This a summary of an analytical study that can be found on the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) website at this URL. Governmental engagement with citizens on issues that affect their daily lives can be critical for addressing development challenges across sectors. Yet distrust of government and/or the international community and their motives can hamper development efforts. The field of social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) holds lessons for actors seeking to address these challenges. By presenting many of the frequently-used practices from the SBCC field, this study aims to inform and strengthen USAID’s work in Africa across sectors such as health, food security, conflict, economic growth, education, and the environment.
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The main aim of the manual is to provide those responsible for MHPSS in emergencies with a reference document that can help them in the practical implementation of their activities with a community-based approach. Some of the activities aimed at strengthening the social fabric and helping people overcome their distress described in the manual include sociocultural, artistic, and educational programs and workshops, sport and play, rituals and celebrations, counselling and clinical and social support for those with severe mental disorders. The manual describes ways to integrate mental health and psychosocial support in other activities, like livelihood support, protection of vulnerable cases, and conflict transformation.
La communication des risques et l’engagement de la communauté sont essentiels à toute intervention en cas d’épidémie. Cela est particulièrement critique en cas d’épidémie d’Ebola, ce qui peut susciter la crainte chez le public et les intervenants de première ligne en raison de la présentation sévère des symptômes, de l’incompréhension des causes de la maladie et du taux de mortalité élevé. Ce document décrit Réponse de l’engagement communautaire à l’épidémie d’Ebola en République démocratique du Congo.
Risk communication and community engagement are essential for any disease outbreak response. This is particularly critical during outbreaks of Ebola which may create fear in the public and frontline responders alike due to the severe presentation of symptoms, misunderstanding of the causes of illness and high fatality rates.