Resources and support for humanitarian workers

This page offers valuable resources and information to empower humanitarian workers by ensuring their wellbeing, enhancing their capacity and resilience, enabling them to respond effectively to crises. The aim is to serve vulnerable communities affected by natural disasters, famine, war or conflict and displaced people living in refugee camps.

These resources are designed to aid humanitarian workers in assisting the impacted communities by alleviating suffering, restoring dignity, facilitating recovery and rebuilding efforts. To meet the needs of humanitarian workers, these resources include:

  • online courses, workshops, and training materials related to humanitarian work

  • safety and security guidelines and protocols on risk assessment and crisis management

  • mental health and wellbeing support including counselling services and stress management to help workers cope with the emotional strain of their work

  • networking opportunities to connect with other humanitarian workers and sharing experiences and insights.

Use the categories below to access the resources.

Teaching and training

  • The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (AllianceCPHA) is a network of organisations and individuals who are working towards protection of children in humanitarian settings. Through inter-agency collaboration, the Alliance produces technical guidelines and standards to help child protection agencies in humanitarian settings better protect children from harm.

    The AllianceCPHA hosts an E-Learning Hub which is a free, online platform that offers self-paced learning focused on child protection in humanitarian environments. The Alliance E-Learning Hub is home to all the Alliance’s learning and development resources. It features the Learners Area that offers a wide range of self-paced learning courses and modules on key topics including the CPMS e-courses , case management, child rights, mental health, and more, all available in multiple languages including Arabic, English, French, and Spanish.

    There is also a Facilitators Area, where individuals who train others can access and download Alliance learning packages. The Hub also provides resources for facilitators, including downloadable training materials, and offers specialised learning packages on subjects like unaccompanied children, prevention of separation, and the Child Protection Minimum Standards (CPMS).

    Resources can be filtered by topic and language.

  • Through its Building Resilience training programs, the Centre for Victims of Torture (CVT) works to develop the capacity of humanitarian workers, volunteers, and local mental health care staff. It also offers staff wellbeing training to help prevent or manage burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary traumatic stress.

    The CVT Resources webpage provides a wealth of information for healing professionals, torture survivors, human rights defenders, and those seeking knowledge about torture, as well as a dedicated page on refugees and asylum seekers.

    These resources are available in various formats, with the aim of raising awareness and supporting actions that promote healing and justice.

  • DisasterReady.org is an online learning platform designed to better prepare humanitarian aid and development professionals for the critical work they do.

    It offers high-quality, relevant online learning resources, all available at no cost, including a vast library of courses, videos, and reference materials in multiple languages such as English, French, Spanish, Arabic, and others like Ukrainian, Polish, and Russian to support specific crisis responses.

    In partnership with NGOs, leading agencies, and subject-matter experts, DisasterReady provides training in key areas such as humanitarian essentials, safety and security, project and program management, MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning), cash and voucher assistance, health, protection, staff care, logistics, and more.

    Individuals can also pursue assessment-based certificates and certifications, including the Project Management Essentials Certificate, Core Humanitarian Certification, and Personal Safety and Security Certificate, among others.

  • The Headington Institute website serves as an archival repository of resources dedicated to supporting the wellbeing of humanitarian workers, caregivers, and responders. It offers a collection of articles, guides, and downloadable materials focused on stress, resilience, trauma, self-care, and overall wellbeing among those working in humanitarian contexts.

    The archived resources cover a wide range of topics, including preventing and addressing burnout, responding to critical incidents both during and after they occur. Among these resources is the article Going the Distance: Managing the Emotional Challenges of Humanitarian Aid Work, which provides practical guidance for navigating the emotional demands of humanitarian work.

  • The Humanitarian Leadership Academy  is an international learning initiative of Save the Children UK that works in capacity strengthening, training, and development across the sector. HLA offers both online and in-person learning programmes to build skills across the humanitarian sector, from preparedness and response to recovery.

    HLA hosts a digital learning platform, Kaya which is a free, international, multilingual learning platform and resource for humanitarian volunteers and professionals. It offers a wide range of educational opportunities both online and in-person, including self-directed online courses, webinars, face-to-face workshops and events, videos, and documents, and is accessible via laptop, tablet, and mobile.

    Kaya online courses can be filtered by language, topic, format, provider, region, and compatibility.

    HLA also offers a range of learning programmes including Humanitarian Operations Programme (HOP) Fundamentals. HOP Fundamentals introduces the fundamentals of humanitarian action for those starting their career in the sector or transitioning from the development sector. The course is also aimed at individuals who have never received formal training on the essentials of humanitarian action, or for those wishing to ‘refresh’ their knowledge. HOP Fundamentals is an open-access, self-paced course of quality assured and interactive learning modules, accessible on our e-learning platform Kaya.

    HLA also has an Accreditation Platform, HPass, which is a digital badge system that enables individuals and organisations to showcase verified humanitarian competencies and achievements online.

  • The Humanitarian Standards Partnership (HSP) is a collaborative initiative among several leading standard-setting bodies in the humanitarian sector. Established by Sphere, an organisation renowned for promoting quality and accountability in humanitarian response through tools like the Sphere Handbook, the HSP aims to harmonise humanitarian standards and make them more accessible and practical for field practitioners.

    The HSP promotes a coherent, sector-wide approach to humanitarian action by integrating standards across key technical areas such as WASH, food security, shelter, health, education, child protection, nutrition, and livelihoods. Together, the partner organisations provide comprehensive, practical, field-tested tools, and guidance that humanitarian practitioners can use to deliver better, safer, and more accountable assistance.

    To support humanitarian practitioners, the HSP offers resources including training and capacity-building programmes; policy and operational guidance; digital tools, such as the Humanitarian Standards Partnership App, which allows field workers to access all partner standards, in one convenient platform.

  • The mhGAP Intervention Guide (mhGAP-IG) is a clinical decision-making tool and manual developed under the World Health Organisation’s Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP). 

    The guide is designed to train and support non-specialist frontline health workers in identifying and managing mental, neurological, and substance use (MNS) conditions, including in populations affected by conflict or disaster.

  • RedR UK (formerly the Register of Engineers for Disaster Relief) is a UK-based humanitarian charity that specialises in training, capacity building, and technical support. It helps humanitarian workers and organisations become better prepared and more effective in disaster response and recovery through expert-led training, practical tools, and specialist support.

    RedR UK offers free, certified online or face-to-face training on a range of disaster response topics, as well as free, certified self-paced online modules covering a wide range of humanitarian competencies topics such as humanitarian principles, WASH, health, logistics, food security, and more. In addition, through its Knowledge Hub page, RedR UK provides access to its publications, case studies, technical guidance, and research which can be filtered by topic, region, and language.

  • Sphere is a voluntary initiative funded by NGOs and the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement and managed by Sphere Association. It aims to bring together a wide range of humanitarian agencies and organisations to improve the quality and accountability of humanitarian assistance.

    Sphere website provides a wealth of resources that can be filtered by topic, type, language, and year of publication.

    Sphere offers e-learning courses, videos, webinars and other self-study and distance-learning resources which have been created by Sphere or its network partners. These can be accessed via Kaya. Some of the courses are available in multiple languages.

    The Sphere Handbook is Sphere’s flagship publication and is a widely recognised teaching and training tool used by United Nations agencies, NGOs, and governmental authorities across the globe to build capacity, strengthen field practices, and promote accountability in humanitarian response.

    Its structured approach to core principles and technical sectors makes it especially valuable for both training new staff and refreshing the knowledge of experienced practitioners. It comprises the Humanitarian Charter, the Protection Principles, the Core Humanitarian Standard, and minimum humanitarian standards in four vital areas of response including water supply, sanitation, and hygiene promotion (WASH); food security and nutrition; shelter and settlement; and health.

Safety and security guidelines

  • The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (AllianceCPHA) is a network of organisations and individuals who are working towards protection of children in humanitarian settings. Through inter-agency collaboration, the Alliance produces technical guidelines and standards to help child protection agencies in humanitarian settings better protect children from harm.

    The AllianceCPHA developed and maintains the Child Protection Minimum Standards (CPMS), a set of internationally recognised guidelines and practices designed to ensure a quality, coordinated, and accountable approach to child protection in humanitarian settings. These standards are widely used by agencies within the international Protection Cluster and across other humanitarian sectors safeguarding the safety, well-being, and rights of children. The latest version of the Child Protection Minimum Standards (CPMS) is the 2019 edition, and is available in English, French, Spanish, Arabic.

  • The Global Interagency Security Forum (GISF) is an international, member-led network of a significant number of NGOs dedicated to improving security risk management in the humanitarian, development, and human rights sectors.

    The forum offers a range of resources on its website, including guides, podcasts, webinars, videos, research papers, etc.

  • The Personal Safety and Security Handbook by CARE International is a practical, field-focused guide designed to help humanitarian staff manage their personal safety and security. The handbook serves as a compact, best-practice resource for staff operating in diverse and often challenging environments.

  • This manual provides humanitarian workers with practical guidance to ensure their safety and security while operating in challenging and high-risk environments. It is structured in modules, covering key topics such as risk assessment, incident management, personal security, and organisational responsibilities.

    The manual can be accessed in the following languages:

  • Safety First: A Safety and Security Handbook for Aid Workers provides practical guidance to help aid workers stay safe in the field. It covers risk assessment, travel preparation, emergency response, and the protection of individuals and teams in challenging or hostile environments.

    The handbook is designed to support organisations and staff in making informed decisions about personal safety and operational security during humanitarian missions.

    Originally published by Save the Children in 1995, it was revised in 2003 and substantially rewritten in 2010 to reflect major developments in how NGOs address insecurity. The 2010 edition incorporates a deeper understanding of the evolving risks faced by aid workers and continues to offer practical, relevant advice to minimise safety and security threats.

    Safety First is intended for all staff levels, from new team members to experienced senior managers.

  • This guide sets out minimum standards and practical strategies to ensure the safety, security, and well-being of volunteers worldwide. It focuses on risk management, training, support, and incident response tailored to the unique challenges volunteers face, especially in dangerous or complex environments.

    The IFRC’s guide is available in:

  • The Staying Safe in the Spotlight guide is intended for public-facing NGO staff including humanitarian aid workers, advocates, and communicators who due to their visibility, face additional risks in both online and offline environments. Its purpose is to help them assess, manage, and mitigate these security risks to remain effective and safe over time.

    The guide offers practical tips for navigating digital, physical, and psychological challenges, alongside tools for personal risk assessment and management. Its recommendations are grounded in real-world scenarios frequently encountered by staff in public roles.

Mental health and wellbeing

  • Through its Building Resilience training programs, the Centre for Victims of Torture (CVT) works to develop the capacity of humanitarian workers, volunteers, and local mental health care staff. It also offers staff well-being training to help prevent or manage burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary traumatic stress.

    The CVT Resources webpage provides a wealth of information for healing professionals, torture survivors, human rights defenders, and those seeking knowledge about torture, as well as a dedicated page on refugees and asylum seekers.

    These resources are available in various formats, with the aim of raising awareness and supporting actions that promote healing and justice.

  • The Inter-Agency Standing Committee, IASC coordinates humanitarian response during emergencies involving the key UN agencies, including WHO, UNICEF, UNHCR and NGOs; sets standards and policy guidance such as the Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings (MHPSS, 2007); improves collaboration among humanitarian agencies; promotes accountability and protection of survivors of humanitarian disasters.

    The IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings provide a framework to help NGOs, UN agencies, and local agencies coordinate, plan, and implement effective mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) during humanitarian emergencies.

    While the original IASC MHPSS Guidelines (2007) are still widely used and primarily focus on survivors of humanitarian disasters, three more recent guidance documents endorsed by the IASC Reference Group (MHPSS RG, 2023) also address the mental health needs of humanitarian staff and volunteers. These include:

    • Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Minimum Service Package (MHPSS MSP)

    • Handbook of MHPSS Coordination

    • Guidance on Addressing Suicide in Humanitarian Settings

    These guidelines are available in multiple languages.

  • The Headington Institute website serves as an archival repository of resources dedicated to supporting the wellbeing of humanitarian workers, caregivers, and responders. It offers a collection of articles, guides, and downloadable materials focused on stress, resilience, trauma, self-care, and overall wellbeing among those working in humanitarian contexts.

    The archived resources cover a wide range of topics, including preventing and addressing burnout, responding to critical incidents both during and after they occur. Among these resources is the article Going the Distance: Managing the Emotional Challenges of Humanitarian Aid Work, which provides practical guidance for navigating the emotional demands of humanitarian work.

  • The KonTerra Group is a U.S.-based consultancy dedicated to supporting individuals, teams, and organisations, particularly those operating in complex, high-stress environments, in building resilience, well-being, and effective performance.

    The KonTerra Group provides resilience services that focus on staff care, stress management, and wellbeing for individual and teams including counselling, critical incident support, training and education, and organisational resilience. The Group also provides evaluation services including independent evaluations for humanitarian/development programmes and policies.

    As part of its resilience and evaluations services, the KonTerra Group website provides:

    The resources can be filtered by topic and language, year of publication, and country.

  • The Staff Counselling Services within the UN System provides mental health and psychosocial support to UN staff members or those affiliated with a UN agency. These services include 24/7 helplines, in-person and remote counselling, emergency psychological support, and resilience-building resources.

    UN staff counsellors are trained mental health professionals working within the organisation to offer confidential support tailored to the needs of UN personnel across duty stations. For guidance and to access a counsellor in your location or agency, visit the link above.

    If you work in a UN agency not listed on the above link, you can contact the Critical Incident Stress Management Unit (CISMU) at undsscismu@un.org , and they will refer you to appropriate resources.

  • The Red Cross Red Crescent Movement MHPSS Hub, hosted by the Danish Red Cross, works to advance mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) across the RCRC Movement.

    It partners with several humanitarian organisations and academic institutions to support the mental well-being of vulnerable communities, staff, and volunteers, especially during crises.

    The Hub promotes mental health as a fundamental right and offers resources including guides & tools, videos, podcasts, and training manuals and guides that support humanitarian workers, volunteers and local staff and communities.

    Many of these resources are available in multiple languages and can be filtered by language or topic.

  • The Royal College of Psychiatrists website provides resources for psychiatrists and other healthcare professionals working with people affected by conflicts.

    These pages provide access to key humanitarian resources as well as a page on international disaster resources for use by clinicians and carers.

  • The School of Psychology’s MSc Humanitarian Intervention programme at UEL created a portal to provide mental health and wellbeing support for international healthcare practitioners and humanitarian aid workers as well as members of the community in times of crisis.

    The portal offers a variety of resources, including video presentations on mental health support, reading materials, and monthly webinars and online workshops.

Networking opportunities

  • CoCreate Humanity (CCH) is a non-profit association based in Geneva, Switzerland. CCH operates both in Switzerland and internationally, working with a community of humanitarian peers. It supports the mental health and well-being of humanitarian workers through peer support, professional care, advocacy, awareness-raising, and holistic approaches.

    CoCreate Humanity (CCH) offers Humanitarian Peer Support (HPS), a peer-led and safe support group where humanitarian workers come together to share experiences and mental health challenges related to their work, and to provide emotional support to one another.

    The HPS team is supervised by psychologists through both individual and group supervision sessions. Inside Humanitarian Peer Support presented by Arianna Razavi & Laura Mingant, Gobelins Paris - CCH 2025, explains the work of HPS.

  • Facilitating Future is a peer-led initiative founded by Melissa Pitotti to combat burnout among women in the humanitarian sector by building a supportive, peer-led community that fosters personal resilience, systemic change, and collective well-being.

  • The Humanitarian Practice Network (HPN) is managed by the Humanitarian Policy Group (HPG), which is part of ODI Global (formerly the Overseas Development Institute), an independent think tank focused on humanitarian and development policy.

    HPN connects an international network of humanitarian practitioners including NGO volunteers, UN agency staff, and academics, creating a community of shared learning. As a knowledge hub, HPN supports peer-to-peer learning by offering accessible, relevant, and field-driven insights that help improve both individual and organisational practices across the humanitarian sector.

    HPN produces practitioner-focused resources, written by and for humanitarians, that share lessons learned, good practices, and innovative approaches to strengthen the impact of humanitarian work. These materials are grounded in real-world experience and are intended to enhance the quality and effectiveness of humanitarian responses.

    HPN’s publications include the Humanitarian Exchange magazine, Network Papers, and Good Practice Reviews (GPRs). These resources are used by humanitarian workers around the world for ongoing learning and development.

    The HPN website offers selected content in multiple languages, including French, Spanish, and Arabic.

  • The Humanitarian Network is an educational platform that offers mentoring and training programmes designed to build skills and resilience among humanitarian aid workers. Its services include one-to-one mentoring and communication training tailored specifically to humanitarian contexts.

    In addition to being an educational hub, the network is dedicated to fostering a community where humanitarian workers can connect, share experiences, support one another, and collaborate on humanitarian initiatives.

    Through initiatives like the Passion Project, aid workers can personalise their mentoring journeys based on individual goals. The network also offers a virtual volunteering and membership scheme, where guest writers contribute articles on humanitarian topics.

    Members gain access to seminars with leading humanitarian professionals, networking opportunities, access to exclusive events, resources, and listings for jobs and voluntary positions within the sector through their monthly newsletter.

  • The Start Network (formerly the Consortium of British Humanitarian Agencies) is a network of international, national, and local NGOs, including members like Save the Children, CAFOD, and Action Against Hunger. Operating across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, it works through regional and national hubs that foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the empowerment of local actors.

    The network’s goal is to transform the humanitarian system to be more locally led and accountable to crisis-affected communities, ensuring that aid is faster, more dignified, and more effective.

    Start Network supports the mental health of humanitarian aid workers through initiatives like Wellbeing Clusters, such as in the Philippines. These platforms unite local NGOs, INGOs, and government actors to promote wellbeing, offering spaces to share experiences, access support services, and manage stress and trauma collectively.

    Start Network’s Start Engage initiative promotes capacity strengthening and collaboration by bringing together local, national, and international organisations to share knowledge and work jointly. It fosters peer support through shared learning, training, and mentoring, while offering tools, resources, and best practice guides to build a strong community of practice.

Videos/webinars

  • The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (AllianceCPHA) is a network of organisations and individuals who are working towards protection of children in humanitarian settings. Through inter-agency collaboration, the Alliance produces technical guidelines and standards to help child protection agencies in humanitarian settings better protect children from harm.

    The Alliance offers child protection practitioners with participatory and evidence-based webinars.

    The Alliance provides child protection practitioners with engaging and informative videos and multimedia presentations to supplement written guidance and technical materials.

    Explore the Alliance YouTube Channel for more resources.

  • Humanitarian Leadership Academy is an international learning initiative of Save the Children UK that works in capacity strengthening, training, and development across the sector. HLA offers both online and in-person learning programmes to build skills across the humanitarian settings, from preparedness and response to recovery.

    HLA has a Resources Hub and a YouTube channel where you can access their events, articles, podcasts, webinars, videos, reports, infographics, and case studies.

  • The Global Interagency Security Forum (GISF) is an international, member-led network of a significant number of NGOs dedicated to improving security risk management in the humanitarian, development, and human rights sectors.

    The forum offers a range of resources on its website, including guides, podcasts, webinars, videos, research papers, etc.

  • CoCreate Humanity (CCH) is a non-profit association based in Geneva, Switzerland. CCH operates both in Switzerland and internationally, working with a community of humanitarian peers. It supports the mental health and well-being of humanitarian workers through peer support, professional care, advocacy, awareness-raising, and holistic approaches.

    CoCreate Humanity (CCH) offers Humanitarian Peer Support (HPS), a peer-led and safe support group where humanitarian workers come together to share experiences and mental health challenges related to their work, and to provide emotional support to one another. The HPS team is supervised by psychologists both individually and in groups.

    Inside Humanitarian Peer Support presented by Arianna Razavi & Laura Mingant, Gobelins Paris - CCH 2025, explains the work of HPS.

    In addition, Humanitarian Peer Support – A Key Psychological Link in the Recovery Process of Aid Workers, a webinar hosted by CoCreate Humanity in collaboration with Dr. Lucia Berdondini and the University of East London explores how structured, professional peer support systems can become a vital component in promoting mental health and resilience among humanitarian practitioners.

    CCH hosts a YouTube channel with the aim of supporting humanitarian workers suffering post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), trauma, burnout, and stress.

    The CCH webinars-conferences page presents a wealth of multimedia resources in the field.

Podcasts

  • The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (AllianceCPHA) is a network of organisations and individuals who are working towards protection of children in humanitarian settings. Through inter-agency collaboration, the Alliance produces technical guidelines and standards to help child protection agencies in humanitarian settings better protect children from harm.

    The Alliance is committed to providing child protection practitioners with informative and thought-provoking podcasts for the protection of children in humanitarian settings. Use keywords in the search box to explore these podcast series.

  • Awake at Night is a podcast with Melissa Fleming, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications who heads the UN’s Department of Global Communications.

    Seasons 1 & 2 of the podcast were produced by UNHCR and from season 3 onward transitioned to full UN production.

    The podcast invites listeners into conversations between Melissa Fleming, and frontline humanitarian workers talk about the emotional and psychological toll of their work, the inspirations that drive them, and the profound human stories they encounter in conflict zones and refugee settings.

  • Embodying Change is a podcast by Facilitating the Future, hosted by Melissa Pitotti, that explores the challenges and triumphs of humanitarian women workers striving to make a difference while prioritising well-being and solidarity.

    The Embodying Change Podcast is a platform that amplifies the voices of diverse practitioners in the sector. Through candid conversations and storytelling, it highlights key themes such as burnout and recovery, the importance of safe, feminist spaces for healing, and the power of peer support.

  • Everyday Emergency is a podcast by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) that shares powerful first-hand accounts and expert insights from humanitarian workers navigating logistic issues uncertainty, and trauma in the field. Covering everything from war zones and displacement to public health threats, the podcast gives voice to MSF staff and the people they serve.

    Through narrative storytelling and interviews, it explores the medical, ethical, and logistical challenges of delivering aid in some of the world’s most difficult and dangerous environments, offering listeners a raw and human perspective on international crises.

  • UNHCR - Forced to Flee Podcast is a podcast hosted by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. It tells the extraordinary stories of people who lived through some of the most tumultuous events of the past 70 years, including refugees and humanitarian workers.

  • The Global Interagency Security Forum (GISF) is an international, member-led network of a significant number of NGOs dedicated to improving security risk management in the humanitarian, development, and human rights sectors.

    The forum offers a range of resources on its website, including guides, podcasts, webinars, videos, research papers, etc.

    The podcast investigates different perspectives and aspects of humanitarian security risk management including the challenges faced by humanitarian workers in the field.

    Listen to the GISF podcast.

  • Heartbeat of Humanity is a podcast focused on mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS). It is primarily aimed at staff and volunteers within the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, especially those working directly in mental health and psychosocial support services.

    The podcast is produced by the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement MHPSS Hub, which supports the Movement by providing mental health services, psychosocial support, and capacity-building initiatives.

    Hosted by the Danish Red Cross (DRC), the MHPSS Hub is a collaborative partnership involving the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and the DRC.

  • Humanitarian Leadership Academy is an international learning initiative of Save the Children UK that works in capacity strengthening, training, and development across the sector. HLA offers both online and in-person learning programmes to build skills across the humanitarian settings, from preparedness and response to recovery.

    HLA has a Resources Hub and a YouTube channel where you can access their events, articles, podcasts, webinars, videos, reports, infographics, and case studies.

    Listen to their podcast episodes and find out more about the Fresh Humanitarian Perspectives podcast.

  • The New Humanitarian is an independent, non-profit News organisation that reports on humanitarian crises and aid issues.

    The organisation’s international coverage offers a holistic view of humanitarian crises, from emerging and protracted conflicts to the human impact of climate change, and from refugee issues and migrant movements to disease outbreaks.

    TNH hosts a YouTube channel and several podcasts series that address a wide range of issues related to humanitarian crises and the international aid system including:

  • The Red Cross Red Crescent Movement MHPSS Hub, hosted by the Danish Red Cross, works to advance mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) across the RCRC Movement.

    It partners with several humanitarian organisations and academic institutions to support the mental well-being of vulnerable communities, staff, and volunteers, especially during crises.

    The Hub promotes mental health as a fundamental right and offers resources including guides & tools, videos, podcasts, and training manuals and guides that support humanitarian workers, volunteers and local staff and communities.

    Many of these resources are available in multiple languages and can be filtered by language or topic.

Other online/digital learning resources

  • Elrha is an international organisation that supports research and innovation to tackle complex humanitarian challenges. By funding evidence-based solutions and partnering with humanitarian organisations, researchers, and innovators, Elrha works to improve the quality and impact of humanitarian response across key focus areas.

    The organisation’s website provides extensive resources on humanitarian research and innovation, including articles, policy briefs, toolkits, and case studies.

    These resources can be searched by keyword, topic, region, country.

  • Humanitarian interventions and psychosocial training programs. Berdondini, L., & Alhakim, J. (2022). International Review of Psychiatry, 34, 632–639.

  • Humanitarian Leadership Academy (HLA) is an international learning initiative of Save the Children UK that works in capacity strengthening, training, and development across the sector. HLA offers both online and in-person learning programmes to build skills across the humanitarian sector, from preparedness and response to recovery.

    HLA hosts a digital learning platform called Kaya, which is a free, international, multilingual learning platform and resource for humanitarian volunteers and professionals. It offers a wide range of educational opportunities both online and in-person, including self-directed online courses, webinars, face-to-face workshops and events, videos, and documents, and is accessible via laptop, tablet, and mobile.

    Kaya online courses can be filtered by language, topic, format, provider, region, and compatibility.

    HLA also has an Accreditation Platform, HPass, which is a digital badge system that enables individuals and organisations to showcase verified humanitarian competencies and achievements online.

  • The Mental Health and Human Rights Info (MHHRI) database is funded by the Mental Health and Human Rights Info Foundation, a Norwegian NGO dedicated to improving the mental health of individuals exposed to human rights violations, particularly in contexts affected by war, conflict, and natural disasters.

    The MHHRI is an open-access database offering searchable resources, including publications, manuals, guidelines, and links to relevant organisations. It promotes a trauma-informed, rights-based approach, aiming to bridge the gap between mental health care and human rights advocacy, while supporting practitioners, researchers, and others working with survivors of human rights abuses.

    The database is organised into thematic pages, including sexual violence, torture, and trauma and is available in both English and Spanish.

    The MHHRI website provides Gender-Based Violence (GBV) training manuals for professionals who support or train others working directly with survivors. The three manuals focus on working with:

    These manuals are available in multiple languages.

  • The Red Cross Red Crescent Movement MHPSS Hub, hosted by the Danish Red Cross, works to advance mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) across the RCRC Movement.

    It partners with several humanitarian organisations and academic institutions to support the mental well-being of vulnerable communities, staff, and volunteers, especially during crises.

    The Hub promotes mental health as a fundamental right and offers resources including guides & tools, videos, podcasts, and training manuals and guides that support humanitarian workers, volunteers and local staff and communities.

    Many of these resources are available in multiple languages and can be filtered by language or topic.

  • Tarjimly is a nonprofit humanitarian technology organisation and mobile app that connects displaced people including refugees, immigrants, and those who support them with on-demand translators and interpreters in real time. The name "Tarjimly" means "translate for me" in Arabic.

    Its mission is to eliminate language barriers in humanitarian work, improving access to essential services in humanitarian settings.

    Through its mobile and web platforms, Tarjimly offers Tarjimly Essentials, a free, instant translation and interpretation service. This tool is available to individuals facing language challenges, as well as to non-profit organisations, educational institutions, healthcare providers, humanitarian workers, and volunteers.

    Tarjimly is especially valuable in crisis situations, where timely and accurate communication can significantly impact the effectiveness of aid and support.

  • UK-Med is a UK-based medical humanitarian aid organisation, founded within the NHS and recognised by the World Health Organisation. It provides healthcare to communities affected by conflict or disaster, with support from both clinical and non-clinical specialists.

    UK-Med’s Technical Resources website offers valuable materials to support humanitarian workers in emergency healthcare. These resources include international standards and core manuals such as the Core Humanitarian Competency Framework, the Sphere Handbook (2018), the WHO Blue Book, the MFS Handbook, and the WHO EMT publication (2017), all essential for building expertise in emergency medical response.

Careif Archive of Refugee Empowerment