Created an equitable and collective space
We’re all for not fixing things that aren’t broken but, from the very start of our journey, we’ve too often found there’s a better way of doing things.
While small and medium organisations were competing against each other, Start Network encouraged more collaborative endeavours.
Start Network continues to provide a unique platform for NGOs and other humanitarian actors to share ideas, develop diverse and equitable partnerships and experiment in a way that would not be possible within their own respective organisations.
We have proven that NGOs can responsibly manage funds with humanitarianism — not politics — at the heart of what really matters. That means, together, we can create, share, and implement innovative solutions to problems in the humanitarian sector.
WHAT WE KNOW
Start Network has built a diverse membership working collectively across the globe. We have 51 members working across 152 countries, with three or more organisations present in 104 countries. Through our programmes, we connect changemakers worldwide.
CASE STUDY: The Disasters and Emergencies Preparedness Programme (DEPP)
The Disasters and Emergencies Preparedness Programme (DEPP) was a £40m UK Aid funded programme managed by the Start Network and CDAC Network, running from 2015–2018.
DEPP projects were led by member agencies and worked in partnership with 241 national and international humanitarian actors in 10 countries (Bangladesh, DRC, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, Myanmar, Mozambique, Pakistan, the Philippines, and South Sudan).
Programmatic data and independent evaluations showed that the DEPP:
- Improved preparedness systems for early action with communities at risk of disasters
- Increased number of coalitions, partnerships and networks which, working together, are able to address humanitarian needs in a wide range of emergency situations
- Improved institutional arrangements and policy environments so that national systems for humanitarian response and preparedness are better supported and more suitable
- Strengthened the evidence base for what works to help build humanitarian capacity at scale
- Improved knowledge and understanding of individuals by sharing best practice of humanitarian preparedness and response
Read the DEPP Evaluation Summative Phase Report
Read about the DEPP’s Key Achievements
WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT START NETWORK
Influenced by information sharing
It is a relevant partner, which is able to not only shape but influence some of the direction of travel through shared information, establishing a partner relationship with the government and trying to put forth some of its key messages. — Davide Zappa (DFID, UK)
Fostered a spirit of coordination and collaboration
The most exciting aspect of the Start Network is the spirit of coordination and coherence across the different NGOs. There was this vacuum in the humanitarian sector and I think the Start Network filled that vacuum by getting all the NGO’s on the same page. — Catalina Jaime (Red Cross Climate Centre, UK)
Created new coalitions of humanitarian actors
La plus grande réussite des Start Networks est la capacité à regrouper tous ces acteurs humanitaires et à maintenir leur réactivité face aux situations d’urgence. — Emilie Vautravers (Solidarités International, Cameroon)
Connected global agendas to local actions
It certainly shaped how I engaged in supporting localisation, having a counterpart in the Start Network to be able to tap into a broader community. — Kristen Knutson (OCHA, Asia-Pacific)
Shifted the system through action
It aims to shift the humanitarian system by action and not by words, by practice not just research, from funding to financing, and creating the balance of co-creation between all parts of the humanitarian ecosystem. — Oenone Chadburn (Tearfund, UK)
Enabled an open platform for sharing ideas
It’s a platform where you can access funds, raise your voice if something goes wrong, share your learnings and overcome challenges. — Imamul Shahi (BRAC, Bangladesh)
Read more about the learning journey of the Start Network from one of our founding members and the findings from our 2020 Member Survey.
