Bangladesh Hub

Its mission is to establish an environment that promotes local leadership, endorsed by both governmental bodies and key stakeholders, collectively influencing humanitarian sector through advocacy, knowledge management and system change initiatives.

Through fostering mutual learning and capacity building, the Bangladesh Hub is creating a dynamic space for local, national, and international NGOs and civil society to collectively engage in the humanitarian landscape. The Hub is not only working towards creating a network that is accountable to communities, but also empowering front-runners of humanitarian action to drive a future that is inclusive and resilient.

Launched in 2023, Start Bangladesh aims to create an inclusive humanitarian system by primarily collaborating with its current 45 members, comprising local, national, and international humanitarian agencies.

Vision: 

Create an inclusive humanitarian system that is community-driven, empowers local leadership recognised by the government and other stakeholders, and promote mutual learning and capacity sharing to anticipate, respond and build resilience.

Mission: 

Establish an environment that promotes local leadership, endorsed by both governmental bodies and key stakeholders, collectively influencing humanitarian sector through advocacy, knowledge management and system change initiatives.

Focus Areas:

• Programme partnership
• Policy and advocacy
• Learning and Development
• Locally led humanitarian action

Programmes and Initiatives:

Scale up anticipatory action and response initiatives

• Built on the programme partnership with Start Fund Bangladesh, the Hub will continue supporting Start Fund Bangladesh, Disaster Risk Financing, Organisational System Strengthening programmes, and the FOREWARN Bangladesh platform.
• Dedicated to building and fortifying partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, fostering an environment of collaboration and innovation in programme delivery.
• Expanding new and existing programmes across Bangladesh during transition into a fully operational Hub.
• Exploring fresh opportunities in developing purpose-fit programmes led by the Hub itself.

Advocacy at local, sub-national and national levels to prompt local actors and community voices for localisation

• Committed to influencing the humanitarian sector by advocating for key issues such as localisation, equitable partnerships, innovation, rapid humanitarian response, and anticipatory action.
• Empowering local actors, enhance their capacities, and ensure that humanitarian responses are more relevant, effective, and sustainable.
• Shape policy discourse, drive systemic change, and ensure that the voices of the most vulnerable populations are heard and addressed.

Capacity strengthening and evidence-based knowledge management

• Leverage its extensive network to promote and enhance learning and knowledge-sharing.
• Create a culture of continuous learning and improvement, where experiences and lessons learned are shared openly and used to inform future interventions.
• Facilitate the exchange of ideas, tools, and methodologies.