A new era of humanitarian action

Alert 783, Mongolia — © Altankhuyag Otgonsuren, 2024

Start Network introduces Solidarity Fund

The Fund is designed to provide rapid, flexible financial support to frontline organisations to help offset the impact of widespread funding gaps and sustain essential humanitarian efforts.

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.

humanitarian workers organise a distribution of goods in Nepal

Humanitarian Action Under Pressure: Start Network Policy Brief

Drawing on ongoing research and the experience of the Start Network, this briefing outlines the impact of funding cuts on crisis-affected communities, examines how humanitarian organisations and the broader system are responding, and explores possible scenarios for the future of aid. It concludes with Start Network’s recommendations for action.

Community-led Innovation Toolkit

This toolkit is a practical guide for organisations seeking to design and deliver community-led innovation programmes. It walks users through five key phases of the innovation journey, from programme setup through to sustainability, and includes 26 tools that support everything from community engagement and risk mapping to idea development, prototyping, and scaling.

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

Health & Nutrition Development Society (HANDS)

HelpAge International UK

Sangtani Women Rural Development Organization (SWRDO)

Azat Foundation

Deutsche Welthungerhilfe e.V.

Farmers Development Organization

Muzaffarabad Poverty Alleviation Programme

Dorcas Aid International

Veer Development Organization

Asociación de Servicios Comunitarios de Salud (ASECSA)

Muslim Hands UK

EHD

ActionAid

VOC RURAL DEVELOPMENT CENTRE (VOCRDC)

AJSA India

Solidarités International

Care International UK

Caritas Goma

Concern Worldwide (UK)

Caritas Sri Lanka

Mechanism for Rational Change (MRC)

AAINA

Help Foundation

Agricultural Development Association (PARC)

North-East Affected Area Development Society (NEADS)

Christian Aid

Oxfam GB

Age International

Community Development Foundation (CDF)

Initiative for Development and Empowerment Axis (IDEA)

MIDEFEHOPS ASBL

Bright Star Development Society Balochistan (BSDSB)

Cordaid

Doctors of the World

Association for Gender Awareness & Human Empowerment (AGAHE)

Islamic Relief

Sami Foundation

Cesvi

Chaitanya Jyothi Welfare Society

SNIRD (Society for National Integration through Rural Development)

National Integrated Development Association (NIDA-Pakistan)

GOAL

World Jewish Relief

Humanitarian Aid International

Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD)

Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society (SEEDS)

Cohesion Foundation Trust

LASOONA

Catholic Relief Services - United States Conference of Bishops

Environmental Protection Society (EPS)

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

PRO-VIDA

Laar Humanitarian and Development Programme (LHDP)

Action Against Hunger UK

Gautam Buddha Jagriti Society

Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD)

Humanity & Inclusion UK (Handicap International)

Wajir South Development Association

CADENA

Yuganter

Kottapuram Integrated Development Society (KIDS)

Welfare Association Jared

Caritas Bangladesh

EHSAR Foundation

Doaba Foundation

World Vision

Dr. Ambedkar Sheti Vikas Va Sanshodhan Sanstha (ASVSS)

Rural Development Organization Buner

Trócaire

Relief International

Rural Community Development Society (RCDS)

Youth Organization

Rural Empowerment and Institutional Development (REPID)

ACTED

Nari Development Organization (NDO)

Plan International

War Child

Appui aux Femmes Démunies et Enfants Marginalisés (AFEDEM)

Manzil Organization Balochistan

Rural Development Foundation (RDF)

Community World Service Asia

Muslim Aid

Participatory Rural Development Society (PRDS)

Sukaar Foundation Tharparkar

The Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA)

Caritas India

Save the Children UK

TearFund

Society for Mobilization Advocacy and Justice (SMAAJ)

People in Need (PIN)

Qatar Charity

MEDAIR

Updates

All updates

2nd July 2025

Live Alerts

Activated

Not allocated

Humanitarian Action Under Pressure: Start Network Policy Brief

Community-led Innovation Toolkit

Americas

Americas

Europe

Europe

Africa

Africa

Asia

Asia

Oceania

Oceania

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