What we do
Strategy & Initiatives
We're tackling what we believe are the biggest systemic problems that the sector faces - problems including slow and reactive funding, centralised decision-making, and an aversion to change, means that people affected by crises around the world, do not receive the best help fast enough, and needless suffering results.
Locally-led action
We believe that a more balanced international aid system, which shifts power to those closest to the front-line, will generate more effective and appropriate responses for people affected by crises.
New forms of financing
Our pooled funds enable fast and early action to tackle the kind of crises that are often overlooked by other funding mechanisms. Our risk financing pilots are introducing new ways of working that can save even more lives.
Collective innovation
New ways of working are needed to tackle the challenges we face. By innovating collectively we can share expertise, insights and perspectives to shape a more effective humanitarian system.
Programmes
ActionAid
The Start Fund
A unique rapid response fund for small to medium scale, and ‘under-the-radar’ emergencies, collectively managed by NGOs. Proposed projects are reviewed by humanitarians in the affected country so that those selected are the best placed to help communities caught up in crises. After piloting in 2010, we were able to take it to scale and in 2014 the Start Fund was born. The Start Fund can now respond to crises before they hit using the Crisis Anticipation Window.
Muslim Aid - collecting information from people affected by the fire
Start Fund Bangladesh
The first national Start Fund, designed to allow local and national NGOs direct access to funding that is collectively managed by its members. Over time it will become an independent national fund. Launched in April 2017, it was already activated three times within its first four months, reaching 122,306 people in crisis.
Start Fund COVID-19
Start Fund COVID-19 enables Start Network members to anticipate and respond to critical virus-related humanitarian needs in low-income countries. The new fund is part of the Start Network’s existing funding mechanism, the Start Fund, and provides rapid funding for small to medium responses at the local level, to address neglected or underfunded aspects of the broader COVID-19 crisis, with a focus on neglected communities and geographies and early action and anticipation.
The Future of Humanitarian Action in Pakistan
Start Network Hubs
We are aiming to take our innovative way of working to scale, while shifting more power and resources to those closest to humanitarian crises. Start Network Hubs - collectives of local, national and international organisations operating in the same country or region - are emerging around the world. These hubs will control their own resources and define their own responses to crises affecting their communities, united by a shared purpose and common standards.
Sorce and her son Abdallah in the drought-stricken Oromia region of Ethiopia. Credit: UNOCHA/Charlotte Cans
Anticipation & Risk Financing
The Start Network is developing and testing two new financing instruments that aim to deploy funds in a faster, more efficient way to civil society responders. The first instruments being tested, aim to protect communities at risk of major droughts.
Past Programmes
Winterisation activities in Serbia - © Oxfam/Marija Piroški
Migration Emergency Response Fund
The Start Network’s Migration Emergency Response Fund allows organisations to react to changes or unforeseen circumstances within the European Refugee Crisis.
Humanitarian surge training Bangkok 2016 © ActionAid
DEPP Innovation Labs
The Disasters and Emergencies Preparedness Programme (DEPP) Innovation Labs was a two-year £10 million programme that identified and funded innovative solutions to disaster preparedness through a network of labs based around the world in countries prone to disaster. Funded by UK Aid.
GroundTruth Solutions
Disasters and Emergencies Preparedness Programme
DEPP was a three-year programme that developed effective humanitarian response where it was needed the most. DEPP was one of the largest investments of its kind, funded by UK Aid and managed collaboratively by the CDAC Network and Start Network.
Care
Zika Response Project
Part of the West Africa Ebola Preparedness Programme, the Zika Response project was implemented as a contingency to prevent the outbreak of an additional disease in the region. The project used a two-pronged approach of vector control and sexual and reproductive health activities to prevent a Zika outbreak in Guinea Bissau.
Blockchain
Start Network has been testing Blockchain technology to assess it's potential to transform the speed and transparency of the distribution of aid funding. The ultimate aim would be to bring greater efficiency and transparency into humanitarian funding, by enabling every pound in aid to be tracked, from donor to beneficiary.
Ebola Preparedness Programme
This programme helped governments and communities in Guinea Bissau, Mali, Senegal and the Ivory Coast prevent and prepare for possible outbreaks of Ebola and other infectious diseases.
Jordi Bernabeu Farrús
European Refugees Crisis
The Start Network's response to the European Refugee Crisis was a consortium of 17 agencies working at different levels to respond to the European refugee crisis in Greece, Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia and Serbia.
Care
Central African Republic Refugees in Cameroon Response
Start Network coordinated a response involving three members and their partners to support thousands of refugees in Cameroon fleeing fighting in the Central African Republic.