In late 2022, the Famine Review Committee identified a risk of famine for several population groups in the Bay region of Somalia. The African Risk Capacity (ARC) Replica funds were consequently released in March 2023 when pre-agreed thresholds indicated rainfall deficits, drought, and worsening food insecurity. In total, 3.38 million USD was released from ARC Replica, and was supplemented with 891,800 USD from Start Ready.
It was an eventful start, with 6 heatwave activations in Pakistan within the first two days of the risk pool going live.
This handbook is aimed at Start Network members (and their partners), the Start Ready Committee and Start Network staff (including Start Programmes staff hosted by Grant Custodian(s)). Other stakeholders such as donors and partners can also access it for information purposes. The handbook is regularly reviewed by the Start Ready team who work with various Start Network teams to update the handbook as needed.
In humanitarian and disaster response efforts, LGBTQIA+ individuals are among the most vulnerable yet least visible
The European Union (EU) has announced €2 million in funding for Start Network, a global network of over 90 humanitarian organisations, to support its innovative Start Ready program. Currently operating in eight countries in Asia and Africa, Start Ready focuses on establishing rapid and relevant risk financing mechanisms based on crisis preparedness plans and pre-determined triggers developed with, and by, local communities and is expected to protect over 600,000 people
Start Ready contributes to a more locally led and anticipatory humanitarian system by building Disaster Risk Financing systems through networks of members at the national level, ensuring these systems are governed and owned by national stakeholders, and encourages direct funding to flow to members. It is contributing to the shift in the way that humanitarian action is approached and delivered by offering a powerful alternative for collaborating, financing and operating.
At the recent COP28 summit, the UK government allocated a substantial £100 million to tackle climate change, focusing on supporting at-risk communities - of which £6 million will be dedicated to protecting Senegal, Somalia, Madagascar and Zimbabwe from extreme drought and/or cyclone events through the ARC Replica mechanism.
In the first Start Ready risk pool, Start Network provided protection to 590,019 people in 8 countries, from 10 climate risks. Over the course of 12 months, Start Ready was activated 8 times.
The Howden Group Foundation has pledged £400,000 to Start Network in line with its commitment to support scalable and sustainable solutions that build the resilience of disproportionately affected communities to climate change around the world.
This report summarises the structuring of funding for the second Start Ready risk pool, outlining how the financing mechanism is allocating and prepositioning funding for the various risks. It provides an overview of the governance and decision-making process of the pool, the level of coverage and protection offered, and what is new in this risk pool.
