|
Summary
Psychosocial
work and the relevant tools with which to approach it have,
over the past 10 years, found a growing acceptance in the
field of International Cooperation (IC). There is no crisis
or conflict area where trauma and the emotional state of the
victims is not discussed. Psychosocial concepts and methods
have become increasingly important, especially in recognising
the necessity to support gender-conscious conflict transformation
processes. Even so, many people working in development or
relief organisations still only have a vague idea of what
is actually meant by psychosocial. While literature on the
issue of trauma is extensive, but confusing and contradictory,
a brief introduction into the subject matter of psychosocial
work in the context of international cooperation does not
yet exist.
This
toolkit aims to bridge that gap. It explains to both the staff
of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
at the central office and the co-ordination offices and to
the partner organisations how relevant the psychosocial way
of thinking is for work in conflict and post-conflict areas.
It also shows how regular development and relief activities
can be adjusted in order to support the emotional and social
recovery of the population. The toolkit does not, however,
intend to replace psychological textbooks or manuals on gender
and conflict transformation, or different areas and sectors
of intervention, from HIV/AIDS to water and sanitation, but
aims to convey a way of thinking and make suggestions as to
how it can be put into practice.
It
is not necessary to read through the entire toolkit. Each
of the 21 sheets or chapters can also be understood individually.
Each sheet contains definitions, theoretical explanations,
practical suggestions or checklists, examples for illustration
and references to further articles and manuals. These elements
make it easier for readers to get involved with the subject
matter and enable them to give additional attention to those
elements in their projects that promote the empowerment of
project participants under the difficult circumstances that
prevail during and after conflicts. The toolkit is divided
into three parts, each of which deals with different aspects
of the psychosocial approach:
Part
1: The basic concepts of the psychosocial approach
Sheets 1 - 7 provide the conceptual framework. Basic terms
and concepts are explained in this part, tools are recommended
to facilitate analysis and central questions regarding the
management of projects and staff from the psychosocial perspective
are discussed. The terms introduced in this part are frequently
used in the other sheets of the toolkit. For this reason,
it is advisable to have a look at some of the chapters of
the first part.
Part
2: The psychosocial problems of various target groups
Sheets 8 - 14 deal with the problems of different groups of
conflict-affected people. The Sheets begin by describing the
central aspects of disempowerment experienced within each
group, and then identify the main psychological and social
issues that need to be dealt with in order to help people
to cope with the consequences of war and violence.
Part
3: Psychosocial aspects in various sectors and areas of intervention
Sheets 15 - 21 cover selected areas of intervention that are
of primary importance in regions affected by war and crisis.
In this section, activities and methods are identified that
are either already widely practised or could be further intensified
in order to give people additional psychological and social
support within the framework of the respective sectors. These
Sheets are to be understood as an illustration of the psychosocial
approach and as a suggestion, not as a guideline or instructions
on how to act.
Client
Swiss
Development Cooperation (SDC/DEZA), Switzerland
Timeframe
Sep 2004 to May 2006 (Complete)
Download
|
|
|
|
Becker,
D. & Weyermann, B.
(2006). Toolkit: Gender,
Conflict Transformation & the Psychosocial Approach.
Bern: Swiss Development Cooperation.
English.
|
|
|
|
|
Becker,
D. & Weyermann, B. (2006).
Arbeitshilfe: Gender,
Konflikttransformation &
der Psychosoziale Ansatz.
Bern: Direktion für Entwicklung und Zusammenarbeit.
Deutsch. |
|
|
|
PDF
Information
PDF
files (Adobe Portable Document Format) are files that
maintain their format when downloaded. However, to read
these files you need Adobe® Reader®, which is free software
that lets you view and print PDF files. You will need
to download the reader to read the file if you do not
have a copy of Adobe Reader on your machine.
|
|
|
PDF Format 
Visit