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.

a woman laughs as she works on her field in Zimbabwe

Start Network Pioneers Innovative Insurance Mechanism to Protect More People from Climate Crises with Aon

Start Network and Aon have launched a groundbreaking reinsurance product to strengthen Start Ready’s ability to provide early, anticipatory funding for climate crises.

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

Community World Service Asia

Muzaffarabad Poverty Alleviation Programme

Nari Development Organization (NDO)

Action Against Hunger UK

Environmental Protection Society (EPS)

Caritas Goma

Bright Star Development Society Balochistan (BSDSB)

Laar Humanitarian and Development Programme (LHDP)

CADENA

Rural Development Foundation (RDF)

The Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA)

Rural Community Development Society (RCDS)

Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD)

Cesvi

Qatar Charity

ActionAid

Dorcas Aid International

EHD

Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society (SEEDS)

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

Cordaid

Yuganter

Sangtani Women Rural Development Organization (SWRDO)

People in Need (PIN)

Kottapuram Integrated Development Society (KIDS)

MEDAIR

Farmers Development Organization

HelpAge International UK

Society for Mobilization Advocacy and Justice (SMAAJ)

Islamic Relief

Humanitarian Aid International

Initiative for Development and Empowerment Axis (IDEA)

Relief International

Care International UK

Azat Foundation

Gautam Buddha Jagriti Society

Humanity & Inclusion UK (Handicap International)

Doctors of the World

Concern Worldwide (UK)

Cohesion Foundation Trust

PRO-VIDA

War Child

Veer Development Organization

Save the Children UK

Wajir South Development Association

Sukaar Foundation Tharparkar

Christian Aid

Oxfam GB

World Jewish Relief

TearFund

Manzil Organization Balochistan

Muslim Hands UK

Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD)

Mechanism for Rational Change (MRC)

North-East Affected Area Development Society (NEADS)

EHSAR Foundation

Dr. Ambedkar Sheti Vikas Va Sanshodhan Sanstha (ASVSS)

ACTED

MIDEFEHOPS ASBL

GOAL

Chaitanya Jyothi Welfare Society

Association for Gender Awareness & Human Empowerment (AGAHE)

Participatory Rural Development Society (PRDS)

Age International

Caritas Bangladesh

World Vision

Rural Development Organization Buner

Asociación de Servicios Comunitarios de Salud (ASECSA)

Appui aux Femmes Démunies et Enfants Marginalisés (AFEDEM)

LASOONA

AAINA

Catholic Relief Services - United States Conference of Bishops

Health & Nutrition Development Society (HANDS)

Caritas Sri Lanka

Agricultural Development Association (PARC)

Sami Foundation

Muslim Aid

Trócaire

Community Development Foundation (CDF)

SNIRD (Society for National Integration through Rural Development)

Caritas India

VOC RURAL DEVELOPMENT CENTRE (VOCRDC)

Deutsche Welthungerhilfe e.V.

Solidarités International

Rural Empowerment and Institutional Development (REPID)

Welfare Association Jared

Doaba Foundation

Youth Organization

Plan International

AJSA India

National Integrated Development Association (NIDA-Pakistan)

Help Foundation

Updates

All updates

1st July 2025

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.