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In a recent Desk Review on Enhancing the Potential of Pooled Funds for Localisation (September 2020) conducted by the Grand Bargain Workstream 2 on Localisation, Start Fund Bangladesh (SFB) was held up as a strong example of locally-led humanitarian action that exemplifies some of the commitments set out in the Grand Bargain. SFB’s transformative model shows that it is possible to have a more proactive, efficient and locally-led humanitarian sector.

Start Network is pleased to announce Muhammad Amad and Oenone Chadburn as our two newest member trustees! 

Depuis juillet 2020, la partie Nord de la République du Congo était sous l’emprise de grandes inondations provoquées par des pluies diluviennes qui s’étaient abattues dans cette zone. Jusqu’au mois de Novembre 2020, on enregistrait près de 83’000 personnes vivant dans six districts du Département de la Likouala (nord) qui étaient concernées. Au fil du temps, d’autres districts situés le long du fleuve Congo et de l’Oubangui étaient les prochaines victimes de cette catastrophe.

In 2020, as part of Start Network’s commitment to localisation and collective innovation, we embarked on a journey to develop innovative and locally-driven solutions that place communities affected by humanitarian crises at the forefront of humanitarian action. We have been working with Start Network hubs to start building community innovation initiatives in Guatemala and the DRC.

Humanitarian coordination in Bangladesh involves a large number of stakeholders and forums, and a complex system of government committees that relate to disaster management actors, clusters, working groups, NGOs and INGOs. To be successful, this system needs to be responsive and adaptive to the local needs and contexts, well-coordinated and to ensure active participation of local and national actors. This is where Start Fund Bangladesh (SFB) fits in. Here are some examples where SFB has facilitated or lead changes within the humanitarian system in Bangladesh.

The crisis in Syria has lasted a decade and 2020 saw some of the worst violence since the start of the conflict. As a result, there are some 2.7 million internally displaced people living in North West Syria now. Many of them live in makeshift camps, derelict buildings, or even in the open air. On 18 January, a storm hit Idlib governorate and many of these camps, as well as roads that provide access and movement, were fully or partially destroyed.

As part of the ARC Replica evaluation, in-depth interviews were held with households to better understand the timing and impact of the assistance. The assistance of cash and fortified flour distributions were timed to align with an assumed lean season of June-August. However, interviews with households suggested that the start of lean season is not homogenous across Senegal. These differences are supported by hydrogeological differences across the country and suggest that a staggered rather than uniform distribution may be more appropriate in order to support households in a timely manner.

Women and girls are known to suffer disproportionately during crises and disasters. A recent report by CARE International found 10/11 top humanitarian donors and 5/6 major United Nations agencies to be unsatisfactory in their progress towards their commitments to target 15% of their humanitarian aid to gender equality programming.

En juillet 2020,MIDEFEHOPS (Mouvement international pour les droits des enfants, des femmes et des veufs et leur promotion sociale) était l'un des huit membres nationaux et locaux sélectionnés pour participer à un fonds Covid-19 dédié, avec des réponses en RDC, en Inde et au Pakistan. À la suite de l'examen des propositions par des comités de sélection de projets composés de membres locaux, les agences ont reçu 30 000 £ pour répondre à Covid-19 dans leur zone cible. MIDEFEHOPS a utilisé ce financement pour distribuer des masques de protection et du matériel d'hygiène aux groupes vulnérables à Bunagana zone de santé de Rwanguba, RDC, ainsi que du matériel IEC (Information, Education et Communication), sous forme de dépliants et d'affiches, pour transmettre des messages comportementaux sur la façon de se protéger contre Covid- 19.

In July 2020, MIDEFEHOPS (International Movement for the Rights of Children, Women and Widowers and their Social Advancement) was awarded £30,000 to respond to COVID-19 in their target area. They used this funding to distribute masks and hygiene materials to vulnerable groups in Bunagana, Rwanguba health zone, as well as Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials, in the form of leaflets and posters, to convey behavioural messaging on how to protect against COVID-19.