance locally led humanitarian action, with members managing their own funds for the benefit of their own communities.
India

INDIA HUMANITARIAN HUB

IHH prioritises locally led action and leadership by bringing together local, national, and international humanitarian agencies across India.
The Philippines, Bangladesh

FOREWARN

The Forecast-based, Warning, Analysis, and Response Network aims to quickly bring together the right people to predict disasters and support humanitarians closest to an anticipated crisis.

Oceania

Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Samoa, Kiribati

Pacific Region Hub

The Pacific Humanitarian FALE is working to engage locally led humanitarian actors so that they can provide services that ensure the lives of people are safeguarded in any crisis.
Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Samoa, Kiribati

THE LOCALISATION OF HUMANITARIAN ACTION IN THE PACIFIC

Josie Flint from HAG speaks about the work they have been doing and the influence that the Start Network has had on this.
Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Samoa, Kiribati

Assembly held in Fiji, FALE-PASIFIKA

The word "fale" refers to a house that is meaningful and has a purpose when people occupy it.

Our members

World Vision

Doctors of the World

Medair

LASOONA

PRO-VIDA

Muzaffarabad Poverty Alleviation Programme

Sangtani Women Rural Development Organization (SWRDO)

Relief International

The Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA)

World Jewish Relief

Manzil Organization Balochistan

Bright Star Development Society Balochistan (BSDSB)

CADENA

Community World Service Asia

National Integrated Development Association (NIDA-Pakistan)

Plan International

Azat Foundation

Agricultural Development Association (PARC)

Sami Foundation

Oxfam GB

Muslim Aid

Wajir South Development Association

Rural Community Development Society (RCDS)

Mercy Corps

Caritas Goma

Environmental Protection Society (EPS)

Mechanism for Rational Change (MRC)

HelpAge International UK

Nari Development Organization (NDO)

People in Need (PIN)

Dorcas Aid International

Doaba Foundation

Solidarités International

GOAL

Catholic Relief Services - United States Conference of Bishops

Farmers Development Organization

Asociación de Servicios Comunitarios de Salud (ASECSA)

Christian Aid

EHSAR Foundation

Caritas Bangladesh

Caritas India

Islamic Relief

Rural Empowerment and Institutional Development (REPID)

North-East Affected Area Development Society (NEADS)

EHD

Cordaid

Appui aux Femmes Démunies et Enfants Marginalisés (AFEDEM)

War Child

ActionAid

Age International

Concern Worldwide (UK)

Yuganter

Welfare Association Jared

Trócaire

Sukaar Foundation Tharparkar

Help Foundation

Youth Organization

Society for Mobilization Advocacy and Justice (SMAAJ)

Community Development Foundation (CDF)

Cesvi

Humanity & Inclusion UK (Handicap International)

Care International UK

Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD)

Veer Development Organization

Save the Children UK

TearFund

Rural Development Organization Buner

Qatar Charity

AFPDE asbl (Association des Femmes pour la Promotion et le Développement Endogène)

Initiative for Development and Empowerment Axis (IDEA)

Participatory Rural Development Society (PRDS)

Rural Development Foundation (RDF)

Health & Nutrition Development Society (HANDS)

Deutsche Welthungerhilfe e.V.

Muslim Hands UK

Action Against Hunger UK

Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society (SEEDS)

Association for Gender Awareness & Human Empowerment (AGAHE)

ACTED

Caritas Sri Lanka

Laar Humanitarian and Development Programme (LHDP)

MIDEFEHOPS ASBL

Updates

All updates

18th February 2025

Start Ready Risk Pool 3 Structuring Report

This report summarizes the structure of Start Ready Risk Pool 3, running from May 2024 to April 2025.

14th February 2025

Locally-led action: The missing link in crisis finance

Reflecting on the recent report from the High-Level Panel on Closing the Crisis Protection Gap, our policy experts Lorna Wightman and Myriam Castaneda Solares share key takeaways and the way forward.

13th February 2025

Reimagining Scaling

The Reimagining Scaling report explores how scaling can be redefined for locally-led humanitarian innovations across five countries—Guatemala, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brazil, and Cameroon.

7th February 2025

Start Fund Risk Bulletin: February 2025

The Start Fund monthly Risk Bulletin reports on new, emerging or deteriorating situations; therefore, ongoing events that are considered to be unchanged are not featured and risks that are beyond the scope and scale of the Start Fund are also not featured. It is collated by the Start Network Anticipation and Risk Financing team using information from academia and research institutes, government departments, ACAPS, global risk indexes, risk information provided by Start Members and their partners, and the media. Key risks are shared and collated each month with FOREWARN input. Start Network members interested in raising an anticipatory alert for any of the risks highlighted in the bulletin can email startfund@startprogrammes.org for further guidance.