Annual report

Annual Overview 
| About the IFRC 
45

---

needs is an integral part of the IFRC network’s col-
lective objective to prevent and alleviate human 
suffering and protect life, health, and dignity. 
In December 2019, the International Conference 
adopted a set of commitments addressing 
mental health and psychosocial needs. These 
commitments are expressed in Resolution 
2 of the 33rd International Conference and 
Resolution 5 of the 2019 Council of Delegates, 
which includes a Movement policy on mental 
health and psychosocial support. Following the 
adoption of the policy and resolution, a roadmap 
for 2020–2023 has been developed to help 
strengthen the collective Red Cross and Red 
Crescent response to mental health and psy-
chosocial needs, in line with these commitments.
Together with the IFRC Psychosocial Centre, the 
IFRC has developed training opportunities tai-
lored to the needs of National Societies, as well 
as tools, manuals and other documents that can 
guide the design and delivery of mental health 
and psychosocial support interventions. The 
IFRC also provided ad hoc support, in the form 
of mentoring or technical advice, to overcome 
challenges or doubts for ongoing projects. A 
core part of IFRC work is also in fostering regional 
collaboration and exchange, through supporting 
the establishment of regional platforms where 
National Societies come together, to learn from 
each other and be inspired in new and innova-
tive ways to address similar challenges.
In addition, together with the ICRC and numer-
ous National Societies from around the globe, 
the IFRC works towards the implementation of 
the mental health and psychosocial support 
Roadmap 2020–2023, to act on six priority areas 
that were identified as needing increased atten-
tion, to move forward the mental health and 
psychosocial support agenda.
The IFRC also engages in public events and 
forums, as one of the ways in which we promote 
the work of National Societies, while advocating 
for the much-needed increased awareness for 
mental health. For example, in 2022, the IFRC 
represented the Movement at the Global Mental 
Health Summit, in Rome, which brought together 
52 delegations from countries and international 
organizations. This was an important space to 
bring the voices of 192 National Societies, under 
one united message: mental health matters. 
Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)
The IFRC prioritizes the reduction of risks of 
pandemics and epidemics by improving prepar-
edness through scaling up water, sanitation and 
hygiene services in high-risk countries. IFRC’s 
work in WASH concentrates on three areas: