Overview

Status

Closed

Start
1 January 2023

End
31 December 2024

Type: Knowledge Network Partnership

EU contribution amount: EUR 464 381.50

Funding source: Union Civil Protection Knowledge Network Partnership (UCPM-2022-KN)

Geographic focus: all Europe/EU, Eastern Neighbourhood

Contact email: Michael.Lindenthal@uibk.ac.at

Description

The COVID-19 pandemic was a challenge globally and psychosocial long-term effects are still evident years after the initial outbreak. This reveals the need for strengthened capacities in MHPSS activities. Additionally, armed conflicts such as the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh in Armenia that escalated in the midst of the pandemic in September 2020 as well as the on-going conflict in Ukraine that escalated in February 2022 have posed new challenges in disaster response on authorities and organisations. Maintaining mental health and providing psychosocial support for the disaster affected population as well as for disaster responders is seen as being increasingly important. The Who Cares project is dedicated to ensure that humanitarian response

(a) is based on a comprehensive, contextualized diagnosis (assessment, monitoring and evaluation) of needs, vulnerabilities and capacities

(b) allows for advanced research programs that are guided by needs derived from direct interaction with practice

(c) ensures that MHPSS interventions are efficient and evidence-based by making use of up-to-date research results.

The main beneficiaries of this project are practitioner organisations and helpers directly involved in crisis response in Armenia, Georgia and Ukraine. The 2-year timespan included

(1) Research and Analysis on needs, gaps and challenges among helpers in current conflict and pandemic situations

(2) Implementation of best practices via online training tools and multiplier trainings

(3) Network activities on local and regional level

(4) visibility activities and advocacy for MHPSS for helpers in crisis response through various online activities, media campaigns and an online-media-library.