Humanitarian funding is contracting sharply—while the need for mental health and psychosocial support continues to grow.
We are pleased to share Sustaining Investment in MHPSS Localisation and Integration: Recommendations for Donors, a new paper examining what funders can do to protect MHPSS and make their investments more locally led, integrated and sustainable.
The paper focuses on two commitments that are increasingly important in the current funding crisis:
- Localisation must shift power—not only implementation. Local and national actors need meaningful influence over priorities, resources and decisions, supported by flexible, multi-year funding that covers the real costs of their work.
- Integration must strengthen the whole system of care. Embedding MHPSS within health, education, protection, livelihoods and other services can improve access and outcomes—but it requires dedicated resources, supported workers, effective referral pathways and continued investment in focused and specialised care.
Drawing on published and grey literature, interviews, case studies and a co-creation workshop with funders and implementers, the paper translates these principles into practical recommendations and questions for funding decisions.
The choices donors make now will help determine whether MHPSS systems emerge from the current contraction weaker and more fragmented—or more equitable, locally led and sustainable.
The paper was developed by MHPSS Collaborative, in partnership with Peace of Mind Foundation, Save the Children Netherlands, MHPSS.net, Terre des hommes, Mental Health Innovation Network (MHIN), the Global Mental Health Action Network (GMHAN), George Washington University Center for Global Mental Health Equity, and UNICEF, with funding from Peace of Mind Foundation, Save the Children Netherlands, and DANIDA.
