COVID-19 Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) - Planning Template

"The ultimate goal of risk communication is behavior change."

According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) are essential components of a broader health emergency preparedness and response action plan. The purpose of this template is to support PAHO Country Offices and national/subnational emergency management mechanisms to develop or update their RCCE plans related to COVID-19. It might also be useful to communicators in general/in other contexts.

As outlined here, most behaviour change theories and evidence agree on the following 3 core elements:

• What: Inform/educate the intended population about what they should do.
• Why: Motivate/convince/compel them on the need to do it.
• How: Provide specific guidance/tools/skills to do it.

The document is organised according to the key elements of an RCCE plan, and worksheets are provided throughout to facilitate planning on each:

1. Strategic objectives - Examples are provided (e.g., to ensure participation of and engagement with relevant communities to increase uptake of public health measures and address barriers to their implementation).
2. Key messages - In addition to the list here, the PAHO and World Health Organization (WHO) websites also provide a range of communication materials that can be adapted for in-country use.
3. Audiences - Questions are offered to guide thinking about sub-groups and stakeholders to reach them (e.g., Who are the influencers, gatekeepers, decision-makers in the different communities/groups that must be engaged to educate, convince, support the identified groups?)
4. Channels & activities - PAHO stresses: Communication messages and trusted channels must be tailored to the intended population, even when the message content is essentially the same.
5. Monitoring and community engagement - PAHO notes: Strategies for RCCE monitoring in the context of COVID-19 should take into account the need for limited interpersonal contact to reduce risk and exposure (e.g., virtual focus groups). Community engagement can be fostered, for example, through a network of key informants representing key groups, with periodic phone consults with the network.
6. Budget - PAHO recommends: If financial resources are tight, plan on implementing the communication strategy in phases, addressing the highest priority objectives and audiences first.