“This evaluation report concludes that according to National Societies and the IFRC, MHPSS services were the second most relevant response activity for the COVID-19 public health emergency. In the Americas and Middle East & North Africa regions, MHPSS services were regarded as the most relevant response activity related to COVID-19. The evaluation further emphasises the importance of MHPSS services for National Societies (at the branch and HQ level) and for the IFRC Regional Offices. We are heartened to see that caring for volunteers is also regarded as a highly relevant part of the COVID-19 response, something that we have strongly advocated for as the IFRC PS Centre.” – Sarah Harrison, IFRC Psychosocial Centre Technical Team Lead
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies released an evaluation report of the COVID-19 response carried out by the IFRC network. The report captures and analyses the many different IFRC-wide interventions across all regions, from global to local level.
The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have permeated nearly every aspect of daily life for communities in nearly every country around the world. The report shows strong relevance of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) activities in the pandemic response, based on respondents’ priorities.
This report is the culmination of a 6-month process which evaluates the relevance, effectiveness and coherence of the IFRC-wide COVID-19 response and identifies opportunities and recommendations going forward. The evaluation process involved over 300 key informant interviews and focus group discussions, and an Evaluation Survey with nearly 1,000 responses, including National Society frontline staff and volunteers and analysed a large volume of data and documentation.
The COVID-19 response provided an opportunity to demonstrate the true value of the IFRC as a “distributed network” of local actors, uniquely capable of delivering an emergency response on a global scale.
More resources about MHPSS can be found in the PS Centre resource library.
