Mental Health and Psychosocial Support - MHPSS Surge Mechanism
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) experts are deployed to assist in relief efforts for a few weeks up to several months during or after a humanitarian crisis. MHPSS gives mental health and psychosocial support in armed conflict, refugee crises, and natural disasters. Would you like to assist in relief efforts?
MHPSS Expert pool
We are looking for experts to support interagency coordination on MHPSS in humanitarian crises. Please register if you are considering working as an expert for MHPSS. Expert tasks may include:
- set up, temporarily run or support (sub-)national MHPSS technical working groups,
- set up monitoring, evaluation and learning structures,
- conduct 4Ws mappings (Who is Where, When, doing What),
- make an MHPSS situational analysis of humanitarian response.
We will base requests for support upon the terms of references of the requesting organisations, where you can find specific requirements for each position. Language skills and knowledge of the local context are an asset. Before departure, experts need to sign the Code of Conduct and complete the following basic online courses provided by the United Nations:
- BSAFE safety course, and
- the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA).
Sign up as an MHPSS expert
Are you an expert on MHPSS? Then, sign up as an expert. If you register for the pool of experts, the database will store your CV and contact details. After your registration, you will receive information on our deployments and training courses.
Compensations for MHPSS experts
The Netherlands Enterprise Agency will compensate for the expenses made by the experts. This includes:
- costs for flights (economy class, without upgrades),
- required vaccinations,
- a medical check if the requesting organisation requires one,
- accommodation (actual costs), and
- daily allowance for food and other expenses (DSA).
The daily fee is based on working experience and the United Nations pay grade system. The daily fee is €300 for work and travel days.
MHPSS offers business insurance and psychosocial support before, during and after their deployment through the Antares Foundation.
Responsible Business Conduct (RBC)
Your project must follow the international Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) guidelines. We take RBC into account when assessing your funding application. We ask you to:
- follow OECD guidelines;
- show how you conduct your operations following these OECD guidelines;
- carry out a proper risk analysis of social and environmental risks;
- state the measures to prevent and reduce these risks.
During the project, you must report on RBC risks and state the measures you are taking or plan to take to prevent and reduce these risks.
Dutch companies must complete an RBC self-assessment as part of the application process. The Dutch government uses this scan to check whether a company is aware of and follows the OECD guidelines. This assessment is a requirement for approval of your project.
On our website, you can read more about RBC and due diligence.
Looking for MHPSS experts?
International humanitarian organisations interested in deploying MHPSS experts can email mhpss@rvo.nl.
More information
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs finances the MHPSS Surge Mechanism. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency carries out the programme in close cooperation with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Reference Group on MHPSS in Emergency Settings.
On the Development Cooperation Projects database, you can find an overview of projects we carry out in development cooperation. You can filter by location, sector and programme, among others.
The importance of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Crisis Situations
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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