WHAT IS START NETWORK? 

Our purpose is to be a catalyst for system-level change that improves the efficiency, effectiveness and ethics of humanitarian action. We do this by working as a network to develop, test & spread new ways of collaborating and resourcing locally-led crisis response and anticipation. 

Our current membership is made up of nearly 100 local, national and international NGOs based all around the world. We also support 10 national and regional hubs made up of civil society organisations and NGOs as our vehicle for devolving power, resources and accountability. 

OUR SOLUTIONS 

DECENTRAISLING & LOCALLY-LED ACTION: Shifting power and resources and decentralising decision-making to locally led networks and organisations. 

 EARLY & RAPID FINANCING: Building a global financing system that reduces risk, anticipates, and acts ahead of predictable crises. 

COMMUNITY-LED INNOVATION: Incentivising innovative, locally led, and contextual solutions and learning from them together with people affected by crises. 

For more information about Start Network and what we do, please visit our website.  

OUR VALUES 

WE PUT PEOPLE FIRST: Communities come first in our decision-making and programming. 

WE ARE BRAVE: We have great ambition and are willing to explore new things and take risks to achieve it 

WE OPERATE COLLECTIVELY: We leverage the value of working as a network, sharing risk and resources, and learning together. 

WE ARE INCLUSIVE: We see the value in diverse perspectives and work to remove the barriers that prevent voices from being heard. 

WE ARE OPEN: We work transparently and with integrity, building mutual trust in all levels of our work, from governance to programming. 

WE ARE ETHICAL: We behave and operate based on key principles of anti-racism, non-discrimination, and anti-colonialism. This is a work in progress. 

JOB PURPOSE 

The Anticipatory Action Advisor role is responsible for the design, set up, and implementation of project activities under Start Network’s forthcoming ‘Anticipatory Action for human-induced crises’ project. This project will build on Start Network’s history of innovation within the Anticipatory Action space and learning from numerous examples of Start Network’s membership delivering anticipatory action for human-induced hazards through the Start Fund, with a particular focus on anticipatory action for conflict. The project aims to develop and deliver new methodologies and approaches to anticipatory action for conflict and other human-induced crises during a three-year grant, with the opportunity for multiple country level initiatives. The Advisor will lead the project activities under the technical guidance of the Senior Anticipatory Action Advisor, in collaboration with the Technical Partnerships Advisor, and under the overall strategic oversight of the Head of Crisis Anticipation and Risk Financing.  

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES 

PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT 

• Lead the scoping and design phases for the project in collaboration with an internal task team and the Start Network membership, producing a design document for the anticipatory action approach under the project.  

• Lead the day-to-day project management of the ‘Anticipatory Action for Human-Induced Crises’ project. 

• Operationalize the designed approach in collaboration with the Start Network membership across multiple country specific initiatives.  

• In collaboration with Start Network’s Operations teams set up systems and processes for the project. 

• With support from the Grants and Finance Coordinator manage the project budget ensuring completion in a timely manner and that all funds are spent or returned in time for completion. 

• Undertake in-country programme visits to support relevant activities and assessments. 

• Work with the Evidence & Learning team to oversee the production of impact reports and studies and disseminating these to relevant members, donors, and partners.  

PARTNER, MEMBER & DONOR NETWORKING AND COORDINATION 

• Collaborate with the Technical Partnerships Advisor to establish the high-quality technical partnering arrangements for the project.  

• Manage consultants to deliver technical products and support to projects.  

• Represent Start Network in the Anticipation Hub’s Anticipatory Action in Conflict Practitioners' Group and contribute to the working group activities where relevant. 

• Attend external events and present on the progress of the project to date at relevant fora.  

• Contribute to the production of donor reports both financial and narrative for submission by the Resource Mobilisation Team 

CRISIS ANTICIPATION AND RISK FINANCING TEAM  

• Contribute to the delivery of Start Network’s Anticipatory Action Service offer under the leadership of the Senior Anticipatory Action Advisor, including providing advice to Start Network members on anticipatory action.  

• Contribute to the production of CARF team resources, including risk bulletins, technical guidance notes, and research.  

• Provide advice and cascade learnings to help Start Ready country based systems to integrate sensitivity to delivering anticipatory action in fragile, conflict and violence affected settings. 

• Collaborate with Start Network’s Policy and Advocacy colleagues to promote Start Network’s work and key messages. 

• Work with the Start Communications and Digital Team to ensure visibility, awareness, and learning, on the project and more broadly on anticipatory action in fragile, conflict, and violence affected settings.  

• Be on the weekend roster (on duty approximately twice a year), to ensure that the Start Fund is open 24/7. 

• Collaborate with the Directorate of Network and Funds, in particular the Network Development and Membership teams, to ensure the mainstreaming of a locally-led approach in all work delivered.  

START NETWORK CULTURE  

• To carry out the responsibilities of the role in line with the Start Network Code of Conduct and with a commitment to safeguarding adults and children  

• A commitment to the Start Network vision, principles, values, and approach  

• The Start Network team is an agile group of individuals who use their experience and skills across the network, so flexibility to work in and with different teams and functions is a part of our culture. 

PERSON PROFILE 

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE 

• Project management experience. 

• Strong analytical and creative problem-solving skills to tackle complex problems. 

• Knowledge and experience of anticipatory humanitarian action. 

• Knowledge and experience of disaster risk for conflict and other human-induced hazards.  

• Experience in partnership development in national and/or international contexts. 

• Stakeholder management experience in national and/or international contexts.  

• Effective communicator with strong presentation and writing skills.  

DESIREABLE  

• Designing and delivering innovative projects is desirable.  

KEY COMPETENCIES 

Communication 

• Flex communication style to convey complex information concisely to different audiences, avoiding jargon and using simple language.

  Strategic Thinking 

• Hold both a strategic perspective and enough detail to work with one part of the organisation whilst understanding the impact on other parts of the organisation and network through listening and engaging with other teams

  Collaboration 

• Use and contribute to build the strengths in self and others by knowing when to lead and when to follow, such as letting others challenge the status quo, lead on a project, or motivate colleagues 

  Leadership of self and others 

• Seek to understand and act upon own areas for growth, reflecting and learning from things that have not gone so well by showing vulnerability and openness to change 

  Ability to adapt and learn 

• Balance the need to follow systems and processes with the courage, identifying when systems and processes do not align with the mission, suggesting alternatives 

  Getting things done the Start Network way 

• Overcome obstacles by taking initiative to identify issues, seeking help to address them, and escalating appropriately