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

2. 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 (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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. Contact information
Project manager
Project website