We innovate to find new approaches to funding that are proactive and that reach people at risk quickly.
A new era of humanitarian action
Start Network is made up of more than 140 humanitarian agencies across six continents, ranging from large international organisations to national NGOs
Start Network at COP30
Climate change is affecting the way we respond to humanitarian crises. Extreme weather events have become more frequent and intense, pushing actors to shift towards innovative and anticipatory approaches to the climate emergency.
At COP30 this year, we call to prioritise Local, Indigenous, and Traditional Knowledge.
Annual Report 2024
This 2024 Annual Report represents the first year of Start Network’s 2024–2026 Strategic Plan: Change Means Action. Building on a decade of experience driving change through local leadership, fast funding, innovation, evidence and learning, this strategy aims to leverage our core strengths as a network, a funder, an innovator and an influencer to put our systems change ambitions into practice, and advance our vision of a faster, fairer, and more locally led humanitarian system.
Start Network introduces Solidarity Fund
The Fund is designed to provide rapid, flexible financial support to frontline organisations to help offset the impact of widespread funding gaps and sustain essential humanitarian efforts.
Strategy 2024-2026
Our focus for these three years reaffirms our commitment to humanitarian system change, modelled through practical action. We will focus on our key strengths and value offer as a networker, funder, innovator and influencer to help transform the sector into a more equitable, ethical and pro-active in protecting communities.
Locally-led action: The missing link in crisis finance
Reflecting on the recent report from the High-Level Panel on Closing the Crisis Protection Gap, our policy experts share key takeaways and way forward.
Our reach
Crisis alerts we respond to around the world.
A year after USAID: a perspective from Pakistan
A year on from the savage USAID cuts, the reality for three Start Network members in Pakistan is a sector under intense financial and structural strain.
Read moreAreas of work
Start Network’s vision is for a more balanced international aid system that is accountable to people affected by or at risk of crises.
Start Network is based on innovation: looking for new ways to create the system change that will shape a more effective humanitarian system.
Where we work
Americas
Americas
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Guatemala
Guatemala Hub
The Guatemala Hub is a space that seeks to guarantee the life, security and justice of people in conditions of vulnerability.
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Venezuela
Flooding in South America
Intense rains caused ravines to overflow and water systems to collapse in Venezuela.
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Central and South America
Start Fund Response
Start Fund provides rapid response funding to under-the-radar, small to medium-scale crises, filling a critical gap in the humanitarian aid system.
Europe
Europe
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Ukraine
The need for a more equitable humanitarian response
Start Network's approach to the Ukraine crisis is based on learning from other larger-scale crises that the Start Fund has responded to in the past.
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Serbia, Bulgaria
Migration Emergency Response Fund
The objective of the MERF was to rapidly respond to acute and emerging gaps and changes in needs along migration route.
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Greece, Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia, Serbia
European Refugee Response
Start Network co-ordinated a two phase response to the European Refugee Crisis through ERR1 and ERR2.
Africa
Africa
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DRC
DRC Hub
The mission of the DRC Hub is to build a proactive operating system to mitigate the impact of natural, man-made and other disasters,
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Somalia
Somali Humanitarian Hub
The Somali Humanitarian Hub (SHH) is a locally led humanitarian system, integrating humanitarian, development, and peace programming within Somalia.
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South Sudan
South Sudan Hub
The South Sudan Hub comprises local, national, and international NGOs, advocating for a humanitarian architecture characterised by dependable, flexible, adequate, and needs-based funding.
Asia
Asia
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Bangladesh, Nepal
National Start Funds
National Start Funds are there to finance locally led humanitarian action, with members managing their own funds for the benefit of their own communities.
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India
INDIA HUMANITARIAN HUB
IHH prioritises locally led action and leadership by bringing together local, national, and international humanitarian agencies across India.
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The Philippines, Bangladesh
FOREWARN
The Forecast-based, Warning, Analysis, and Response Network aims to quickly bring together the right people to predict disasters and support humanitarians closest to an anticipated crisis.
Oceania
Oceania
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Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Samoa, Kiribati
Pacific Region Hub
The Pacific Humanitarian FALE is working to engage locally led humanitarian actors so that they can provide services that ensure the lives of people are safeguarded in any crisis.
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Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Samoa, Kiribati
THE LOCALISATION OF HUMANITARIAN ACTION IN THE PACIFIC
Josie Flint from HAG speaks about the work they have been doing and the influence that the Start Network has had on this.
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Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Samoa, Kiribati
Assembly held in Fiji, FALE-PASIFIKA
The word "fale" refers to a house that is meaningful and has a purpose when people occupy it.
Our members
Manob Mukti Sangstha (MMS)
Muslim Hands
Association for Gender Awareness & Human Empowerment (AGAHE)
Appui aux Femmes Démunies et Enfants Marginalisés (AFEDEM)
Manzil Organization Balochistan
Asociación de Servicios Comunitarios de Salud (ASECSA)
Gargaar Relief and Development Organization - GREDO
Hope Restoration South Sudan (HRSS)
Participatory Rural Development Society (PRDS)
Muslim Aid
War Child
Tearfund
Caritas India
Christian Aid
Community Development Foundation (CDF)
LASOONA
Caritas Goma
Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society (SEEDS)
Mahideb Jubo Somaj Kallayan Somity (MJSKS)
SNIRD (Society for National Integration through Rural Development)
Yuganter
Solidarités International
PRO-VIDA
Islamic Relief
Relief International
Humanitarian Aid International
Farmers Development Organization
Nabolok Parishad
Laar Humanitarian and Development Programme (LHDP)
Mother and Children Development Aid (MACDA)
Asociación de Desarrollo Agrícola y Microempresarial (ADAM)
AFPDE asbl (Association des Femmes pour la Promotion et le Développement Endogène)
Rural Development Organization Buner
Azat Foundation
Community World Service Asia
Sami Foundation
ActionAid UK
Chaitanya Jyothi Welfare Society
EHD
Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD)
People in Need (PIN)
VOC RURAL DEVELOPMENT CENTRE (VOCRDC)
ASHIKA Development Associates
World Vision UK
Bolipara Nari Kalyan Somity (BNKS)
Help Foundation
Rural Community Development Society (RCDS)
Kottapuram Integrated Development Society (KIDS)
National Development Programme (NDP)
AAINA
Sangtani Women Rural Development Organization (SWRDO)
Trócaire
Society for Mobilization Advocacy and Justice (SMAAJ)
Muzaffarabad Poverty Alleviation Programme
Organisation for Social and Economic Development (OSED)
Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD)
Nazrul Smriti Sangsad-NSS
North-East Affected Area Development Society (NEADS)
Gautam Buddha Jagriti Society
Eco Social Development Organization (ESDO)
KAALO Aid & Development
People’s Oriented Programme Implementation (POPI)
Veer Development Organization
Care International UK
JAGO NARI
Doctors of the World
MIDEFEHOPS
Association of Voluntary Actions for Society (AVAS)
National Network of Local Philanthropy Development
Concern Worldwide (UK)
Cesvi
Steward Women
Plan International
The Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA)
Uttaran
Social and Economic Enhancement Programme (SEEP)
Rural Empowerment and Institutional Development (REPID)
Centre for Peace and Democracy
Deutsche Welthungerhilfe e.V.
National Integrated Development Association (NIDA-Pakistan)
Gana Unnayan Kendra (GUK)
Sukaar Foundation Tharparkar
EHSAR Foundation
RDRS Bangladesh
Environmental Protection Society (EPS)
Bright Star Development Society Balochistan (BSDSB)
Shariatpur Development Society (SDS)
HelpAge International
Center for Natural Resource Studies (CNRS)
Initiative for Development and Empowerment Axis (IDEA)
Humanity & Inclusion UK (Handicap International)
Taakulo Somali Community (Hub host)
Mechanism for Rational Change (MRC)
Cohesion Foundation Trust
Action Against Hunger UK
Caritas Sri Lanka
Welfare Association Jared
Coastal Association for Social Transformation (COAST) Trust
Doaba Foundation
Cordaid
Catholic Relief Services - United States Conference of Bishops
Acted
Horn Of Africa Voluntary Youth Committee (HAVOYOCO)
Oxfam GB
GOAL
Medair
Dr. Ambedkar Sheti Vikas Va Sanshodhan Sanstha (ASVSS)
Agricultural Development Association (PARC)
Social-life & Agricultural Development Organization (SADO)
Qatar Charity
Age International
Rural Development Foundation (RDF)
Youth Organization
Save Somali Women and Children
Shushilan
AJSA
CADENA
Caucus of Development NGO Networks, Inc. (CODE-NGO)
Comité de Unidad Campesina (CUC)
SKS Foundation
World Jewish Relief
Asociación para la Educación y el Desarrollo (ASEDE)
Health & Nutrition Development Society (HANDS)
Wajir South Development Association
Dorcas Aid International
Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM)
Nari Development Organization (NDO)
Save the Children UK
Caritas Bangladesh
Women for Change (WFC)
Updates
All updates
Anticipation of Disease Outbreak in Zimbabwe: Alert 1046
Following an alert raised by the Meteorological Department, a Start Fund anticipatory alert was raised on 25 January.
Start Network at London Climate Action Week 2026
At this year’s London Climate Action Week, Start Network is convening two timely conversations that tackle this challenge: how we act earlier on climate risks, and how we finance those actions effectively.
Askehave Climate Foundation backs anticipatory action for communities on the frontlines of climate risks
Start Network has announced new funding from Askehave Climate Foundation to support anticipatory humanitarian action in four countries facing increasing climate risk: Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines and Nepal.
Start Fund Risk Bulletin: June 2026
The Start Fund monthly Risk Bulletin reports on new, emerging or deteriorating situations. It is collated by the Start Network Anticipation and Risk Financing team using a range of online sources. Key risks are shared and collated each month. Ongoing events that are considered to be unchanged are not featured and risks that are beyond the scope and scale of the Start Fund are also not featured.
Locally led innovation to drive system change: end of the CLIP programme
What happens when 200 community innovators work alongside local and international organisations to develop locally led solutions across four countries?
Lessons in System Change: Start Ready and Proactive, Locally Led Humanitarian Action
We elaborate on practical steps government donors, UN agencies, pooled fund managers and INGOs can take to actualise commitments on localisation, anticipatory action, and innovative financing.
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