Functioning Under Fire

Christian Aid’s Functioning Under Fire learning paper explores how a people-centred approach to staff wellbeing, duty of care and resilience has supported frontline responders across Ukraine during the full-scale invasion. Drawing on the implementation of the Community Resiliency Model® (CRM) and Trauma Resiliency Model® (TRM) across Christian Aid's partner network, the report examines how practical, body-based approaches have helped frontline responders manage stress, sustain functioning and support one another while continuing to live and work through conflict.

 

Based on learning from a multi-layered psychosocial support initiative delivered between 2025 and 2026, the report highlights the value of combining resilience skills training, peer support and more specialised interventions. It explores how CRM and TRM have helped build a shared understanding of stress and resilience across individuals, teams and organisations, while strengthening local capacity and leadership.

 

The findings offer valuable insights not only for the ongoing Ukraine response but for the wider humanitarian sector as it seeks scalable, locally led approaches that strengthen resilience, support organisational duty of care and help people continue functioning effectively through prolonged adversity.