Start Fund Nepal

Start Fund Nepal is a Start Network programme and is hosted by CARE - Nepal. SFN is a collectively managed financing mechanism, developed in Nepal by international (15 INGOs) Start Network members and partner NGOs (16 LNGOs) based in Nepal with support from the global Start Fund. SFN was launched in June 2021, with the support from the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and its first pilot year ended in March 2022 after which the exposure and coverage of the fund has grown significantly. Its pilot project was completed in March 2022. Phase II of the project started in April 2022 and will conclude in March 2024. Following global guidelines, Start Fund Nepal adheres to a 45-day implementation cycle, ensuring swift decision-making within 72 hours of a crisis alert and initiating primary activities within 7 days. Thus, the fund's primary focus lies in rapid financing and response. Recently, Start Fund Nepal has expanded its scope with the introduction of the Forecast-based, Warning, Analysis, and Response Network (FOREWARN) within its Crisis Anticipation and Risk Financing Unit. This initiative aims to engage non-member, multi-disciplinary actors in Nepal involved in disaster risk analysis and management, particularly in crisis anticipation and early action. FOREWARN aims to facilitate the quick assembly of experts to forecast disasters and provide support to humanitarian efforts in the vicinity of anticipated crises. Additionally, FOREWARN advocates for the normalization of early action in disaster response protocols.