Background
Before, during and after disasters or crises, the primary support for affected people who experience mental health and psychosocial distress or difficulties is often provided by volunteers, community leaders and other non-specialists, especially in low-resourced settings where there are few mental health and social care professionals. Whilst considerable guidance exists on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in humanitarian settings, getting the appropriate training and information to frontline non-specialist helpers to strengthen their roles remains a major challenge. The development of the BePrepared App was initiated by GIZ, the German Agency for International Cooperation, to address this gap.
The Digital Solution
The BePrepared App is a digital tool designed to strengthen frontline disaster response capabilities within affected communities by providing curated, accessible resources for mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS). It is a progressive web app designed for access via android or IOS mobile phones, which consolidates a wide range of trusted resources, training materials, and tools, making them available in one centralized platform. Its key features include user-friendly curated content, an in-app search function, and the ability to download resources for offline use — ensuring access even in disaster zones where connectivity is limited. A significant innovation within the app is the integration of an AI chatbot, currently in testing phase, which assists users in navigating content and locating specific materials based on need and context. The app is accessible in English and Arabic at present, with the option to include additional languages in the future.
The app also supports the well-being of frontline responders by offering tools to learn about self-care and targeted guidance for those operating in high-stress environments. Developed to complement and enhance existing platforms, the app is also integrated with and hosted by the established global online platform MHPSS.net for broader global accessibility and long-term sustainability.
Challenges and Lessons Learned
Over the past year of development, we encountered various challenges that reflected the state of the field, particularly around the availability and accessibility of appropriate content for use by non-specialists. Initially, over 500 resources were short-listed for inclusion in the BePrepared App, but many proved unsuitable due to their length, technical nature or academic tone, which made them difficult to adapt for use within the app. Limited human resources and a lack of ownership rights further restricted the ability to modify these materials. To overcome these hurdles, the team worked with the MHPSS Collaborative, which helped advocate for more user-friendly formatting and provided valuable input to content curation through surveys and workshops conducted with key MHPSS stakeholders. These activities offered critical insights into user expectations and usability concerns.
Feedback and opinions of MHPSS practitioners and stakeholders highlighted a major challenge in the field, namely that of identifying appropriate materials, such as interventions and frameworks, based on the needs of the region, type of practitioner, community, and context. All reported knowledge of a plethora of MHPSS materials, but many were unsure of how to access those that were relevant to their specific context and were of high quality. Even when material was identified, many local practitioners wanted access to people to support with implementation questions and guidance.
Technical and ethical considerations were also central to the app’s development. Guidance from GIZ’s Data Protection Unit ensured that user privacy and security were prioritized, while a workshop conducted by the Digital Inclusion Department provided the development team with practical strategies for making the app accessible to marginalized and vulnerable populations. The ongoing development of the AI chatbot has also prioritised safety considerations that may arise in relation to vulnerable persons using the app or being supported by a user, with practitioners involved in testing to probe for potential weaknesses in safeguards. These collaborative efforts underscore the importance of integrating user-centered design principles and cross-sector expertise throughout the development process.
Key Insights for Successful Implementation
A major factor in the promising start of the BePrepared app has been strong partnerships among organizations with a shared passion about making MHPSS knowledge accessible to all, specifically MHPSS.net, the MHPSS Collaborative, and GIZ. Linking the app to an established platform like MHPSS.net, which already has wide international reach and connections with diverse communities of practitioners, can help ensure that it gains visibility and relevance early on. Another success factor was the leveraging of specific funding streams for innovations in development cooperation, in this case the GIZ innovation fund.
Beta Testing
While the BePrepared App is still in its prototype stage and not yet publicly launched, efforts are underway to gather meaningful feedback and evaluate its effectiveness. Preliminary user testing is underway, and there are plans for more systematic deployment to identify areas for improvement and refine the app based on direct user experience.
Launching BePrepared and Beyond
Looking ahead, the project team plans to finalize the app’s content and features for deployment by end 2025, ensuring that it reflects the latest standards and best practices in disaster-related psychosocial support. Planning and implementing under testing rounds will provide critical feedback to further refine the platform before its official launch. Following testing, the app will be fully integrated into the redesigned MHPSS.net website, allowing it to serve as an accessible, user-friendly, and inclusive tool for frontline non-specialist responders. An important next step is also the development of a strategy to promote adoption of the BePrepared App within national disaster risk management plans and mechanisms, building on GIZ’s ties with government partners, and promoting the use of app through the global network of MHPSS practitioners who use MHPSS.net.
Through continued collaboration, innovation, and user engagement, the Be Prepared App aims to empower communities and frontline helper to effectively navigate the mental health and psychosocial challenges posed by disasters and other crises.
