Context
Following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in 2022, IRC Italy launched an intervention dedicated to supporting the mental health and psychosocial well-being of people fleeing the conflict. The project particularly targets women, children, and people in vulnerable conditions, adapting its activities over time in response to the evolving context and emerging needs.
An integrated and multi-level approach
The intervention is based on a structured strategy capable of responding flexibly and comprehensively to people's needs:
- Basic assistance: distribution of emergency vouchers and non-food items to ensure the meeting of primary needs;
- Community and family support: creation of inclusive psychosocial spaces, including Safe Spaces for Women and Girls, to promote well-being, empowerment, and integration through participatory activities;
- Non-specialized support: case management services including guidance, accompaniment, and access to local services (healthcare, education, employment, housing, and protection);
- Interventions in specific settings: in Rome, integrated social and individual psychological support in long-term emergency reception facilities;
- Specialized services: psychological support based on an ethnopsychological approach, delivered with the support of cultural mediators and in collaboration with local partners.
Donor: IRC global fundraising
- Total project budget: 1,972,236 EUR
- Spent in 2022: 121,016 EUR
- Spent in 2023: 1,016,534 EUR
- Spent in 2024: 588,045 EUR
- Spent in 2025: 215,461 EUR
- Spent in 2026: 31,180 EUR
Results achieved (February 2022 – September 2025)
The project has generated a significant impact:
10,483 people supported through emergency vouchers
750 people reached through the distribution of non-food items
10,946 people involved in psychosocial support activities, of which:
- 1,694 unique beneficiaries received individual case management and psychological support services
- 9,252 participations in MHPSS activities (mental health and psychosocial support)
479 operators and professionals trained, including:
- 184 staff working with refugees
- 295 education professionals (teachers and school leaders)
713 vulnerable minors supported through educational activities
Impact
The project contributes to improving psychological well-being, strengthening autonomy, and facilitating the integration of refugees, while also supporting local communities and the services that receive them.
Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals
The initiative is aligned with the 2030 Agenda and contributes to:
- Goal 1 – No Poverty: support for basic needs through financial assistance;
- Goal 3 – Good Health and Well-being: promotion of mental health and trauma management;
- Goal 5 – Gender Equality: specific focus on women and girls;
- Goal 10 – Reduced Inequalities: inclusion and access to services for vulnerable groups;
- Goal 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: protection and support for people affected by conflict.