Featured Resource
Go to Featured ResourceCOVID-19 Global Risk Communication and Community Engagement – Interim Strategy
The purpose of this toolkit is to offer non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other humanitarian response actors a suite of guidance and tools they can use to rapidly plan and integrate Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) into their COVID-19 response.
Resources are sorted into three categories:
Cross-Cutting RCCE Essentials | RCCE Operations | Considerations for RCCE in Humanitarian Response
Cross-Cutting RCCE Essentials
Vaccines
- Acceptance and Demand for Covid-19 Vaccines – Tools (COVAX: WHO/UNICEF)
- 10 Steps to Community Readiness (WHO)
- Pocket Guide for Community Engagement and Accountability Practitioners: The Essential Covid-19 Resource (IFRC)
- Demand Creation and Advocacy for Covid-19 Vaccine Uptake: Quick Start Guide (FHI)
- Behavioural Considerations for Acceptance and Uptake of COVID-19 Vaccines: WHO Technical Advisory Group on Behavioral Insights and Sciences for Health (WHO)
- KAP COVID Vaccine Acceptance Around the World – Dashboard (JHU CCP)
- Global Rumour Bulletin (Internews)
- Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Q&A: Vaccines (WHO)
- Rapid Review: Vaccine Hesitancy and Building Confidence in COVID-19 Vaccination (Social Science in Humanitarian Action Platform – SSHAP)
- COVID-19: Going Beyond Misinformation to Build Vaccine Confidence (SSHAP)
- Covid-19 Vaccine Toolkit (WHO)
- Covid-19 Vaccination Training for Health Workers (WHO)
- WHO SAGE COVID-19 Vaccine Prioritization Roadmap (WHO)
- Report of the SAGE Working Group on Vaccine Hesitancy (10/2014) (WHO)
- Guidance Note and Checklist for Tackling Gender-Related Barriers to Equitable COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment (SDG3 Global Action Plan for Healthy Lives and Well-Being: Gender Equality Working Group)
- Frequently Asked Questions: COVID-19 vaccines and breastfeeding based on WHO SAGE Interim recommendations (IFE Core Group, UNICEF)
Community Engagement
Community Engagement Operational Tools for COVID-19
- Community-led Action for COVID-19: A Resource Guide for Country Offices (Companion Field Manual is below) (GOAL)
- RCCE during Shifting Public Health and Social Measures: With Safety Tips for Conducting Community Meetings (Planning Guide) (IFRC, JHU CCP, Save the Children)
- Protecting Community Facing Staff and Volunteers (Oxfam)
Community Engagement Technical Guidelines for COVID-19
- 10 Steps to Community Readiness (WHO)
- Step-by-Step Engaging Communities during COVID-19 (READY Initiative)
- Finding Community-led Solutions: An interagency guidance note on working with communities in high density settings to plan local approaches to preventing and managing COVID-19 (RCCE technical groups in ESA and WCA regions)
- Tips for Engaging Communities during COVID-19 in Low-Resource Settings, Remotely and In-Person – “Live” version (GOARN RCCE Working Group) PDF version
- Community-led Action for COVID-19: A Field Manual for Community Mobilizers (GOAL)
- Safe and Remote RCCE During COVID-10 – Guidance for National Societies (IFRC)
- Community Engagement During COVID-19: A Guide for Community Facing Staff – Guidance and Checklists (Oxfam)
- Infographics in Multiple Languages (Slum and Rural Health Initiative)
Radio and Digital Engagement Tools
- Community Radio Toolkit
- Coronavirus Radio Show Guide and Running Order (IFRC)
- ETC Guidance on the Provision of Digital Communication Technologies in COVID-19 Operations (Emergency Telecommunications Cluster)
- Tips for Using Social Media (IFRC)
Engage Religious Leaders
Address Death, Bereavement, and Funerals
- Guidance: Burials for COVID-19 Pandemic (IFRC)
- Key Considerations: Dying, Bereavement and Mortuary and Funerary Practices in the Context of COVID-19 (April 2020) (SSHAP)
- COVID-19 Strategies to Support Those Affected by Deaths During the Outbreak – Psychosocial Impacts of Changing Practices (SSHAP)
Staying Alert During Transitions
- RCCE during Shifting Public Health and Social Measures: With Safety Tips for Conducting Community Meetings (Planning Guide) (IFRC, JHU CCP, Save the Children)
- Ten considerations for effectively managing the COVID-19 transition (Nature)
- Guidance on Easing Lockdowns (Africa CDC)
- Staying Alert: Navigating COVID-19 Risk Toward a New Normal (with RCCE recommendations) (Resolve)
- Overview of Public Health and Social Measures (WHO)
Rumors, Stigma & Media
Rumors, Misinformation, Disinformation
- COVID-19 Rumor Tracking Guidance Document for Field Teams (Breakthrough ACTION)
- Rumor/Misinformation Tracking Approach (Breakthrough ACTION)
- Rumor Categorization Tool (Adapted from CDAC Network’s Rumor has it: A practice guide to working with rumours)
- Rumor Log Tool (Adapted from the CDAC Network’s Rumor has it: A practice guide to working with rumours)
- COVID-19: How-To Guide: Rumour tracking and two-way communication during the COVID-19 outbreak (Save the Children)
- Myth Busters (WHO)
- Field experience summary: Rumour Management, Nigeria – ActionAid (CHH)
Stigma
- Social Stigma Associated with COVID-19 (IFRC, UNICEF, and WHO)
- Technical Brief: Disrupting COVID-19 Stigma (Breakthrough ACTION)
- Guidance to reduce COVID-19 stigma on health workers and families (WHO Africa)
- Perspectives Piece: Why Communities Should Be the Focus to Reduce Stigma Attached to COVID-19 (CORE Group)
Media
- Handbook for media: the new coronavirus and COVID-19 (BBC Media Action)
- Media trainings and resources for COVID-19 (Internews)
- Online course on COVID-19 for journalists (First Draft)
Rapid Behavioral Surveys & Analyses
- Survey tool and guidance: rapid, simple, and flexible behavioural insights on COVID-19 (WHO Europe)
- Rapid Guide to Localizing and Translating Survey Tools (IndiKit, TWB)
- RCCE Collective Service Survey Question Bank for COVID-19 (IFRC, UNICEF, WHO)
- Participatory Research Toolkit for Social Norms Measurement (UNICEF)
- Surveys and assessments on Young People and COVID-19 (UNFPA)
- COVID-19 Rapid Perception Survey (IFRC)
- COVID-19 Rapid Assessment Tool (IFRC, UNICEF, WHO)
- Example Outbreak Knowledge, Attitudes & Practices (includes questions on trusted sources) Template (READY Initiative)
- Rapid Assessment Package (surveys & analysis tools) for Hand-washing Behaviors (Wash’Em)
- COVID-19 Focus Group Discussion Guide for COVID-19 (IFRC)
- Mobile Platform Survey Questions on Coronavirus Perceptions (GeoPoll)
- WhatsApp Survey Guide (UNDP)
- The Humanitarian’s “Phone Call Interview” Checklist
- Remote Survey Toolkit, Prepared in Response to COVID-19 (with checklists and “cheatsheets”) (60 Decibels)
- SOPs for Data Collection During COVID-19 (IMPACT)
- 5-Minute Rapid Spot Check
- How to maximize the use of social science evidence for public health emergencies in humanitarian settings (AfO Working Group)
- IASC Multi-Cluster/Sector Initial Rapid Assessment (2012) (IASC)
- Guidance for healthcare worker surveys in humanitarian contexts in LMICs (Social Sciences Analysis Cell – CASS & Research Roadmap)
Messaging for COVID-19
- COVID-19 Synthesized Messaging (Breakthrough ACTION)
- COVID-19 Message Contextualization Tools (READY Initiative)
- Message Pretesting Template (READY Initiative)
- Message Development Checklist (READY Initiative)
- Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Data on COVID-19 to Inform RCCE Programming (READY Initiative)
- Choosing Communication Channels (READY Initiative)
- Example Contextualized Country-Level Key COVID-19 Messages (Message Toolkit, Republic of the Philippines, Department of Health)
- Example Flyer: Is it COVID-19 or Ebola (CDC)
- COVID-19 Message Library (for mobile phone platforms) (WHO)
- Key Messages and Actions for Covid-19 Prevention and Control in Schools (UNICEF, WHO, IFRC)
- Gender Checklist for Content Creators
Sample Messages and Materials
- Sample Radio, Posters, Social Media and Key Messages – Risk Communication Hub (Resolve to Save Lives)
- COVID-19 Videos, Songs and PSAs – Compass for SBC (JHU CCP)
- Social Behavior Change Collection – COVID-19 Communication Network (JHU CCP)
- Information Booklets on COVID-19 (in different languages, country contexts) (Tostan)
Promoting Physical Distancing & Face masks
Physical Distancing
- How might we use communication to encourage physical distancing in developing countries?
- Policy brief: Evidence-informed social distancing policies for African countries (IDinsight)
Face masks
- WHO Facemask Guidance (WHO)
- Sample face masks posters/flyers (Center for Communication and Change, India)
- COVID-19: Insights on face mask use: Global review (Institute of Global Health Innovation)
Contact Tracing & RCCE
- Operational guide for engaging communities in contact tracing (WHO)
- Contact tracing in the context of Covid-19 (with RCCE principles) (WHO)
- COVID-19 Contact Tracing Playbook – RCCE Checklist (Resolve to Save Lives)
- Case Investigation and Contact Tracing: Part of a Multi-Pronged Approach (CDC)
- Guidance: Contact Tracing for COVID-19 (IFRC)
- Online course to train contract tracers (Johns Hopkins, Bloomberg Philanthropies, New York State)
Isolation and Quarantine
- COVID-19 Notes on Community Quarantine (ICMHD)
- Considerations: Quarantine in the Context of COVID-19 (SSHAP)
- Services to Support People in Isolation- Checklist (Resolve to Save Lives)
- COVID-19 Self-Quarantine and Self-Monitoring Guidance (Template)
- COVID-19: Self-Isolation and Self-Monitoring Guidance (Template)
- Answer the Call for a More Secure Future: Communication Guidance for COVID-19 Contract Tracing (Resolve to Save Lives)
- Engaging Communities for Contract Tracing to Reduce the Spread of COVID-19 (WHO EMRO)
- Guidance for Home Care Givers (Infographic) (WHO Africa)
- COVID-19: Strategies to Support Home and Community-based Care (SSHAP Infographic)
Cross-Cutting RCCE Essentials
RCCE SOPs, Operational Checklists
- Risk Communication Community Engagement (RCCE) Operational Checklist (READY Initiative)
- SOP: Community Engagement in the Context of COVID-19 (GOAL)
- COVID-19 Planning Guide for RCCE as Public Health and Social Measures Shift: With Safety Tips for Conducting Community Meetings (IFRC, JHU CCP, Save the Children)
- Staff Safeguarding Checklist (READY Initiative)
- Business Continuity Checklist (READY Initiative)
- Sample Guide for Basic SOPs for COVID-19 (Oxfam)
- SOPs for Data Collection During COVID-19 (IMPACT)
HR/Staffing for RCCE
- Sample Risk Communication Community Engagement (RCCE) Advisor JD (READY Initiative)
- Sample Community Engagement Specialist (National-Level) JD (READY Initiative)
- Mental Health and Psychosocial Support for Staff, Volunteers, and Communities in an Outbreak of Novel Coronavirus (IFRC)
- Basic Psychosocial Support Skills Guide (IASC)
RCCE Coordination Mechanisms
RCCE Action & Operational Plans
- COVID-19 Global RCCE Strategy (GOARN, WHO, UNICEF, IFRC)
- Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Action Plan Guidance COVID-19 Preparedness and Response (GOARN, WHO, UNICEF, IFRC)
- Sample RCCE Operational Plan for COVID-19 (IFRC)
Monitoring & Evaluation with Indicators
- RCCE Indicator Guidance for COVID-19 (Global RCCE Collective Service – WHO, IFRC, UNICEF)
- COVID-19 RCCE Questions Bank – Indicators (Global RCCE Collective Service – WHO, IFRC, UNICEF)
- Monitoring and Evaluation Framework and Tools (READY Initiative)
- Sample RCCE Indicators for COVID-19 (READY Initiative)
- Remote and Digital Data Collection & COVID-19 (Save the Children)
Cross-Cutting RCCE Essentials
Vaccines: Humanitarian Settings
- Pocket Guide for Community Engagement and Accountability Practitioners: The Essential Covid-19 Resource (IFRC)
- White Paper: Why vaccine inequality is our biggest Covid-19 communication challenge yet (Internews)
- Trust in authorities: the golden ticket to successful COVID-19 vaccine roll-out in conflict settings (Search for Common Ground)
RCCE Basics: Humanitarian Settings
- COVID-19 Risk Communications and Community Engagements (RCCE) and the Humanitarian System: Briefing Pack (Inter-Agency Standing Committee [IASC] Results Group on Accountability and Inclusion [RG2])
- Covid-19: How to include marginalized and vulnerable people in risk communication and community engagement (Asia Pacific Regional RCCE Working Group)
- Collective Communication and Community Engagement in Humanitarian Action – How-to Guide (CDAC)
RCCE: Persons of Concern, Marginalized & Hard to Reach
- COVID-19/Migration: WhatsApp Business Line: Case Study (IFRC)
- Finding Community-led Solutions: An interagency guidance note on working with communities in high density settings to plan local approaches to preventing and managing COVID-19 (RCCE technical groups in ESA and WCA regions)
- COVID-19: How to include marginalized and vulnerable people in risk communication and community engagement Update #1 (IFRC, OCHA, WHO)
- Socially Marginalized Groups and COVID-19 – Technical Brief (Breakthrough ACTION)
- Interim Guidance – Public Health and Social Measures for COVID-19 Preparedness and Response in Low Capacity and Humanitarian Settings (New May 7) (IASC)
- Practical Guidance for RCCE for Refugees, IDPs, Migrants and Host Communities Particularly Vulnerable to COVID-19 Pandemic (UNICEF, IOM, JHU CCP, WHO, IFRC, UNODC, UNHCR)
- COVID-19 Communication Tools for Rohingya Community and Host Community in Cox’s Bazar
- COVID-19: Rumours in the Camps (BBC Media Action)
- Impact of COVID-19 on Nigeria’s Informal Settlements (sdi. article with recommendations)
- Interim Guidance- Scaling up COVID-19 Outbreak Readiness and Response Operations in Humanitarian Situations, Including Camps and Camp-Like Settings (IASC)
- Accountability, Feedback and Complaints Mechanisms in Humanitarian Responses to Migration (Start Network)
- Briefing Note: Impacts of COVID-19 on LGBTIQ+ people (edge effect)
- Safeguarding, Protection and COVID-19: Guidance Note for Projects (Girls’ Education Challenge)
People with Disabilities and Older People
- Interim guidance for Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers working with older people during Covid-19 response (IFRC)
- Humanitarian Standards for Inclusion of Older People and People with Disabilities (Age and Disability Consortium of the ADCAP)
- Key Messages: COVID-19 Response: Applying the IASC Guidelines on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action (IASC)
- Resources on Coronavirus and Disabilities (The Source)
- COVID-19 Response: Considerations for Children and Adults with Disabilities (UNICEF)
- Considering People with Disabilities in COVID-19 Hygiene Programs (Hygiene Hub)
- COVID-19 in humanitarian contexts: no excuses to leave persons with disabilities behind! (humanity & inclusion)
- Caring for the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic (UNICEF)
- Issue Brief: Older Persons and Covid-19 (UNDESA)
- Protecting Older People during COVID-19 Pandemic – Toolkit (HelpAge International)
Gender
- Global Rapid Gender Analysis for COVID-19 (Report with links to Rapid Gender Analysis toolkit) (CARE and IRC)
- COVID-19: A Gender Lens- Protecting Sexual and Reproductive Health and Human Rights, and Promoting Gender Equality (UNFPA)
- Gender Equality and COVID-19 Brief (Save the Children)
- Gender Implications of COVID-19 Outbreaks in Development and Humanitarian Settings (CARE)
- Minimum Standards for Prevention and Response to Gender Based Violence in Emergencies (UNFPA)
- Gender Checklist for Content Creators
Youth and Children
- Surveys and assessments on Young People and COVID-19 (UNFPA)
- COVID-19: Working with and for Young People (interagency guidance and resources)
- UNFPA Resources for Engaging Youth and Adapting Youth Programming to COVID-19 (UNFPA)
- Risk Communication and Community Engagement with Youth People Left Behind During COVID-19 (UNFPA)
- Voices of Youth: Take action and help fight COVID-19, toolkit (UNICEF)
- MVTTV Global Youth Movement – COVID-19
- UNFPA Youth Day Challenge
- Technical Note: Protection of Children during the Coronavirus Pandemic (Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action)
Health: Health Workers, Community Health Workers and Volunteers
Vaccines
Surveys, assessments
- WHO R&D Blueprint: novel Coronavirus: Perceptions of healthcare workers regarding local infection, prevention and control procedures for COVID-19: research protocol (WHO)
- Guidance for healthcare worker surveys in humanitarian contexts in LMICs (Social Sciences Analysis Cell – CASS & Research Roadmap)
Training
- COVID-19 Digital Classroom for Community-based Health Workers (Open Source training on Community Health Academy’s Platform)
- COVID-19 Library for Community-based Health Workers
Operational and safety protocols and guidelines
- Sample Operational Guide for Community Health Workers (during COVID-19) (Government of the Republic Malawi, Ministry of Health)
- COVID-19 House-to-House Community Outreach Protocol (The CORE Group Polio Project)
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Guidance Related to CHW Workflow – COVID-19 (Community Health Impact Coalition)
- WHO Facemask Guidance (WHO)
Technical workflow guidance
- Community Health Worker (CHW) Workflow Resources – COVID-19 (Community Health Impact Coalition)
- Key Tips and Discussion Points for Field Staff, Community Workers, Volunteers and Community Networks (WHO, UNICEF, IFRC)
- Guidance to reduce COVID-19 stigma on health workers and families (WHO Africa)
- The COVID-19 Risk Communication Package for Healthcare Facilities (WHO)
- Community-based healthcare, including outreach and campaigns, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic (New May 7) (WHO, IFRC, UNICEF)
Psychosocial Support Skills
MHSSP (Mental Health & Psychosocial Support)
Education
- Framework for Reopening Schools (UNICEF, World Bank, WFP)
- COVID-19 Safe Return to Schools (May 15 PPT) (WHO, Epi-Win)
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