Blog Post

How local and national organisations are resisting tokenism in the humanitarian system 

Over the last decade, the global humanitarian system has faced systemic criticism by those in the Global South.

Blog Post

Dealing with exclusion – recognising systemic power imbalances and identifying ways to overcome them

The humanitarian sector aims to be locally led and therefore, it is important that the humanitarian sector listens to organisations acting at the local scale, so we can learn from their experiences and adapt to meet their needs. Over recent years, Start Network has engaged local and national non-governmental organisations through interviews and surveys to determine ways in which humanitarian structures can do better to support them. Gathering perceptions from non-governmental organisations has led to some pertinent findings related to exclusionary practices that some organisations acting at the local scale experience and led to some key recommendations that humanitarian actors can begin to implement in order to build equitable partnerships. While more in-depth research on these systemic issues continues to be conducted by Start Network and other organisations, we hope that this overview can assist international actors to begin positively disrupting the traditional systems that create barriers to equity within crisis response.

Resource

Evaluating locally led early action against heatwaves in Sibi, Pakistan

In June 2021, Bright Star Development Society Balochistan (also known as BSDSB or Bright Star) were funded to assist in mitigating against the anticipated heatwave in Sibi (Pakistan). In this locally-led anticipatory action response Bright Star provided behaviour messaging in addition to "cooling facilities" with cold water and a place to rest. This paper summarises some of the evidence and learning from an evaluation of this response.

Blog Post

Le HUB RDC balise la voie vers une nouvelle ère de l’action humanitaire Le HUB RDC balise la voie vers une nouvelle ère de l’action humanitaire

Blog Post

DRC Hub Paves the Way for a New Era of Humanitarian Action

The General Assembly of the Start Network Hub in the Democratic Republic of the Congo took place from 09 to 12 November 2021 and was attended by 40 delegates from the provincial governments of North and South Kivu, the central government, international, national and local NGOs, research institutions and universities, as well as members of Start Network’s team.

Resource

The Five Founding Hubs: What has happened and what comes next?

In April 2020, five locally led groups of changemakers came together to explore what it takes to launch local hubs as part of Start Network, as envisioned within ‘Start Evolves’. This phase was called a ‘Proof of Concept’ and has resulted in the emergence of Hubs in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guatemala, India, the Pacific Region and Pakistan. 

Event

National Workshop for the Constitution of the DRC Hub

The General Assembly of the DRC Hub will take place in Goma, the capital of the North Kivu province, from 9 to 12 November 2021.

Resource

EL VALOR DE UNA RED DIRIGIDA A NIVEL LOCAL Y LOS DESAFIOS DE CONSTRUIRLA

En el año 2020, cinco grupos de actores humanitarios se asociaron en un viaje con Start Network en cinco localidades. Este viaje se hizo para crear redes dirigidas a nivel local de agentes de cambio humanitario para presentar una alternativa poderosa al actual sistema humanitario internacional. Todos juntos forman un colectivo de hubs que ayudarían a Start Network a convertirse en una red más dirigida y distribuida a nivel local, con el poder y la toma de decisiones en manos de organizaciones más cercanas a las crisis. Estos cinco hubs ubicados en la República Democrática del Congo , Guatemala, India, Pacífico y Pakistán fueron fundados por colectivos de organizaciones en esos lugares y, juntos, están trabajando entre ellos y con Start Network para encontrar la mejor forma de construir esta red descentralizada de redes. Durante el último año, Start Network habló con varias partes interesadas para entender los puntos de vista sobre el valor y los desafíos potenciales de los hubs. Los resultados permitieron comprender dónde nuestras partes interesadas ven el valor en un modelo de red de redes dirigida a un nivel local, así como también los desafíos que esperan que enfrenten los hubs al alcanzar esta visión. Este documento se publicará como parte de los objetivos de Start Network para crear un sistema más equilibrado que acerque lo más posible el poder y la toma de decisiones a la primera línea.

Resource

LA VALEUR D’UN RESEAU DIRIGE LOCALEMENT ET LES DEFIS POUR SA CREATION

En 2020, cinq groupes d’acteurs humanitaires dans cinq endroits se sont associés pour un voyage avec Start Network. Ce voyage avait pour but de créer des réseaux de faiseurs de changement humanitaire dirigés localement afin de présenter une alternative puissante au système humanitaire international actuel. Ensemble, ils formeraient un collectif de hubs qui permettraient à Start Network de devenir un réseau plus dirigé et distribué localement, le pouvoir et la prise de décision étant entre les mains des organisations les plus proches des crises. Ces cinq hubs en république démocratique du congo, au guatemala, en inde, dans le pacifique et au pakistan ont été fondés par des collectifs d’organisations dans ces endroits et ensemble, tous les hubs travaillent les uns avec les autres et avec start network pour apprendre la meilleure façon de construire ce réseau décentralisé de réseaux. Au cours de l’année dernière, start network s’est entretenu avec une série de parties prenantes pour comprendre les points de vue sur la valeur et les défis potentiels des hubs. Les résultats ont permis de mieux comprendre où nos parties prenantes voient la valeur d’un modèle de réseau de réseaux dirigé localement, ainsi que les défis auxquels ils s’attendent à ce que les hubs soient confrontés à la réalisation de cette vision. Ce document est publié dans le cadre des objectifs de start network visant à créer un système plus équilibré qui transfère le pouvoir et la prise de décision aux personnes les plus proches de la ligne de front.

Resource

THE VALUE OF A LOCALLY LED NETWORK AND THE CHALLENGES OF BUILDING ONE

In 2020, five groups of humanitarian actors in five locations partnered on a journey with Start Network. This journey was to create locally led networks of humanitarian changemakers to present a powerful alternative to the current international humanitarian system. Together, they would form a collective of hubs that would move Start Network to becoming a more locally led and distributed network, with power and decision making in the hands of organisations closest to crises. These five hubs in DRC, Guatemala, India, Pacific, and Pakistan have been founded by collectives of organisations in those locations and together all hubs are working with each other and Start Network to learn the best way to build this decentralised network of networks. Over the last year, Start Network spoke to a range of stakeholders to understand the views on the potential value and challenges of hubs. The findings provided insight into where our stakeholders see value in a locally led network of networks model, as well as the challenges they expect hubs will face in achieving this vision.

Blog Post

How local leaders are challenging the status quo — and Start Network

As part of our move toward becoming a locally led network of networks, we've incubated and supported five Start Network hubs. Bhavya Srinivasan, Interim Head of Network Development, shares what she's learned in the two years she's worked to support them.

Event

Hub Connect: our journey towards localisation

This event, taking place from 25 May to 3 June. will bring Start Network hubs together to establish a renewed direction for the collective, peer-hub learning, set shared commitments for the wider Start Network and the hubs, all with a focus of driving towards greater localisation.

News Article

UK Aid provides £12m to support the Start Fund

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) announced today that it would provide a further £12m to support the Start Fund. The funding will enable frontline actors across Start Network’s members and partners to continue to respond rapidly to and in anticipation of under-the-radar humanitarian crises. The FCDO also agreed to work with Start Network in its transition to a global network of ‘hubs’, which will facilitate locally-led responses and improve NGO access to more innovative financing that will mitigate humanitarian impacts, both protecting and assisting people affected by crises.

Resource

LEARN about Start Network Hubs

Start Network’s first virtual Assembly meeting took take place from Monday 12 to Thursday 15 October 2020, alongside our 10-year anniversary celebrations. At the Assembly, the leadership teams of Start Network Hubs from India, DRC, Pakistan, Guatemala and the Pacific answered questions and discussed their individual journeys so far in realising their vision for change.

Resource

Hub Proof of Concept - Six Lessons in Six Months

This paper is not an evaluation. It is an exploration of the constraints, challenges, and opportunities that have emerged during the first phase of the proof of concept.

Event

Crisis is a time for new dreams

How do we re-imagine a world that is better equipped to deal with global crises? Founding members of five humanitarian hubs in India, Pakistan, DRC, Guatemala and Pacific will invite you into a discussion on how COVID-19 requires us to rethink the role of local leadership.