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

National Integrated Development Association (NIDA-Pakistan)

War Child

Concern Worldwide (UK)

MEDAIR

EHD

Health & Nutrition Development Society (HANDS)

Yuganter

Bright Star Development Society Balochistan (BSDSB)

Catholic Relief Services - United States Conference of Bishops

Trócaire

TearFund

The Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA)

Initiative for Development and Empowerment Axis (IDEA)

Plan International

People in Need (PIN)

Mechanism for Rational Change (MRC)

Islamic Relief

Laar Humanitarian and Development Programme (LHDP)

North-East Affected Area Development Society (NEADS)

Welfare Association Jared

Environmental Protection Society (EPS)

Rural Development Organization Buner

Sami Foundation

Azat Foundation

Caritas Goma

AAINA

Farmers Development Organization

Sukaar Foundation Tharparkar

Wajir South Development Association

AJSA India

Doctors of the World

Kottapuram Integrated Development Society (KIDS)

Rural Empowerment and Institutional Development (REPID)

Participatory Rural Development Society (PRDS)

Cesvi

ACTED

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

CADENA

Gautam Buddha Jagriti Society

Society for Mobilization Advocacy and Justice (SMAAJ)

Community World Service Asia

Agricultural Development Association (PARC)

Muslim Aid

Christian Aid

Veer Development Organization

Deutsche Welthungerhilfe e.V.

Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD)

HelpAge International UK

Youth Organization

GOAL

World Vision

Rural Development Foundation (RDF)

Oxfam GB

Action Against Hunger UK

Nari Development Organization (NDO)

Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society (SEEDS)

Caritas India

Humanitarian Aid International

Doaba Foundation

Caritas Bangladesh

EHSAR Foundation

Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD)

SNIRD (Society for National Integration through Rural Development)

Cohesion Foundation Trust

Age International

Muzaffarabad Poverty Alleviation Programme

Community Development Foundation (CDF)

Appui aux Femmes Démunies et Enfants Marginalisés (AFEDEM)

Help Foundation

VOC RURAL DEVELOPMENT CENTRE (VOCRDC)

Relief International

Humanity & Inclusion UK (Handicap International)

LASOONA

Chaitanya Jyothi Welfare Society

ActionAid

Caritas Sri Lanka

Cordaid

Care International UK

World Jewish Relief

Muslim Hands UK

Rural Community Development Society (RCDS)

Qatar Charity

Sangtani Women Rural Development Organization (SWRDO)

Association for Gender Awareness & Human Empowerment (AGAHE)

PRO-VIDA

Dorcas Aid International

Manzil Organization Balochistan

Save the Children UK

Dr. Ambedkar Sheti Vikas Va Sanshodhan Sanstha (ASVSS)

Solidarités International

MIDEFEHOPS ASBL

Asociación de Servicios Comunitarios de Salud (ASECSA)

Updates

All updates

children color on pages as two humanitarian workers look on

23rd June 2025

Live Alerts

Activated

Not allocated

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

Community-led Innovation Toolkit

Americas

Americas

Europe

Europe

Africa

Africa

Asia

Asia

Oceania

Oceania

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