Job Profile

Introduction
Start Network is a consortium of 42 leading NGOs working together to connect people in crises to the best possible solutions. In order to meet the needs of crisis-affected people in a future of great uncertainty and complexity, we believe that the humanitarian sector must change. The Start Network members collaborate because the change that is demanded cannot be achieved by any single organisation acting alone.

We promote a way of working that enables international and local humanitarian actors to coexist. We envision a self-organising system where the agencies best placed to respond to a crisis are empowered to do so. To realise this vision, we are working to catalyse a humanitarian sector that is more diverse, decentralised and collaborative.

The Network works in three principal areas: Start Fund (rapid financing for emergency response); Start Engage (strengthening civil society capacity); and Start Labs (experimentation, rapid prototyping and learning). Furthermore, the Start Network is investing in the infrastructure to receive large funding streams to enable the Network members to programme effective responses at scale.

The Start Network legal structure enables resources and initiative to reach nearly 7,000 partner agencies, comprised of over a quarter million staff working in 200 countries and territories. Start is presently hosted and incubated by Save the Children UK on behalf of all Member Agencies and intends to become independent during in the coming years.

Context
The vast majority of front-line crisis relief (70%) is provided by civil society. However, these NGOs are constrained by a funding model in which attention from donors and the general public is triggered by media headlines. By the time these crises hit the media headlines they have already fully escalated and many lives have already been lost, livelihoods destroyed and hard-won development gains undermined. This is too slow.

The Start Network is working to move beyond the current reactive model of humanitarian response, towards a more organised, proactive way of managing risk and responding to changes in risk in a timely and appropriate way. This requires new, more impartial and timely funding channels.

The Start Network has designed the first NGO-managed pooled fund for rapid response by front line responders – the Start Fund. The Start Fund is built on a trust-based, iterative, flexible, speedy and decentralised decision-making mechanism. Funds are allocated within 72hours of a crisis, offering rapid support to everyday, small-medium scale crises.

With the Start Fund Global having run effectively for more than two years, there is now an opportunity to start building national Start Fund models. With support from DFID Bangladesh, the Start Network will establish a Start Fund in Bangladesh. Whilst the initial phase includes peer support from the Global Start Fund, the Start Fund Bangladesh will be gradually devolving all decision making and governance to the national level.

The Network is now focussing on internationalising and taking the Start Fund to scale. Scaling the Start Fund will involve recruiting new donor governments. There is no precedent for the evolution of the Start Fund.

1. Start Fund Annual Report 2015-2016 https://start-network.box.com/s/6apoxeu3s23c9wh01y1omsruytcgq8wz
   
2. The evaluation of the Start Fund Design & Build phase, January 2015
   http://www.start-network.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/20150206_Start_Fund_Independent_Evaluation.pdf
   
3. The Start Fund Management Response to the evaluation of the design & build phase, January 2015 http://www.start-network.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Start-Fund-External-Evaluation-2014-Management-Response-290115.pdf
   
4. The Start Fund Induction Pack for members https://start-network.box.com/s/e8a99dahlwwbparn1k4vakvp3dxek7bt

Job Purpose
The Programme Officer, Start Fund Bangladesh will play a vital role in ensuring that the Start Fund in Bangladesh is supported by strong and sustainable governance, processes, systems and communications.

The Programme Officer, Start Fund Bangladesh will support the Start Fund Bangladesh Manager during the development of the Design & Build phase (5 months). During this time, the Start Fund Bangladesh is envisioned to i) successfully run disbursements with locally led allocation and project selection, ii) completely devolve the Start Fund Bangladesh to the national level, iii) integrate the existing coordination and quality systems into its decision making, iv) evidence the outcomes of this nationally run Start Fund and fundraise for additional contributions to the Start Fund Bangladesh, v) effectively feed into the global Start Fund structure.

We are seeking a dynamic humanitarian with experience in the start-up phase of humanitarian programmes and networks. This self-starter will be responsible for laying the foundations for systems, processes and communications for the Start Fund in Bangladesh.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Responsible for day to day operations necessary to design, set up and run the Start Fund Bangladesh
  
• Support the Start Fund Bangladesh Steering Group in designing governance processes for effective fund disbursements.
  
• Provide a service function to the Start Fund Committee to enable effective, efficient and transparent decision making.
• Work together with the Start Team in the UK to design and run the process for Start Fund alerts, allowing rapid and effective fund disbursement.
  
• Upon reception of a Start Fund alert for Bangladesh, successfully drive the process of decision making to ensure that funds are made available in a way that is fast, effective, collaborative and transparent.
  
• Responsible for capturing and storing data related to the Start Fund alert process
  
• Support the Start Fund Bangladesh manager on day-to-day effective collaboration with Start Fund Bangladesh Steering group representatives, external service providers and Start Team UK.
  
• Lead on the development of Start Fund engagement materials for Bangladesh.
  
• Primary contact point for Start Network member alerts in Bangladesh.
  
• Ensure that the Start Fund Bangladesh follows the Save the Children UK (global host) systems when setting up processes around fraud, compliance and legal.
  
• Identify important areas of focus to supplement and strengthen Start Fund’s central grant management and compliance system including but not limited to: evolving spot check methodology and flagging financial and programmatic irregularities.
  
• Ensure visibility, awareness, as well as learning is widely disseminated through key messages, social media and web platforms.
  
• Responsible for administrative activities, such as but not limited to: note taking, management of contact database, event organisation.

Occasional work in support of other priorities – as agreed with line manager.

On a day-to-day basis, the Programme Officer Start Fund Bangladesh will have a close working relationship with all the Start Fund Team, and in particular with:

• Start Fund Manager (Start Fund oversight)
  
• Start Fund MEAL Manager
  
• Start Team UK (most notably: Start Fund Programme Officer(s))

This role is based in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Person specification

• Demonstrated capacity to design, manage and report on multi-agency projects
  
• Successful experience in operationalising a strategic project or programme, as well as engaging a variety of stakeholders to deliver against the strategy and operational plans
  
• Strong presentation and writing skills, including project documentation and public communication
  
• Demonstrated experience of working with humanitarian NGOs and/or networks in Bangladesh
  
• Good understanding and experience of interagency collaboration and partnerships
  
• Strong project management skills
  
• An internal and external champion for humanitarian collaboration and innovation
  
• Excellent written and spoken English
  
• Post-graduate degree in relevant discipline (e.g. humanitarian, international development)
  
• Ability to multi-task and manage competing demands across time zones
  
• Willingness to undertake national and international travel
  
• This role is for a Bangladeshi national who holds the right to work in Bangladesh

Desirable

• Experience and/or knowledge of Start Network to date
  
• Start particularly welcomes secondments from Start Network member organisations in Bangladesh
  
  

Application closing date: 28 March, 2017

Company No.  09286835   |   Charity No.  1159483