Call for Proposals: Community-driven MHPSS for Children Affected by Conflict

The Peace of Mind Foundation (PoM) is offering grants of USD 50,000–150,000 to organisations delivering mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services for children affected by conflict, crisis, or displacement. The funding prioritises locally-led, evidence-based interventions that are culturally adapted, community-driven, and rigorously monitored. Eligible applicants include local, regional, and international NGOs, as well as youth- and refugee-led organisations with strong safeguarding and child protection policies.

Overview

The Peace of Mind Foundation (PoM) is calling for applications from organisations to implement structured mental health and psychosocial support projects for children affected by conflict and crisis. The initiative aims to provide therapeutic, community-driven, and culturally appropriate interventions that support the psychological wellbeing of children and caregivers in emergency and displacement contexts.

Programme Objectives

• Deliver structured and evidence-based MHPSS services adapted to local cultural contexts.

• Support children affected by conflict, emergencies, and displacement.

• Strengthen caregiver and professional capacity in psychosocial support.

• Ensure community engagement, cost-effective delivery, and rigorous monitoring and evaluation.

• Promote child protection and safeguarding across all project activities.

Funding Details

• Grant Amount: USD 50,000–150,000 per project.

• Eligible Duration: Projects should demonstrate capacity for meaningful, measurable impact within the funding period.

• Use of Funds: Therapeutic interventions, group sessions, trauma-informed creative and art- or music-based healing, safe spaces, and capacity-building activities.

Who Is Eligible?

• Local NGOs and community-based organisations.

• Youth- or refugee-led organisations.

• Regional and international NGOs with MHPSS experience.

• Organisations with strong safeguarding and child-protection policies.

• Applicants with proven experience in delivering evidence-based psychosocial interventions.

Activities Supported

1. Direct Psychosocial Support

   • Trauma-informed individual and group therapy.

   • Creative interventions including art, music, and play therapy.

   • Safe spaces for children to recover and engage in social activities.

2. Capacity Building

   • Training local caregivers, professionals, and community workers in MHPSS approaches.

   • Developing local systems for sustainable psychosocial support.

3. Community Engagement

   • Implementing community-led initiatives that promote resilience and social cohesion.

   • Ensuring interventions are culturally relevant and context-sensitive.

Why This Opportunity Matters

• Addresses urgent mental health needs among children in crisis-affected regions.

• Supports long-term psychological wellbeing and resilience.

• Strengthens local MHPSS capacity and community-led responses.

• Provides resources for scaling evidence-based interventions.

• Enhances protection and safeguarding for vulnerable children and caregivers.

How to Apply / How It Works

1. Prepare a Project Concept

   • Clearly define objectives, target beneficiaries, and expected outcomes.

   • Demonstrate cultural adaptation and evidence-based methodology.

2. Submit Required Documentation

   • Organisational profile, including proof of legal registration.

   • Safeguarding and child-protection policies.

   • Project proposal with budget, timeline, and monitoring framework.

3. Evaluation Criteria

   • Relevance and effectiveness of MHPSS interventions.

   • Evidence of prior experience in conflict- or displacement-affected settings.

   • Community engagement and sustainability plans.

   • Cost-effectiveness and feasibility.

Tips for Applicants

• Emphasise culturally adapted approaches that reflect local community needs.

• Include clear monitoring and evaluation plans with measurable outcomes.

• Highlight prior experience in delivering psychosocial support in crisis contexts.

• Ensure all proposed activities comply with child protection and safeguarding standards.

• Show strategies for building local capacity and sustaining impact beyond the funding period.

FAQ

1. What is the grant range?
   USD 50,000–150,000 per project.

2. Who can apply?
   Local NGOs, community-based organisations, youth- and refugee-led organisations, and regional or international NGOs with MHPSS experience.

3. Are international NGOs eligible?
   Yes, provided they demonstrate relevant experience and adherence to safeguarding standards.

4. What types of activities are supported?
   Direct psychosocial support, trauma-informed interventions, safe spaces, creative therapies, and capacity building for local caregivers and professionals.

5. Is community engagement required?
   Yes, projects must be locally-led and community-driven.

6. Are projects expected to be culturally adapted?
   Yes, interventions must reflect local cultural and contextual needs.

7. What documentation is required?
   Legal registration, organisational profile, safeguarding policies, project proposal, budget, and monitoring framework.

Conclusion

The PoM MHPSS grant represents a critical opportunity for organisations to provide life-changing mental health and psychosocial support to children affected by conflict, crisis, and displacement. By funding culturally adapted, evidence-based, and community-led interventions, this programme enables organisations to strengthen resilience, restore hope, and protect the psychological wellbeing of some of the world’s most vulnerable children.