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Blog Post

Lessons learned from a rapid response for migrants in Niger

The Migration Emergency Response Fund (MERF) funded two projects in Agadez over the past year, both led by Doctors of the World (DOTW). Melina Koutsis, refelcts on the impact of last year’s project and what lessons learned had been drawn from it for the current response.

Blog Post

From a clinic in Niger

In this guest blog, Johannes Claes, Reporting and Advocacy Officer for Doctors of the World’s Niger Mission, tells us about its response to the relocation of vulnerable groups in Niger, supported by the Migration Emergency Response Fund (MERF).

Resource

Blockchain pilot II: summary of lessons

In 2016, a €50,000 grant to Start Network from the government of Estonia, which is leading the world in its drive to adopt the new technology, enabled us to pilot blockchain for humanitarian financing. So, in 2017 Start Network formed a partnership with a start-up social enterprise Disberse to push forward our plan to test blockchain in the delivery of humanitarian finance. Using the Disberse platform, we set out to test blockchain in a series of small disbursements. The pilot involved the creation of digital wallets on the blockchain that donors could use the transfer funding to NGOs, the NGO could then use its digital wallet to transfer the funding onto country teams. Through the pilot, we aimed to prove that blockchain could potentially be used to speed up the distribution of aid funding and trace exactly how it is spent. In this 'Blockchain Pilot II: summary of lessons' piece the Start Network, Disberse, Trócaire Ireland, Trócaire Rwanda and Caritas Rwanda review the lessons learnt during the implementation of the pilot analyse whether blockchain helped to make the delivery of humanitarian aid more effective, transparent and accountable

Blog Post

Simon O'Connell: Consolidation is key to better aid delivery

There are simply too many charities operating in international development. It is time we ourselves took action, argues the executive director of Mercy Corps.

Blog Post

Start Fund Rapid Response: helping Uganda landslide survivors

With their homes destroyed, livestock buried, and crops washed way affected families were left stranded, struggling to survive and forced to depend on the help of their neighbouring communities.

Blog Post

Start Fund: A rapid response to flooding in El Salvador

In early October, heavy rainfall from two low pressure systems led to devastating flash floods and landslides in El Salvador. More than a 1000 people were forced to leave their homes as rivers burst their banks, mudslides in the country’s hilly interior cut roads, buried buildings, and flooded homes.