Support to Gaza Community Mental health Programme

Projekt abgeschlossen

By continuing its support to Gaza Community Mental Health Programme (GCMHP), Switzerland helps addressing the increasing distress, psychological and psychiatric problems facing Gazans. It further assists the organization in the internal change process led by a new Board of Directors. Under its new strategy (2022-2024), GCMHP will promote community resilience and tackle conflict-related violence by introducing digitalized mental health services. Alleviating distress and traumas contributes to fostering social cohesion and preventing radicalization and violence.

Land/Region Thema Periode Budget
Besetztes Palästinensisches Gebiet
Konflikt & Fragilität
Menschenrechte (inkl. Frauenrechte)
Konfliktprävention
01.01.2022 - 30.06.2025
CHF  1’840’000
Hintergrund The socioeconomic conditions of the Gaza Strip continue to deteriorate, mainly as a result of the Israeli closure and the intra- Palestinian division. Excessive rates of poverty and unemployment, acute shortages of electricity, fuel and medical supplies, poor quality of water, dilapidated infrastructure, limited opportunities for medical treatment abroad, movement restrictions, delayed reconstruction and salary cuts continue to undermine the social fabric and family ties. Recurrent escalations of violence, especially airstrikes, heavily contribute to community distress and trauma. Persistence of these challenges continues to have grave impact on the wellbeing and mental health of Gazans. One of the main consequences is a sharp increase in Gender Based Violence (GBV), particularly against women and girls.
Ziele Provide quality gender-sensitive, inclusive, integrated and specialized community mental health services in the Gaza Strip guided by the principles of justice, humanity and respect for human rights.
Zielgruppen
  • Direct (13,196 women, 11,033 men, 14,113 girls, and 14,113 boys) and indirect (328,500 women and 328,500 men) victims of Human Rights violations and traumatic events, including children and youth under 18 suffering mental and psychological disorders
  • Community Based Organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), UNRWA and medical care facilities supported by GCMHP to strengthen their capacity in providing non-specialized mental health and psychosocial services, in line with its task shifting approach (1,080 female and 1,128 male professionals)
  • Ministry of Health and medical NGOs and faculties supported in the development of national community mental health system
Mittelfristige Wirkungen
  • Contribute to improving the mental health situation of the population in the Gaza Strip
  • Contribute to developing the mental health and psychosocial sector in the Gaza Strip
  • Contribute to anchoring human rights-based principles and practices, reducing violence and promoting community resilience
  • New Board of Directors (BoD) establishes trustful and productive working relationship with Executive Management and implements recommendations of the special governance audit, led by SDC
Resultate

Erwartete Resultate:  

Outcome 1:

  • Improved wellbeing of 102,384 women, 102,384 men, 3,576 girls and 3,576 boys, with/without disabilities, receiving preventive interventions at community level and counselling, specialized therapeutic and rehabilitation services by GCMHP Rapid response activated in emergencies for 103,596 women, 103,596 men, 4,350 girls and 4,350 boys. About 10% of the target beneficiaries are expected to be people with disabilities

Outcome 2:

  • Capacity of 1,048 female and 822 male staff members of GCHMP and other organizations working in mental health and psychosocial support enhanced
  • 350 female and 289 male professionals trained and/or certified by GCMHP, through academic and professional programmes
  • GCMHP`s continuous organizational improvements ensured and sustained, and its capacity as a resource centre for evidence- and human rights-based mental health and psychosocial support enhanced

Outcome 3:

  • Violence prevention interventions, including gender-based violence and violence against women, targeting 135,203 women, 133,283 men, 6,187 girls and 6,187 boys, in place
  • Psychological distress reduced, through scalable, WHO-recommended self-help mental health interventions

Outcome 4:

  • Governance manual updated, incorporating the relevant audit recommendations
  • New BoD elected, adhering to maximum serving period of 6 years
  • Recommendations of special governance audit, led by SDC, fully implemented


Resultate von früheren Phasen:  

GCMHP's main achievements during 2019-2021 were:

  • Services: 48,795 persons (51% women & girls) benefited from GCMHP's community intervention and awareness raising activities, 27,634 persons (46% women & girls) received rehabilitation and specialized therapeutic services; 7,174 persons (46% women) used the free telephone counselling service; 4,703 persons (57% women & girls) received training
  • Response to Crisis (2019 Great March of Return, 2020-2021 COVID-19 and May 2021 armed escalation): psychological first aid provided to 32,346 persons (45% women & girls)
  • Monitoring and Evaluation manual finalized and adopted as GCMHP’s reference for monitoring and evaluation
  • Developing GCMHP's 2022-2024 Strategic Plan
  • Developing and adopting the Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and Complaints Policies, which were integrated within the GCMHP interventions, and activities
  • Organization of the 7th international conference entitled “Mental Health without Borders” (2 days, 646 professionals)
  • Organization of the 8th international conference entitled “Mental Health in the Gaza Strip: an area populated by refugees" (3 days, 820 professionals)


Verantwortliche Direktion/Bundesamt DEZA
Projektpartner Vertragspartner
Ausländische Hochschul- und Forschungsinstitution
Internationale oder ausländische NGO
  • Research Organisation of South East
  • Gaza Community Mental Health Programme


Andere Partner
Switzerland, Norway and Sweden cover about 69% of GCMHP's annual budget, as a consortium led by SDC. Other donors include Gaza Mental Health Foundation and Grassroots International (USA), Quakers Services (Norway), Bread for the World and GIZ (Germany), Welfare Association and Just Act Middle East (UK), TROCAIRE (Ireland), United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture (Switzerland) and Consulate General of France/Jerusalem.
Koordination mit anderen Projekten und Akteuren Palestinian, Israeli and UN organizations receiving support from SDC, and are involved in the fields of human rights and/or psychosocial support, such as ICHR, PCHR, PHR, HaMoked, UNRWA, WHO, OCHA.
Budget Laufende Phase Schweizer Beitrag CHF    1’840’000 Bereits ausgegebenes Schweizer Budget CHF    1’489’033 Projekttotal seit Anfangsphase Schweizer Beitrag CHF   1’624’212 Budget inklusive Projektpartner CHF   5’480’000
Projektphasen

Phase 2 01.01.2022 - 30.06.2025   (Completed)

Phase 1 01.03.2019 - 31.12.2023   (Completed)