The event took place on the 5th March 2020 as part of the CENDEP Work in Progress Meetings - Spring 2020 session. The ‘Wellbeing Cluster’ is a pioneering project, and comprises a dedicated multi-stakeholder platform that brings together humanitarian agencies from across the Philippines, to prioritise the mental health and wellbeing of aid workers. In essence, it links local and national NGOs with INGOs, governmental departments, academia, youth organisations, private sector, CSOs, and other key stakeholders to work together in strategically building the capacity of individuals and organisations in all aspects of wellbeing related to mental health. As a new model within the humanitarian architecture, it potentially represents the first of many Wellbeing Clusters, nationally, regionally, and globally, forming a living network of pooled knowledge, expertise, services and resources. This talk will explore the journey of the development of the Wellbeing Cluster, and the various challenges that have been raised in the process. In particular, it will highlight key issues related to mental health, and offer a debate into how aid workers and communities could be more effectively supported for their mental health and wellbeing.
Hitendra Solanki (Development Studies, London South Bank University & Action Against Hunger UK) and Martina Adamcikova (Oxford Brookes University)
brookes.ac.uk/Research/Units/TDE/Centres/CENDEP
2021-06-03