Qatar Charity (QC), in partnership with Start Network, a global consortium of nearly 100 humanitarian agencies, is hosting an in-person Hub Fellowship Learning Session and Empowered Local Leadership Training in Doha, which kicked off on September 23 and will continue until October 2, 2024. The event aims to empower staff from local, national, and international humanitarian organizations known as hubs.

The training session focuses on enhancing the effectiveness of hub secretariats, strengthening the leadership and advocacy capacity of local hub leaders, and fostering peer-to-peer learning among hub teams.

This initiative aligns with Start Network’s mission to transform humanitarian action through innovation, fast funding, early action, and locally driven approaches, and it reflects Qatar Charity's vision of empowering communities and fostering sustainable development through effective, locally led humanitarian responses.

The workshop has brought together up to 25 participants from various global hubs, including those from India, Kenya, Guatemala, Pakistan, DRC, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, South Sudan, the Philippines, and Somalia. Representatives from Start Network’s offices in Kenya, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom have also attended.

Joyce Nyaboga, Senior Network Development Adviser (Design and Infrastructure), emphasized the workshop's significance, saying “This event represents the culmination of a series of learning and workplace projects under the Hub Fellowship programme, designed to build the local capacity needed to develop and sustain hubs. It is a reflective week, offering opportunities for learning, empowerment, and connecting with peers. Sessions cover the Fellowship journey, hub strategy, localisation, communication, systems change, innovation, resource mobilisation, and advocacy—critical skills for ensuring hub development and sustainability. Importantly, this workshop will also celebrate milestones, reflect on outcomes, and map out pathways for stronger, locally-led hubs driven by local capacity.”

She added “We believe that our collaboration with Qatar Charity will significantly contribute to empowering local leadership in humanitarian response and highlight Qatar Charity’s commitment to fostering effective, locally led crisis responses. We are confident that with Qatar Charity’s partnership, this event will be a great success, further cementing our collective commitment to empowering local leadership in humanitarian response.”

Speaking at opening ceremony, Mr. Mana Mohammed Al-Ansari, Director of Humanitarian Operations Department at Qatar Charity, expressed his pleasure for Qatar Charity to host this important event in Doha, indicating that it will undoubtedly contribute to enhancing the capabilities of humanitarian workers globally and strengthening collective response to crises. He added, “Qatar Charity, since its founding in 1992, has been dedicated to development and humanitarian efforts, operating from our headquarters in Doha. With 34 field offices and many local partners across various countries, Qatar Charity provides essential support in sectors such as WASH, protection, education, livelihood assistance, shelter, health, and food and nutrition.”

It is worth noting that in 2018, Start Network welcomed Qatar Charity (QC) into its membership. In 2019, Qatar Charity hosted the annual gathering of Start Network in Doha, which was attended by 87 dignitaries representing 41 member organizations, including major international and regional humanitarian NGOs.