Psychological First Aid and Psychosocial Support in Complex Emergencies XXX Place, time

Project overview Objective: To improve disaster response capacities of emergency and volunteer organisations by strengthening Psychological First Aid (PFA) and Psychosocial Support (PSS) competencies of staff and volunteers Budget: EUR 485.738 (75% ECHO funded) Duration: 1 April 2017 – 31 March 2019 (24 months) Partners: Austrian Red Cross – Austria (project lead) University of Innsbruck – Austria Croatian Red Cross – Croatia Italian Red Cross– Italy Macedonian Red Cross – FYR of Macedonia Red Cross of Serbia – Serbia Slovenian Red Cross – Slovenia

Project background More frequent disasters, including new types of crisis, as e.g. climate related natural disasters or migration flows Characteristics of these new forms of disasters more long-term often cross-border and affecting several countries at the same time new vulnerabilities and needs of beneficiaries and helpers

Project background Need to provide Psychosocial Support (PSS) and to integrate currently missing short-term Psychological First Aid (PFA) into response on all levels through training DM staff and volunteers Need to involve new forms of volunteers by enabling framework conditions and training in PSS Need to increase networking and experience exchange in Europe in the field of PFA/PSS in complex disaster situations

Project objectives Improve disaster response capacities of emergency and volunteer organisations by strengthening PFA and PSS competencies of staff and volunteers Improve active participation of affected communities in emergency response by training staff and volunteers and by developing new tools for community activation Improve coordination and support for new volunteer types, such as spontaneous and convergent volunteers Improve experience exchange and networking and share good practice

Project outputs Desk research compiling information on existing tools and recommendations for (1) Psychological First Aid, (2) community activation and participation and (3) volunteer and staff support Guidance for coordination and support for convergent and spontaneous volunteers ToT package to provide trainers within disaster management organisations adaptable tools in PFA and community activation to be included in the training of all volunteers and staff member involved in emergency response Develop and carry out two transnational training workshops

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