Third Party Monitoring (TPM) of GIZ MHPSS projects inside Syria

Project Title: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) for IDPs and Host Communities in Syria Duration: 07/2020 - 06/2026 Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Implementing Agency: GIZ Geographic Focus: Northwest and Northeast Syria, with national coordination Partners: Over 15 local civil society and health organizations Context Fourteen years of war, violence, displacement, and natural disasters have severely weakened Syria"s health system. Attacks on facilities and mass emigration caused a critical loss of staff, including psychologists and counsellors. Remaining professionals receive insufficient training. Mental health needs are vast, with high rates of anxiety, depression, and PTSD, especially among vulnerable groups. Existing MHPSS services are insufficient due to a lack of personnel and resources. Without mental stability, people struggle to participate in peacebuilding, livelihoods, and education. Health facilities are unprepared for severe psychological conditions. Training non-specialist staff is crucial to close these gaps. So far, MHPSS interventions have been remotely managed from neighbouring countries, mainly targeting Northwest and Northeast Syria. Comprehensive nationwide coverage remains out of reach. Needs continue to rise, while funding has declined, causing service closures. Project Overview Since 2020, GIZ has implemented a dedicated MHPSS project to improve the mental health and psychosocial well-being of internally displaced persons and host communities in Syria. The project strengthens health sector resilience by building the capacities of facilities and civil society organizations to deliver effective MHPSS services. The program adopts a context- and gender-sensitive approach, prioritizing children, adolescents, women, and people with special needs to foster resilience, prevent long-term psychological harm, and strengthen social cohesion. Key Activities Capacity Building: - Training health and social workers in evidence-based interventions such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), psychodrama, and emergency pedagogy. - Providing continuing education, mentoring, and supervision training to address shortages of qualified personnel. Service Delivery: - Delivering direct MHPSS interventions for children, adolescents, women, and persons with disabilities. - Integrating MHPSS into education, child protection, and community development sectors. System Strengthening: - Supporting civil society and health facilities to improve service quality and accessibility. - Mapping services to identify gaps and strengthen referral pathways. - Enhancing cooperation among MHPSS actors for coordinated, effective responses aligned with Syria"s evolving context. Expected Outcomes - Improved mental health and resilience of IDPs and host communities, enabling participation in peacebuilding, education, and livelihoods. - Enhanced capacity of local providers to deliver quality MHPSS services through trained personnel and supervision structures. - Strengthened cooperation and referrals, ensuring timely, tailored support for vulnerable groups. - Gender-sensitive interventions addressing specific needs of women and girls, combating gender-based violence, and promoting empowerment. - Contribution to social cohesion and peaceful recovery, creating a foundation for sustainable development in Syria"s transitional phase. By working with over 15 local partners, the project ensures services are community-rooted and implemented in line with international standards. Its integrated approach addresses urgent mental health needs while strengthening Syria"s health sector and civil society for the future.